Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Monday'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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Monday 3rd August 2026
Last updated
Sun 2nd Aug 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Some rain drifts north across Scotland, with low cloud banks mostly on south-facing hill groups. A gusty east-southeasterly wind all day England & Wales, and strengthens with time across the Highlands. Humid with warm sun and thin high cloud for England & Wales, later risk of rain in west.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Some rain and varied cloud; gusty wind develops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 10-15mph at first; tending to strengthen from south toward 25mph by early afternoon; very gusty in places. Continuing to increase into night to 35mph, stronger gusts high terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly fairly small, but expect sudden gusts to develop (sometimes on lower slopes) making balance tricky. Deteriorating further into night.
How Wet?
Rain develops on and off
As cloud thickens from south, rain will spread northwards, local steadier rain over southern hills for periods, patchier northward, but odd heavier moments. Onward well into night, constant heavier rain moves in from the south.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly south and around rain
Northern hills starting largely clear. Cloud banks on some slopes mainly toward Deeside in the morning and elsewhere in rain. Tending to more often cap higher slopes, but some breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% dropping to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A little weak sun through thin high cloud in north, soon mostly overcast. Excellent or superb visibility, but dropping markedly in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C, little change all day. Feeling near to freezing directly in the stronger wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 4th August 2026
Last updated
Sun 2nd Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 25 to in places a gusty 35mph. May ease toward 15mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Sudden buffeting in gusty winds both higher up and on some lower slopes and valleys. Expect balance to be tricky.
How Wet?
Raining most or all day
Bands of rain will circulate within an area of low pressure, giving rain intermittently or frequently throughout the day.
Cloud on the hills?
Blanket of fog across the hills
Blanket of fog across higher ares, sometimes the cloud below 300m Deeside. Breaks to 700m, mainly west of A9.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine unlikely. Visibility often poor.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 5th August 2026
Last updated
Sun 2nd Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly later northerly, 20 to 30mph, possibly a lull to lower speeds, mainly in south; risk of increasing further later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Conditions likely to vary during the day, in places fairly small, but expect ease of walking to be affected for periods.
How Wet?
Frequent or persistent rain
Areas of rain likely to affect the region much of the day, likely setting in heavier for prolonged periods with some thundery downpours mixed in.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Shrouding mountains widely much of the day, with ragged patches from lower slopes up around heavier rain. Rare breaks toward some higher slopes.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun. Visibility poor during rain, occasionally improving.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 to 9C, coolest toward the north, little change all day. Feeling near or below freezing in the stronger wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Low pressure circulates slowly over Britain into midweek bringing areas of rain and thundery showers widely, accompanied by brisk winds up to gale force for periods. Trending toward westerlies later in the week and next weekend, by then most rain and low cloud in western Scotland, but showery rain elsewhere at times. Generally fresh temperatures widely, often in mid-single figures over Scottish high tops. Despite falls of rain, beware of ongoing fire management restricting access to hills locally.