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
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
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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Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
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.
Hazy, some fog banks
Distant views reduced by haze, locally foggy for a time in valleys and some hill slopes.
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 3rd October 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Oct 26 at
2:11PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Fine, sunny with light wind mountains in England and Wales. Much of Scotland will be dry but showers, mainly W & NW Highlands, where there will be persistent fog. Progressively windier northwards; near gale force northern Scotland.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Windy; fog mostly confined to higher tops.
How windy? (On the Munros)
West backing southwesterly 30mph, perhaps sometimes 35mph Cairngorm plateau.
Effect of the wind on you?
Considerable wind chill and walking often strenuous where exposed. In places balance difficult.
How Wet?
A few showers, but extensively dry
One or two brief showers, mainly west if A9 afternoon.
Cloud on the hills?
Confined to higher slopes; probably clearing eastern Cairngorms NP
Cloud mostly covering higher slopes most of morning; by midday west of A9 most cloud above 650m with breaks to 900m, perhaps 1050m. Eastwards across Cairngorms NP, the cloud base will rise further, by afternoon, mostly 1050-1200m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west of A9 to 70% in afternoon eastern Cairngorms NP
Sunshine and air clarity?
Intermittent sun, most sun eastern hills in Cairngorms NP. Very good visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6C, but will feel as cold as minus 5C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 4th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Oct 26 at
2:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly, increasing markedly with height to 50mph or on Cairngorm plateau 60mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Severe wind chill and walking extensively difficult. General mobility may be a challenge in places.
How Wet?
Occasional drizzly rain, mainly W of A9.
Drizzly rain now and again, mainly west of A9. Substantially or completely dry eastwards toward eastern mountains in Cairngorms NP.
Cloud on the hills?
Foggy across nearly all mountains all day
Persistent low cloud soon forming across most mountains, typically above 600 to 750m west of A9 and 900 to 1050m elsewhere. May sometimes clear Lochnagar area.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Pockets of sunshine lower slopes particularly east of A9, possibly widely Deeside. Very good visibility
How Cold? (at 900m)
10C. Will feel as cold as minus 6C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 5th October 2026
Last updated
Fri 2nd Oct 26 at
2:11PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southwesterly typically 40mph, but where exposed on higher summits sometimes 55mph. Sudden gusts some lower slopes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Difficult walking where exposed: balance strenuous in sudden gusts (some reaching lower slopes), and significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Occasional rain, mainly W of A9
Confidence low: Most likely occasional rain west of A9 and southern summits in Cairngorms NP, but rain only rarely if any reaching E & N Cairngorms NP. However, anticipate threat of the rain more persistent for a few hours.
Cloud on the hills?
Persistent fog higher areas.
Persistent fog above 500 to 750m most of region, although cloud base a little higher Monadhliath. Highest cloud base likely to be Deeside and northernmost Cairngorms where typically 900m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
10%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensively cloudy and hazy.
How Cold? (at 900m)
9C. Feeling like minus 5C in the wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
Rain at some stage more or less daily on most mountain areas through the coming week. However, total rainfall small, and frequently dry E & S Wales and S Pennines. Frequently windy Scottish Highlands, whilst progressively southwards, periods of strong winds will less frequent. A brief period of colder weather around the middle of next week will bring snowfall to some northern mountains.