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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
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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.
Patchwork of cloud and sun
Dry most or all day. A mix of cloud and sunshine. Occasional cloud banks drifting over higher slopes, lifting above the tops.
Warm
Comfortable temperatures on the hills, 10 to 15C on tops, feeling pleasantly warm especially on lower ground. Beware of feeling cooler if exposed to wind on higher terrain.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 21st July 2026
Last updated
Mon 20th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Breezy over northern Scottish mountains, tending to strengthen; fairly light wind elsewhere. Most places dry with some patchy cloud on tops largely clearing. Feeling warm in the sun. Northwest Highland coasts hold low cloud and some drizzle much of day. Chance of a late shower over the Pennines.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Largely dry, patchy cloud on tops. Moderate-fresh breeze.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 20 to 30mph, strongest over Cairngorm plateau, gusty in places, tending to strengthen widely 30mph, from dusk into night 40mph over high terrain.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery especially higher Cairngorms, affecting comfortable walking in places, later strenuous on tops, more challenging by dusk; marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Rare drizzle
Odd pockets of drizzle mostly toward the north early in day, but largely dry across the area.
Cloud on the hills?
Capping tops at times north & west
Cloud banks mostly above 900-1000m toward Monadhliath, north and western Cairngorms, tending to lift and break higher during day. Only patches further southeast, hills often clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% northwest, to 80% southeast
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, glimpses of sun, best toward Braemar and Deeside. Visibility very good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 13C, coolest if in cloud, warmest southern Cairngorms NP afternoon. Feeling like 0C if exposed to wind on tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 22nd July 2026
Last updated
Mon 20th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25-30mph early in day with some stronger gusts in east, tending to ease to 20mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery particularly in morning, affecting comfortable walking and feeling rather chilly on exposed tops; likely improving.
How Wet?
Light rain and drizzle fading
Some steady rain and drizzle over a few hours in the morning on northern Cairngorms and Monadhliath, tending to become patchy. Less toward Glen Garry.
Cloud on the hills?
Shrouding high terrain, breaks south
Covering hills fairly widely above 800 to 1000m in the morning, lowest in northern areas. Lifting to 1100m or above, then breaks forming into afternoon, best southward, whilst banks may linger northern tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 50% north, 70% south.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy north, some glimpses of sun south, may break through a little more widely afternoon. Visibility reduced around dampness, then very good below cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising to 11 to 13C, warmest toward south and east. In morning, feeling below 0C in the wind, near -5C high tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 23rd July 2026
Last updated
Mon 20th Jul 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 15 to 25mph, strongest sustained speeds over higher Cairngorm plateau.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small effect on walking, but feeling breezy and quite cool on high terrain.
How Wet?
A little drizzle northwest
Odd patches of drizzle north Cairngorms to Monadhliath, some light rain mainly later. Largely dry further south and east.
Cloud on the hills?
Early low cloud lifting and breaking
Some cloud banks from 500-700m upward early in the day, particularly northern areas. Base rising to 1000-1200m during morning, increasingly lifting and breaking above most tops during afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy start, visibility becoming very good below cloud, occasional sun breaking through, best in east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9 or 10C from dawn, rising to 12 to 14C afternoon, warmest in eastern areas. Feeling near 0C in the wind in morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Largely dry weather continues this week as high pressure stays nearby. Very dry ground and high fire risk, beware of some ongoing fire management with locally restricted access to hills. A prevailing northwesterly wind brings further low cloud and some drizzle onto northwestern Scottish mountains - more widely across the western Highlands later in the week as the flow turns more westerly, with occasional steadier light rain. Patchy cloud over tops elsewhere, best sunshine and warmth in east and south-facing areas. Westerly winds strengthen everywhere into the weekend, bringing some rain and showers to all regions. A changeable and cooler outlook is expected into the last week of July.