Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Wednesday'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.
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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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.
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
Wednesday 21st October 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Oct 26 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Slow-moving areas of cloud and rain make for variable conditions fairly widely. A swathe of gales sweeps across Wales, later into England with heavy rain and low cloud. Brighter, showery weather follows into Wales later. Several pulses of rain in Scotland; steady falls in the east through morning, tending to lessen.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Steady rain slowly breaks up, light wind for a time
How windy? (On the Munros)
Likely to vary, south-southeasterly 20-30mph early morning, then a lull with variable direction, later switching westerly and restrengthening, tops speeds to 25-30mph over tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small for periods, but feeling chilly if exposed on high terrain, may be more blustery at times, notably early and late in the day.
How Wet?
Morning rain gradually breaks up
Persistent rain from overnight lingers into the morning, particularly toward east, trending patchy as the day goes, and perhaps well-broken into evening, just some showers near and west of the A9, increasingly falling as snow on high Cairngorms.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, some improvement later
Covering higher mountains, varied bases, though fairly extensive above 700-800m in the morning, and lingering here for longer in the east. Will begin to lift and break up somewhat, though breaks to high summits rare during daylight, if any.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy. Visibility mostly poor, locally improving as cloud and rain begin to break up.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C through morning, dropping later afternoon to finish around 2C and may drop towards 0C overnight. Feeling nearer -5C if exposed to wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits likely all day, but into evening likely dropping to 1200m, then nearer 900-1000m overnight.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 22nd October 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Oct 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly 20-25mph, trending south-southeasterly into/overnight and greatly strengthening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small during daylight, deteriorating overnight.
How Wet?
Many hills dry
A few showers will drift onto hills around Drumochter from time to time, falling as snow on high terrain at first. Most hills dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied caps on summits
Early patchy low cloud soon lifts and breaks up to just passing caps above 900-1000m, mostly western areas around showers. Highest Cairngorms may see passing cloud caps even out of showers, slopes to the north mostly clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine in and out, most often sunny north of high Cairngorms. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0C lifting to 2 or 3C. Feeling near -5C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
900-1000m, lifting to or just above the high summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 23rd October 2026
Last updated
Tue 20th Oct 26 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
East-southeasterly 25-40mph, will vary in speed and direction, perhaps a lull later but greatly restrengthening into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Strenuous walking in exposure with considerable wind chill, though variable, and may lessen to locally fairly small.
How Wet?
Rain most of the day, particularly south
Steady rain soon sets in from the south, persistent with heavy moments on high Cairngorms and south slopes nearly all day. Rain patchier/lighter north of high Cairngorms for a time, but steadier falls likely here later too.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive
Blanket cloud to middle slopes most or all day, lowest south Cairngorms where patches form in glen/corries. Some variation north Cairngorms, and perhaps more broadly as wind shifts direction, but any breaks above 800-900m unlikely.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, mostly dull and poor visibility on high terrain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C, later lowering from the west towards 0C. Feeling near or below -10C in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, later lowering to 900-1000m.
Planning Outlook
Thursday offers a window of brighter weather, a few showers will linger on west coastal areas, particularly west Scottish highlands. Thursday evening into Friday sees a deep area of low pressure move across England & Wales. The exact track of the low remains uncertain, but expect periods of heavy rain widely, turning to snow on high Scottish summits. Varied wind, perhaps a lull in some north areas on Friday, but gales soon sweep into Wales and gradually spread widely. Varied conditions follow over the weekend: another brief window of high pressure on Saturday morning, followed by another area of low pressure for widespread rain and gales. Atlantic westerlies remain dominant next week, bringing several low pressure systems with rain and wind, punctuated by brief clearer windows.