Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Sunday'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.
Dry and sunny
Extensive sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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.
Dry and sunny
Extensive sunshine. The mountains free of cloud once any early mist patches disperse.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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
Sunday 18th October 2026
Last updated
Sat 17th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A fine but cool day with sunshine and mountains largely free of cloud, fragments on some slopes and early mist on low terrain. Cloud banks drift onto Skye more often. Light winds for much of Scotland, a fresher northeasterly breeze for England and Wales, which brings odd light showers.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Chilly, but light wind. Dry with sunshine, mostly clear hills.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 10-15mph, some local variation in speed and direction locally, tending to increase a little late in day to 15-20mph around high tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, but feeling chilly in any breeze.
How Wet?
No rain expected
Cloud on the hills?
Little or none
Patchy mist in sheltered glens and corries at dawn will soon begin to lift and largely dissipate. A little ragged cloud drifting around higher slopes briefly (highest tops may be above this for a time), but ultimately clearing.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensive sun. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2 or 3C, rising to 4C north Cairngorms; little change with added height. Feeling like -3 to -5C in strongest breeze.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but frosts common at dawn on sheltered slopes/into glens, thawing in the morning.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 19th October 2026
Last updated
Sat 17th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southerly 15 to 25mph, locally variable and some gusty spots. Speeds tending to rise later, 30mph from dusk.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but feeling chilly and later may affect comfortable walking in exposure.
How Wet?
Largely dry
Some drizzly rain may develop over hills toward Deeside and Braemar.
Cloud on the hills?
Lowest cloud south and east
A layer of cloud above 600-700m likely to affect south and eastern hills much of the day and rolling across higher Cairngorms slopes, mostly above 800m; very highest tops may be above cloud. Patchier banks toward Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, to 60% Monadhliath
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine mainly toward Strathspey and Monadhliath with excellent visibility, cloudier further south and east, reduced visibility if damp.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 5C, little change all day and small variation with height over the mountains. Feeling like 0 to -5C in exposure to wind.
Freezing Level
Frost widely in glens and some sheltered higher areas early morning; otherwise above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 20th October 2026
Last updated
Sat 17th Oct 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 25 to 40mph, gusty around higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking, on some terrain more strenuous with gusts affecting balance. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and drizzle mostly south
Drizzly rain most frequent southern Cairngorms NP, may become steadier rain with time. Small patchy amounts toward Strathspey, for periods more often dry for Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, locally better north
Toward the south, low cloud blanketing many hills in fog from lower elevations upward. Shrouding the Cairngorms fairly extensively, but cloud base nearer 700-800m to north, local higher breaks.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overcast, dull and misty from many lower slopes upward, but locally better visibility below cloud toward Strathspey.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4 or 5C, little change all day. Feeling like -3 to -7C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
The new week starts with some rain and wind in Wales and south Pennines, staying drier for much of Scotland on Monday, but with strengthening southeasterly wind, cloud increasingly shrouding all hills and becoming widely damp onward into Tuesday, blanket low cloud shrouding hills to some lower elevations. A more unsettled pattern returns widely as the week goes on as winds return to Atlantic southwesterlies. A few windows of brighter weather in eastern areas, but periods of strong wind and heavy rain into late week and next weekend as a series of fronts and low pressure systems sweep in from the southwest, risk of gales becoming severe at times on higher mountain terrain.