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
Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
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.
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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Light wind, negligible impact
Little wind or walking hardly affected by the wind, but feeling chilly if exposed on tops. 10-15mph or less.
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.
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
Wednesday 30th July 2025
Last updated
Tue 29th Jul 25 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Generally cloudy conditions, covering some hill slopes in the morning, but breaking and lifting above many tops. Occasional sun breaking through, mainly in the east. In western Scotland, a weak front pushing in will lower the cloud over coastal hills and bring a little drizzle at times. Light winds overall.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Largely dry day, cloud lifting and breaking. Light-moderate breeze.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15-20mph early in day, turning westerly 10-15mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Mostly small
How Wet?
Substantially dry, locally a shower
Most or all day dry. A rare drizzly shower passing eastwards. Locally chance of a heavier shower forming in east later. Toward or more likely after dusk, some drizzly rain developing from the west.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive then lifting and clearing
Covering the mountains fairly widely early morning, bases 700-900m, or some lower early cloud banks mainly around Strathspey. Gradually rising and breaking above 1100m by middle of day, clearing most or all tops by afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% rising to 80%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun becoming patchwork of cloud and sun. Visibility good below cloud, increasingly very good by afternoon.
How Cold? (at 900m)
10C rising to 13C afternoon.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 31st July 2025
Last updated
Tue 29th Jul 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15 to 20mph, possibly 25mph higher Cairngorms toward northeast.
Effect of the wind on you?
Fairly small, locally feeling more blustery at times on higher slopes. Feeling cool.
How Wet?
Occasional rain and showers
A little rain locally in the morning, mostly western areas, then scattered showers during afternoon, an odd heavier burst, focused later toward the east.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive on higher areas
Covering higher slopes fairly widely above 900-1100m, lower for a time in rain near/west of the A9. Lifting above higher slopes occasionally afternoon. Ragged patches lowering in showers.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Rare bursts of sun. Visibility reduced in rain, later becoming very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
8 to 10C. Feeling close to freezing in the wind on highest tops.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 1st August 2025
Last updated
Tue 29th Jul 25 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 25 to 35mph, strongest over Cairngorm plateau, especially toward east.
Effect of the wind on you?
Affecting comfortable walking over tops, frequent buffeting some exposed terrain. Significant wind chill higher areas.
How Wet?
Showers
Showery rain most common toward the north Cairngorms and Monadhliath in the morning, some pushing increasingly south and east, tending to fade with time.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering higher tops, may improve
Covering higher Cairngorms fairly extensively and widely above 900-1000m in morning, tending to rise above 1100-1200m and breaking higher up afternoon.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Glimpses of sun. Visibility very good away from showers.
How Cold? (at 900m)
5C rising to 7 or 8C. Feeling below freezing in wind, but -5 to possibly -8C higher summits in morning.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Planning Outlook
Westerly winds prevail in the extended outlook, with occasional fronts moving through - western mountains often shrouded in cloud, periods of rain and drizzle. Some showery bursts of rain further eastwards, particularly Thursday-Friday this week, but often smaller amounts of rain toward easternmost hills, and cloud bases often higher with breaks to eastern summits. Moderate breezes, sometimes more blustery - early next week looks windier for a time. Temperatures near average, though rather cool in Scotland late this week and again early next week. Ridges of higher pressure will build occasionally from the southwest for better windows of weather, particularly England & Wales.