Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today'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.
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.
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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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
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.
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
Saturday 25th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 24th Apr 26 at
4:05PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Low fog in north and east Scotland in the morning, lifting and breaking, may linger in eastern areas; chilly here too for several hours. Often sunny England and Wales with warm temperatures; some high cloud around, but beware sunburn risk. Later cooling in southeast Scotland and N Pennines. Negligible wind.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Varied cloud lifts to high terrain; turning chilly north/east
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable 10mph and often less most of the day. A southerly trend as evening approaches, speeds over tops approaching 15mph into night.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible.
How Wet?
Any rain unlikely
Small chance of an odd spot of light rain, though likely widely dry all day.
Cloud on the hills?
Early low cloud lifts to summits, later breaking
A layer of low fog from dawn around northern Cairngorms and eastern hills/Deeside, mostly below 700m; fog well-broken towards Drumochter. The layer lifts through morning, mostly to 1000m and up for several hours, and beginning to break from the west later afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% early (summits above cloud), reducing to 40%
Sunshine and air clarity?
A bright morning on summits above cloud with excellent visibility, deteriorating for a time as cloud lifts, but then improving again from west later.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, cooler to the north and east and may drop towards 2 or 3C here for a time, and similarly dropping towards the Moray Firth. Always mildest Drumochter.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. Patchy frost at dawn inland glens and sheltered higher areas.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 26th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 24th Apr 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South-southwesterly 10-15mph; some variability and trending westerly. Occasional gustiness.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small, though some local gusty spots, and not just on high terrain.
How Wet?
Scattered showers, most afternoon
Showers here and there, dry periods as well; a greater risk of heavy bursts of showers in the afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Early cloud below summits, largely clear
Cloud at various heights in the morning, mostly below 1000m, and most extensive southern Cairngorm slopes/Deeside; only patchy mist north and soon clear. Cloud lifts and gradually dissipates through morning, a few odd caps if showers occur.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
80% (summits above morning cloud)
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sunshine, best in the morning north but weakened by high cloud. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
3 or 4C, warming to 7C. Always at least a degree warmer on northern Cairngorm slopes, including at dawn.
Freezing Level
Above the summits. A chance of patchy light frosts in some eastern glens and corries.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 27th April 2026
Last updated
Fri 24th Apr 26 at
4:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable, generally northwesterly, 10-15mph, lower speeds at times too. Strong gusts around afternoon showers.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though occasional inconvenient gusts over high terrain, strongest afternoon.
How Wet?
Afternoon showers, risk heavy
Outbreaks of showers afternoon, which may be quite heavy, the greatest risk easternmost Cairngorms.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly high terrain, breaks for a time
Most terrain above 900m shrouded in the morning, cloud most extensive to the north and east at first. Bases lift to mostly above 1000m, breaks forming for a time, but then returning more frequently afternoon, particularly east where bases may lower towards 900m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun. Visibility very good after cloud lifts.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising to 8C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
High pressure remains dominant this weekend and into next week: regularly sunny and pleasantly warm days; summit temperatures often at or above 10C, many valleys will warm up toward 20C afternoon. Risk of sunburn in strong sunshine and very dry springtime ground conditions with high risk of wildfire. Risk of showers Sunday and Monday, which could be heavy Monday, some risk of thunderstorms developing in England, though confidence is low. The middle of next week remains settled with sunshine, patchy dawn mist that soon fades. An easterly wind establishes in Wales from mid-week, then a rising risk of wind pushing northward with rain following. Long-term detail is very uncertain, but a trend towards cooler, more unsettled weather is indicated in early May.