Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Sunday'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.
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.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 8 to 12C 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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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.
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.
Cool to mild
Air temperature 8 to 12C 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
Sunday 6th July 2025
Last updated
Sat 5th Jul 25 at
4:29PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Cloud on higher hills with patchy rain for many areas in the morning. Later, a band of showers forms from central highlands southward into England, drifting down the Pennines; showers will give heavy bursts with a risk of few lightning flashes southern Scotland. Damp in Wales early, gradually improving.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Rain and cloud clears for a time, showers later
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 15-20mph, easternmost areas at times reaching 25mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small; comfortable walking affected at times in eastern areas.
How Wet?
Often raining with heavy bursts; easing for a time afternoon
Often raining with heavy bursts mixed in through morning, rain may be fairly persistent onto northern Cairngorms. Rain abates for a time afternoon, though risk of scattered showery bursts returns later.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive north early, lifting; returning to tops in rain
Northern slopes of Cairngorm plateau shrouded from 800m up through morning; higher bases and patchy over Monadhlaith and south Cairngorms. Lifting to largely clear tops though banks returning toe high terrain as showers arrive.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%, becoming 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Little or no sun, some glimpses later. Very good visibility, though often poor for a time north slopes.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7 or 8C, rising to 9C, locally 10C southern Cairngorms. Feeling just above freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 7th July 2025
Last updated
Sat 5th Jul 25 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25-35mph early, then 25-30mph most of the day, though stronger gusts over high tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking becoming impeded with buffeting gusts - stability challenged over exposed tops. Feeling cool.
How Wet?
Odd showers north, risk increasing later
Some early drizzle in cloud over highest tops with a few odd showers drifting onto north slopes. Risk more showers later, an odd flash of lightning possible east.
Cloud on the hills?
High northern slopes early, well breaking
Often covering high terrain of northern Cairngorm plateau through morning, banks at times drifting downslope; likely only over highest southern slopes. Gradually lifting and breaking for intermittent clear tops by later afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Increasingly sunny, best south slopes. Fair weather cloud may fill in late in the day. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C rising to 9 or 10C. Local warmer areas south Cairngorm slopes. Feeling just above freezing in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 8th July 2025
Last updated
Sat 5th Jul 25 at
4:29PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly shifting westerly, 15-25mph, strongest early. Winds may ease to a lull for a time midday/afternoon.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though notable gusts over tops when winds are stronger.
How Wet?
No rain until late
Local spots of drizzly rain arrive onto western hills late in the day, amounting to very little.
Cloud on the hills?
Tops clearing, cloud reforming later
Patches cling to high northern slopes of the Cairngorm plateau - southern aspects below summits may be largely cloud-free. Patchy cloud returns to tops later in the day with variable banks drifting downslope, as low as 900m north/west.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Becoming 90%, reducing to 40% late
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly extensive sun early though high cloud building, largely overcast later. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 13C, locally warmer on eastern Cairngorm slopes/Deeside.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
A generally settled start to the week as high pressure will become dominant across England and Wales Monday and Tuesday. Expect substantially dry conditions here through much of the week with good periods of sunshine. In Scotland, low pressure to the north will facilitate a consistent west-southwesterly wind, driving several weak fronts onto northwestern coasts as the week goes - often cloudy here with periods of rain, tending to be drier with sunny spells in east Scotland. Temperatures will be near average. Some uncertainty about next weekend - fronts are likely to continue drifting towards Scotland and north England, though possibly interrupted by dry and warm air from the continent.