Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Tuesday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Frequent or persistent rain
Steady rain fairly persistent, occasionally heavy, rather wet underfoot.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 5 to 10C on higher terrain. Comfortable temperatures on lower terrain, but feeling chilly if exposed to wind higher up, especially if stationary. Pack extra layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 30th June 2026
Last updated
Mon 29th Jun 26 at
4:03PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain and cloud over the hills widely, heavier pulses of rain tending to extend north and eastwards with time through middle of day into afternoon, some local thundery downpours forming. Wind dropping light across much of Highlands, fresh south-southwest winds England and Wales.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Showery areas of rain, some heavy later. Wind drops light.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 15 to 20mph, up to 25mph high tops for a time in morning, but tending to drop lighter and variable.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but feeling more blustery for a few hours on higher terrain. Sudden gusts around heavy showers.
How Wet?
Showery rain, some heavy bursts develop, chance of lightning
Patchy rain extending northwards in the morning and middle of day, some drier moments in north, then slow-moving showers afternoon, some places drier, but heavy bursts locally, risk of isolated hail and thunder.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, better north
Cloud varying over the hills, but often capping high tops, lowering around rain with ragged patches lower down. Breaks typically best north Cairngorms in morning.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun mainly north in morning. Visibility very good where dry, but reduced to poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 10C afternoon. Feeling near to freezing on high tops in early wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 1st July 2026
Last updated
Mon 29th Jun 26 at
4:03PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph or less much of morning, strengthening southerly to 25-35mph, later afternoon 50mph, stronger toward dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small in the morning, but becoming more blustery, walking increasingly arduous later, very difficult late in day.
How Wet?
Rain later in day
Generally dry until later in day, except for an odd isolated shower. Toward evening, rain moving in from southwest, becoming persistent, some heavier late in day or into night.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied in morning, lifting, breaks to tops
Banks of cloud over higher slopes and some patches to mid-levels in the morning. Tending to lift and break to upper slopes, clearing some high tops, best toward north and eastern Cairngorms.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchwork of cloud and sun, giving way to high cloud moving in from west later. Visibility excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C, local 10C afternoon in north/east. Feeling like freezing as wind increases, later near -5C in exposure on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 2nd July 2026
Last updated
Mon 29th Jun 26 at
4:03PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly, risk 70mph dawn-early morning, lessening to 40-50mph during morning, 30-40mph in afternoon, strongest north/east.
Effect of the wind on you?
Risk severe conditions from overnight and still difficult well into daytime, walking and balance challenging, slowly moderating.
How Wet?
Scattered showers
Overnight rain likely clears to leave showery conditions, most frequent north and western areas in morning, a scattering afternoon, may become more often dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting toward or above tops
Covering high terrain fairly widely from dawn, soon mostly confined above 1000m and gradually tending to thin and break higher, best and soonest in east & south.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun breaking through, most often eastern lower slopes. Visibility very good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 8C afternoon. Directly in the stronger winds feeling like -5 to -10C on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A changeable westerly Atlantic pattern this week and into the weekend. By later Wednesday into Thursday, a spell of upland gales and more widespread rain. Risk of another windy and wetter spell into Friday. Rain and cloud most frequent over western hills from Lake District northward. Temperatures this week near or slightly below average, with marked wind chill on tops. An improving trend from the south over the weekend, best conditions for Wales and eastern hills elsewhere. Drier and warmer conditions more likely into next week, though southwesterlies may still bring more cloud to the west, some rain mainly northwest Scotland.