Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today'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
Saturday 26th July 2025
Last updated
Fri 25th Jul 25 at
4:20PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Showery rain and fog over west Scotland, rain setting in into night. Clearer east highlands with only spots of rain. Very strong overnight winds for Scotland. Morning fog and patchy rain for northern England, tending to improve with cloud lifting off most Pennines. Morning cloud in Wales will also clear summits; northwest Wales last to clear.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Some patchy rain, hills increasingly clear; best east
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 15-20mph, occasional breezes up to 25mph over tops. Lightest winds around Deeside. Increasing to 25-30mph as night falls, further deteriorating overnight.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting ease of walking on higher terrain. Becoming strenuous on exposed higher tops late in the day, persistently strenuous overnight. Marked wind chill.
How Wet?
Patchy rain west, local patches spreading east
A little showery rain occasionally spilling in from the west, but eastern hills largely dry through morning. Risk of local showery rain rises through afternoon, possibly a heavier bursts later toward northeast.
Cloud on the hills?
Clearing many eastern tops; patchy on western tops
Near and west of the A9, often covering hills above 800-1000m, some variation. Mostly above 1000m in the Cairngorms with breaks to high tops increasing; possibly often clear afternoon, best in the east.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% west, rising to 50%; 80% east Cairngorms
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy most of the day. Decent sun breaks emerge for a time later afternoon before high cloud rebuilds from the west. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 or 9C, rising to 10C, locally 11C Deeside. Westernmost Monadhlaith may stay nearer 9C. Feeling near freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 27th July 2025
Last updated
Fri 25th Jul 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Westerly 30-35mph, easing to 15-25mph, stronger at times central highlands. Shifting northwesterly later.
Effect of the wind on you?
Comfortable walking often affected, notably central highlands. Walking strenuous at and before dawn. Feeling cool.
How Wet?
Showery rain on and off
Showery rain on and off most of the day, most frequent Monadhlaith and west Cairngorms. Rain possibly frequent or persistent for a few hours with heavy bursts.
Cloud on the hills?
Lifting to summits, increasingly above
Cloud fairly extensive over high terrain from dawn with some lower patches on western mountains. Tending to lift with breaks to many tops. Patches may intermittently return to high tops from time to time, decreasing in frequency later.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 70%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun, becoming more frequent later in the day. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8C rising to 9 or 10C, warmest on hills south of Cairngorm plateau. Feeling below freezing in strongest wind.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 28th July 2025
Last updated
Fri 25th Jul 25 at
4:20PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
West-northwesterly 15-20mph. Winds on the lighter side over eastern Cairngorms/Deeside.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small.
How Wet?
Little rain expected during daylight
A few odd spots of light rain in the morning will fade - easternmost Cairngorms may see a few spots through the day. A chance of rain arriving into Drumochter area as night falls.
Cloud on the hills?
Occasional banks over high terrain
Patchy cloud over high terrain from dawn will lift, breaking off most summits. Banks may return to high summits at times, notably on west/north aspects. East Cairngorms/Deeside substantially clear.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
Rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Intermittent sun becomes frequent, best on low slopes; high cloud arrives and thickens through afternoon. Excellent visibility.
How Cold? (at 900m)
6 to 7C, rising to 9C, locally to 10C east Cairngorms/Deeside.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
West-northwesterly winds with mixed weather will prevail as next week begins. Patchy rain and some heavier showers will come and go from the west, most often affecting west Scotland. Periods of rain will be punctuated with decent sun breaks, though northwest Scotland will struggle to clear for sun. Often breezy and temperatures will be near average, rising and falling as frontal systems pass - expect brief warm and humid spells. Some indication is emerging of high pressure becoming more dominant in early August, though periods of unsettled weather will interrupt its establishment - timing is uncertain.