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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
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 6th July 2026
Last updated
Sun 5th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Windy and generally wet across Scottish hills, rain and drizzle most persistent in northwestern Highlands. Breezy, damp and drizzly too for northern England. Drier and lighter winds for Wales. Poor visibility with low cloud cloaking many hills through the day, best of any breaks toward east.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Gusting gale-force over tops. Rain, drizzle, cloud on tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 30 to 40mph, some variability, lowest speeds typically afternoon; strongest gusts over high tops 50mph for periods.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking impeded on high terrain, often strenuous conditions with notable wind chill; gusts challenging stability.
How Wet?
Drizzle and frequently raining morning west
Frequent rain western and northern hills, most persistent over Monadhliath/Drumochter. Some drier windows, but drizzly on the high Cairngorms. Driest on lower slopes towards Braemar during afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Extensive at dawn to at least middle slopes widely, lowest Drumochter where patches to forest canopies around rain; higher bases east Cairngorms. Lifting slightly, to 700-900m, always highest east, higher breaks Deeside when rain ceases.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, often dull western hill groups with poor visibility. Very good east if out of cloud and rain, chance an odd glimpse of sun.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C rising a degree, locally to 11C easternmost hills. Feeling near freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 7th July 2026
Last updated
Sun 5th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 35-40mph dawn, strong gusts over tops approaching 55mph; easing to 25-30mph, staying gusty.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging in exposure early, gusts knocking you off balance and significant wind chill. Easing but staying strenuous.
How Wet?
Patchy rain, mostly west
Rain drifts from the west, patchy and often light in nature; some extended steadier falls may occur. Only odd spots reach further east where largely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive, high breaks forming east
Fairly extensive to middle elevations early, lowest west where locally to 400-500m, some ragged lower patches in early rain. A lifting trend, to around 700-800m Monadhliath/west Cairngorms, eastern areas seeing breaks approach 1100m or briefly higher.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%, to 40% east
Sunshine and air clarity?
A few glimpses of weak sunshine, best western hills. Very good visibility below cloud; sudden changes on high terrain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 or 10C, rising slightly, to 12C eastern hills. Feeling near freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 8th July 2026
Last updated
Sun 5th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West to southwesterly 15 to 25mph, occasional 30mph around high tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but some noticeable gustiness in places not just on high tops.
How Wet?
Rain unlikely
Rare fine drizzle mainly west of A9 if in early low cloud on windward slopes.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied early patches clearing many hills
Banks of cloud around mid-slopes in morning, most extensive near/west of the A9, may linger for several hours. Patches may remain near Ben Alder, largely clearing elsewhere. High tops above 1100m may start above cloud.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Varied cloud and sun in morning, then increasingly sunny with fair-weather cloud. Visibility good or very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
12C rising to 15C afternoon, locally slightly warmer easternmost hills.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
A damp start westerly pattern continues at the start of the week, particularly in Scotland, then a drier and warmer window builds into the middle of the week: very warm in England and Wales, spells of sunshine spread northward, and lighter wind. Some patchy rain continues through late week in western Scotland though detail is uncertain and more often dry. High pressure is indicated to expand across Scotland through next weekend bringing more widely dry and warm conditions in the extended outlook into mid July - easterly winds likely develop, particularly England and Wales; a chance of some thunderstorms.