Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Friday'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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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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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.
Sunshine and showers
A good amount of dry and bright weather, but scattered bursts of rain, some may be locally heavy.
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
Friday 21st August 2026
Last updated
Thu 20th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Early showers in north Scotland, then a dry afternoon, though cloud lingers on northern tops. Largely dry start for south Scotland and England, mostly clear hills, then afternoon showers forming, particularly over the Pennines. Showers on and off in Wales, some heavy bursts. Cool-to-mild and little wind.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Morning showers from the north, fading but tops stay in cloud
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 15-25mph early, strongest eastern Cairngorms; shifting northwesterly and easing, towards 10mph western tops.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, but chilly over the high tops, comfort of walking occasionally affected in strongest wind east.
How Wet?
Morning showers, substantially dry afternoon
Showers drift from the north, a few steadier falls with heavy bursts in the early hours (particularly north slopes), but soon scattering; showers at and before dawn may fall as sleet/snow on Ben Macdui summit. Becoming substantially dry afternoon, rare light spotty rain from the north.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive early, lifting to high terrain
Fairly extensive from 500-600m upwards northern Cairngorms, nearer 800m southern slopes. A gradual lifting trend with time, southern slopes substantially clearing, through breaks above 1000m only brief, with lower bases on north slopes during showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, a few sunny glimpses on lower slopes south of the high Cairngorms. Very good visibility out of cloud, best south of Cairngorm plateau.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C rising to 6 or 7C, mildest southern Cairngorms. Feeling like -3C in strongest wind east in the morning.
Freezing Level
Just above freezing on the highest Cairngorm summits at dawn, lifting higher.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 22nd August 2026
Last updated
Thu 20th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15-25mph, notably stronger speeds over high terrain and gusty, particularly early.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small in places; strongest wind over tops affecting ease of walking with a distinct chilly feeling.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
Some fine drizzle over high terrain in the morning, this tending to fade into dry conditions; a damp feel comes and goes on the tops when cloud lowers, and a brief periods where some light showery rain drifts from the west.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to high terrain for a time
Tops covered to start the day, varied lower banks, particularly north towards 800-900m at times. More broken south Cairngorms, and soon lifting, perhaps a brief windows of clear summits. Cloud returns more extensively on high terrain through afternoon, always lowest north.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun on southern Cairngorms, but cloudier periods likely as well. Visibility very good under cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 7 or 8C, mildest Deeside. Feeling near or below freezing in direct wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 23rd August 2026
Last updated
Thu 20th Aug 26 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-southwesterly 15-20mph, strongest early with sustained speeds to 25mph or briefly higher.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, though quite breeze over the Cairngorm plateau early in the day.
How Wet?
Substantially dry
A little drizzle affecting high terrain early in the day, notably west, and fading. Small chance of odd spots of light rain afternoon, but more likely dry.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to high terrain
Fairly extensive at dawn, some varied layers of cloud, including patches into glens/corries. Cloud will lift, mostly isolating above 900-1000m, highest bases east, but any high summit breaks will be fleeting (if any).
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy, a few bright glimpses breaking out on low terrain. Excellent visibility out of cloud.
How Cold? (at 900m)
7C rising slightly, locally 9 or 10C eastern areas. Feeling near freezing in early wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits.
Planning Outlook
The weekend is often cloudy in north and west Scotland, some drizzle on the summits with occasional light rain, amounting to little. Drier south and east Scotland, but cloud will reach here too, particularly on Sunday. England and Wales will be largely dry and bright this weekend with little wind and mild temperatures. On Sunday, high pressure west of the country may facilitate local inversion conditions, but low cloud likely quick to fade. Next week begins dry and bright, but wind shifts southeasterly and pressure drops again as the week goes, bringing periods of cloud and rain (sometimes heavy) to most hill groups, some stronger wind at times. Similar conditions persist into the following weekend: generally unsettled but a chance of a settled window, best in the east.