Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Monday's Forecast
Windy, walking impeded
Blustery conditions enough to give buffeting on higher terrain or affect balance on exposed ridges. 25 to 40mph.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Hazy, some fog banks
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Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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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.
Patchy cloud and winter sun
Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and sun, patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes.
Hazy, some fog banks
Visibility reduced around cloud banks, hazier on some lower slopes. Locally some improvements possible out of cloud.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Winter kit required on higher terrain
Snow cover over higher mountains. Safe progress over some terrain will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 19th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 18th Jan 26 at
4:17PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Rain near the west coast of Scotland, largely dry inland, but low cloud covering southern Highlands widely, higher and more broken cloud northward. Rain or drizzle and blanket fog over the Pennines, drier for Lakes and Wales, with best cloud breaks northern areas. Southerly winds strongest N/W Scotland, gusty.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Windy, gusty to north. Lowest cloud south, generally dry.
How windy? (On the Munros)
South to southeasterly 25 to 35mph, gusty around higher mountains, particularly downslope around northern corries.
Effect of the wind on you?
Blustery in exposure, starting to affect comfortable walking, not just on highest terrain. Considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
Generally dry
Rare snow grains or fine drizzle where in cloud mainly southern areas.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly south and higher Cairngorms
Lowest and most persistent cloud banks from Glen Garry to Deeside, to some mid-slopes. Cloud banks likely drift over higher Cairngorms, higher bases northward, with some breaks to tops toward Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20% south, to 50% northwest.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Weak sun mainly toward Strathspey. Visibility good away from cloud, but likely dull toward south.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or -1C, small change with height. Feeling like -7 to -10C directly in the wind.
Freezing Level
700 to 900m, may rise locally just above freezing higher up. Partly frozen terrain into some glens.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Tuesday 20th January 2026
Last updated
Sun 18th Jan 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 30 to 45mph, tending to strengthen, very gusty in places including downslope around northern corries.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking and making balance challenging, blustery not just on tops; considerable wind chill.
How Wet?
A little rain, snow on tops
Patchy areas of rain moving northwards, snow falling mostly above 900m. Small amounts northern Cairngorms and Monadhliath.
Cloud on the hills?
Most persistent south, breaks north
Covering upper slopes most of day, to some mid-slopes in south Cairngorms NP, higher breaks northward, clearing above 1000m for periods.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Largely cloudy, brightest toward Strathspey, visibility good below cloud. Hazier toward south and east.
How Cold? (at 900m)
1C. Wind chill feeling like -10 to -13C.
Freezing Level
1000 to 1100m.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Wednesday 21st January 2026
Last updated
Sun 18th Jan 26 at
4:17PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Southeasterly 45 to 60mph, risk 70mph higher Cairngorm plateau, plus powerful gusts downslope to north/west.
Effect of the wind on you?
Challenging conditions widely, any mobility may be difficult in exposure on high terrain. Severe wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain and upland snow
Snow falling above 800m, rain lower down, in places wetter higher up at times, most persistent Deeside across southern Cairngorms NP, smaller amounts toward Strathspey.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, lowest south/east
Shrouding the mountains widely, from 700 to 900m up from Lochnagar to Glen Garry, higher bases northwestward, some breaks to tops at times Monadhliath.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
20%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare if any weak sun mostly Strathspey, where visibility good if dry. Mostly poor visibility, whiteout high tops.
How Cold? (at 900m)
0 or 1C. Wind chill feeling like -13 to -17C where exposed on higher areas.
Freezing Level
900 to 1000m, but some slopes just above freezing higher up on western side of Cairngorms.
Planning Outlook
South to southeasterly winds prevail during the week ahead, widely strengthening to become persistently windy, gales over mountains with powerful gusts. Mountains near to freezing point in Scotland, typically just above freezing to high tops in England and Wales for a few days. A slowly circulating weather system will bring areas of rain and high-level snow, becoming more persistent as the week progresses, cloud covering most hills; generally driest and clearest in northwest Scotland. Colder air trying to move in from the east into later January, leaving most mountain terrain frozen in the longer range.