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
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.
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.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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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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.
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.
Clear
Excellent or superb visibility, no navigation issues.
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 26th May 2026
Last updated
Mon 25th May 26 at
4:30PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Low cloud and early drizzle in northwest Scotland, improving with cloud thinning and breaking, but staying cool toward the far north. Very warm and sunny for England and Wales. Chance of isolated late heavy showers forming, but mostly dry.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Soon fairly light wind. Hills largely clear. Risk a late shower.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 10 to 20mph at first, up to 25mph Cairngorm Plateau, but easing to 10mph or less by afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery start, but soon becoming small as the winds ease out.
How Wet?
An isolated shower possible later
Possibly an odd burst of rain forming later afternoon, mainly toward the south and east of the Cairngorms NP, drifting slowly westward into evening, but most places likely remain dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly little, some low cloud later east
Any patches or caps of cloud over the tops early in day all clearing leaving the mountains clear. Later in day, low cloud may drift in from the North Sea onto hills near Deeside, gradually extending inland.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90% dropping by evening to 50% east
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun and thin high cloud, may cloud over into afternoon. Visibility very good or excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C at dawn, lifting to 11 to 13C by mid afternoon, warmest in southwest.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 27th May 2026
Last updated
Mon 25th May 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Varying in direction, or very weak south-southeasterly, 5 to 10mph, but perhaps flat calm for periods.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible
How Wet?
Most likely dry
Small risk of isolated spots of drizzle where in low cloud.
Cloud on the hills?
Low cloud dispersing; hills then clear.
Early patches or banks of low cloud, perhaps mist into the glens up to mid slopes; upper slopes clear above. Dispersing readily to leave hills clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
70% lifting to 90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sunshine at first, mainly in west and over the upper slopes, but soon expanding to all slopes by midday. Visibility good or very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C lifting to 10 to 14C, highest temperature Cairngorm Plataeu over to Monadhliath.
Freezing Level
Well above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 28th May 2026
Last updated
Mon 25th May 26 at
4:30PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
South or southeasterly 15-25mph, may start less locally, but likely strengthening to gusty 35mph, risk over 40mph in east.
Effect of the wind on you?
Increasingly blustery, affecting ease of walking and balance on exposed terrain.
How Wet?
Risk thundery rain late in day
Most likely only toward evening, chance of odd bursts of rain forming or moving in from the south, possibly thundery by dusk into night - the risk of rain then becomes greater especially west & southern areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Little if any
The mountains largely clear all day. Toward dusk onward, some ragged patches may form over tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
90%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Sun and thin high cloud, tending to thicken during the day from the south. Visibility good, some haze.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10 to 12C, rising to 14 to 16C, warmest north & west Cairngorms NP afternoon.
Freezing Level
Well above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Very warm air extends into Scotland during midweek on southerly winds. Isolated bursts of rain form, greater risk toward Wales by Wednesday night, then drifting variably northward during Thursday daytime - some uncertain local detail and timing, but scattered thunderstorms are possible by this time. Winds also strengthening and becoming very gusty. Some rain in western Scotland by Thursday night which may linger into Friday here on westerly winds, but a fine end to the week for many places. Further rain and low cloud likely returns to western Scotland over the weekend, possible showers elsewhere. A more unsettled west-southwesterly pattern is likely into early June, cooler with rain and stronger winds for periods.