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.
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.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 1 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate 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.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 1 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
Tuesday 7th October 2025
Last updated
Mon 6th Oct 25 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
A swathe of fairly persistent rain and drizzle drifts gradually southwards over Scotland into northern England, some heavier pulses of rain. Brighter skies follow across the Highlands from the northwest, cloud base rising, brief showers. Wales has low cloud and drizzle in west. Gusty southwesterlies.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Patchy rain clears, cloud lifts and breaks; gusty wind eases.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwest then westerly, gusty 40-50mph from dawn into early morning, in places 60mph high Cairngorms at first, but tending to ease markedly in morning to 20-25mph. Starting to rise a little into the night to 30mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Buffeting and difficult walking early morning, improving with time, to become fairly small, though feeling cool in exposure.
How Wet?
Rain in morning clearing southwards
Rain on and off in the morning, most persistent toward Drumochter, occasionally heavier. Smaller amounts overall toward Deeside. Tending to break up into the afternoon to become dry, soonest toward Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Improving to higher tops, clearing
Covering higher slopes fairly widely early morning, lowest bases over hills near and west of A9, 800-1000m. Higher breaks eastwards. Rising as rain clears, lifting toward upper slopes and good breaks to most tops afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% rising to 80% afternoon
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy morning, then brighter skies with sunshine breaking through into afternoon. Visibility poor in rain, improving to be very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C from before dawn, then dropping during morning to 4 or 5C. Directly in the wind feeling near -5C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but may drop close to Ben Macdui top later in the day.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 8th October 2025
Last updated
Mon 6th Oct 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 25 to 35mph, likely strongest into the afternoon, later may reach 50mph higher Cairngorms.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery, challenging balance on ridges, increasingly arduous walking on some high terrain. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy light rain at times
Occasional drizzle or light showery rain spilling in from the west, most common in afternoon. Small amounts overall, locally more frequent for periods Monadhliath hills.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher tops, lowering during day
Varied cloud banks mostly above 900-1000m in the morning, best breaks to upper slopes in the east. Tending to lower and fill in more frequently over the tops with time into afternoon, dropping to 700m, or later lower western areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% later 20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Occasional sun in morning, best in east. Good visibility, some haze. Cloudier and reducing visibility where drizzle occurs afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising during day to 6C. Feeling like -5C in the wind, later -10C higher tops.
Freezing Level
Near freezing point on highest Cairngorms summits in morning, then rising.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 9th October 2025
Last updated
Mon 6th Oct 25 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 40 to 50mph, up to 60mph on higher Cairngorms; powerful gusts through passes and downslope to east.
Effect of the wind on you?
Arduous walking, difficult keeping balance in places, gusts may knock you over. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy drizzle
A little drizzle in the air at times, mostly areas near and west of the A9.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly higher and western tops
Most cloud above 800-900m, but often covering tops around Drumochter. Further east, cloud higher and more broken, at times to upper slopes, though high Cairngorms tops may be often capped.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west, to 50% east.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, most frequent in east. Slight haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 8C, locally warmer east. Feeling like -7C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Strong westerly winds prevail into the second half of this week, gale-force over Scottish mountains; prepare for considerable chill factor. Drizzly rain and low cloud most persistent western areas. Pressure gradually rises from the south, improving conditions toward the weekend as wind drops lighter, most places become dry and cloud tends to break. Northwest Scotland likely to hold on to stronger winds, cloud and some drizzle into Saturday. Scope for inversion conditions to develop with some valley fog and varied low cloud. Settled weather is likely to continue into next week, with pleasant days and cool nights.