Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Saturday'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.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
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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.
Snow and hail showers
Periods of bright or sunny conditions mixed with showers or flurries of snow and hail. Visibility may change rapidly from excellent to very poor.
Cold
Air temperature below 0C all day on higher mountains. Significant chill factor if exposed to strong winds. Suitable protective clothing required.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 29th November 2025
Last updated
Fri 28th Nov 25 at
4:25PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Snow showers toward northern Scotland, but much of the Highlands will be dry - sunshine and cloud breaks best toward southwest; sub-zero on tops, chilly northerly breeze. England and Wales sees rain fairly widely, snow falling on higher tops; wind very variable, but risk gales developing.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cold and breezy, some snow and hail showers north.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly, 15 to 25mph, tending to increase a little, more often 30mph toward dusk, 35mph at times into evening.
Effect of the wind on you?
Be prepared for significant wind chill in exposure on higher terrain, feeling blustery on the tops.
How Wet?
Brief snow and hail showers north
Scattered snow and hail showers, mostly northern Cairngorms to Monadhliath. Evening into night, risk periods of snow, persistent and heavier for a time north.
Cloud on the hills?
Varying, covering tops fairly widely
Cloud cover variable across area, but often across the tops above 900m; most persistent north, breaks higher and more often in the southern Cairngorms NP.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%, to 50% areas near Glen Garry
Sunshine and air clarity?
A mix of cloud and patchy sun; the latter mostly in the south. Visibility excellent, but briefly very poor in showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C. Feeling like -12C if exposed to stronger wind.
Freezing Level
600m; partly frozen terrain lower down at least in morning.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 30th November 2025
Last updated
Fri 28th Nov 25 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northeasterly 20-25mph at first, dropping light and variable. Then likely to strengthen southerly into night to 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Marked wind chill in exposure for a time, but becoming small. Deteriorating onward into night.
How Wet?
Local flurries
Occasional snow flurries mostly northern Cairngorms to areas north from Deeside.
Cloud on the hills?
Risk cloud banks slow to clear N/E
Cloud banks may shroud higher and northern Cairngorms above 800-1000m in the morning at least. Cloud more broken south & westwards. Tending to break up, but some patches may cling all day.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Cloudy northern areas, some sun toward south, then sunnier widely, before thin high cloud builds from west later. Visibility excellent out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
-2 or -3C, small variation with height. Feeling nearer -10C if exposed to breeze.
Freezing Level
Much terrain frozen with frost into glens, only partial thawing lowest sunlit slopes up to around 400-500m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 1st December 2025
Last updated
Fri 28th Nov 25 at
4:25PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Uncertain forecast: Southerly - a possible lull after overnight gales, but risk a sudden increase again during day to 50mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small perhaps for half the day at least, but beware conditions worsening again to give difficult walking.
How Wet?
Risk rain and hill snow developing
Overnight hill snow finishing mainly as rain toward higher slopes, fading by dawn. Largely dry for a few hours, but risk further rain developing from south with time, turning back to snow on tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Varied, some breaks north
Patchy cloud at various heights from dawn, more extensive in southern areas, but breaks to some higher slopes for a time north of Cairngorms. Lowering widely if rain/snow returns.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun mostly obscured by high cloud, but may be bright with good visibility in morning, then dull overcast skies, visibility poor in rain/snow.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1 or 2C, later 0C. Feeling like -10C or below if exposed to stronger winds.
Freezing Level
Rising up to dawn, to around 1100-1200m, briefly higher. Tending to drop later to around 900-1000m.
Planning Outlook
After a lull on Sunday, areas of low pressure then circulating to the west and north will dominate the weather pattern into next week, bringing generally unsettled weather. Southwesterly air and briefly milder into Monday, with rain for most places at times, but prolonged heavier rain for England and Wales. Then typically cooler with showery conditions - higher mountains near or just below freezing point likely for the remainder of the week - some snow on tops, occasional hail. Wind speed likely to vary, some squally gusty spells, but also some lulls possible during the week ahead.