Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Friday's Forecast
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 6th November 2026
Last updated
Thu 5th Nov 26 at
12:03PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fairly light wind and scattered patches of light rain, amounting to little in total. Cloud base will vary, extensive on higher mountains, but lower down some slopes cloud free, whilst sometimes adjacent slopes remain foggy (or even between cloud layers) - with changes occurring only slowly.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Light wind. Extensive fog.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly, 10 to 15mph. Will tend to ease through day.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible
How Wet?
Light rain now and again, mainly or only southern Cairngorms NP.
Many areas dry, particularly Monadhliath, But damp weather with pockets of mostly light rain will come and go mostly on southern and eastern hills in Cairngorms NP.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, particularly more eastern hills
Broadly, cloud base typically 700-900m with the top 1100m or above. But in places Monadhliath, and extensively east and southern Cairngorms NP, areas of fog will 'hang' on lower slopes most or all day, whilst others are largely cloud free.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overall cloudy or dull - perhaps glimpses of sun near and west of A9. The air generally very clear, though misty in rain and fog reaching some lower slopes.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C
Freezing Level
Above the summits - frost some valleys overnight and perhaps ground frozen higher tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 7th November 2026
Last updated
Thu 5th Nov 26 at
12:03PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly, 10mph or less, perhaps 15mph Ben Alder to southern summits Cairngorms NP.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible
How Wet?
Isolated, if any drizzle
Risk fine drizzle most likely near and east of Braemar.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive fog probable, higher areas above the cloud.
Broadly, main cloud base 600m to 800m. However, extensive or persistent fog will 'hang' on many lower slopes (above 300 to 450m) most or all day. This least prevalent Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% - fog lower slopes.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy but excellent visibility. Probably bright sunshine higher areas.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C
Freezing Level
Above the summits - but some particularly higher terrain frozen after a frost.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 8th November 2026
Last updated
Thu 5th Nov 26 at
12:03PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible
How Wet?
Patches of drizzle, total rainfall small
Little change with further patches of light or very light drizzle; the rain least likely Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive; cloud base sometimes very different on nearby slopes
Detail uncertain: Cloud extensive or persistent above 700-900m (but possibly highest tops above the cloud). Lower down, fog clinging to some slopes from valleys up all day, whilst others are fog free or between layers of cloud.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy or dull with areas of fog - albeit mainly near and west of A9, below fog the air still very clear.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3C
Freezing Level
Above the summits but possibly terrain on highest summits partly frozen.
Planning Outlook
High pressure will continue to be the main influence into next week, particularly W & NW Highlands where extensively dry and wind often light. However, disappointing for other areas as 'gloomy' conditions predominate" patches of light rain and extensive low cloud and fog. Into next week, an area of low pressure will bring rain and wind in from the southwest but northern Scotland may escape most or all the rain.