Cairn Gorm1,245 m
6Poor
A poor day on the tops of Cairn Gorm, with very strong, gusty winds and sleet or snow up high.
Wind39 mph SWGusts 52 mph
Rain4.9 mm
Summit views40%
Cairngorms 4000s weather forecast
Compare Cairn Gorm, Ben Macdui, Cairn Toul, Sgòr an Lochain Uaine and Braeriach in one forecast view.
5 summitsAll five above 4,000 feet
Forecast comparison
Every summit is shown side by side. The combined grade gives extra weight to the weakest forecast.
SummitGradeForecast summaryWindRainSummit viewsDetails
Ben Macdui1,309 mLimiting summit
5Poor
A poor day on the tops of Ben Macdui, with very strong, gusty winds and sleet or snow up high.
Wind39 mph SWGusts 51 mph
Rain4.9 mm
Summit views37%
Cairn Toul1,291 m
6Poor
A poor day on the tops of Cairn Toul, with very strong, gusty winds and sleet or snow up high.
Wind39 mph SWGusts 52 mph
Rain4.9 mm
Summit views38%
Sgòr an Lochain Uaine1,258 m
7Poor
A poor day on the tops of Sgòr an Lochain Uaine, with very strong, gusty winds and sleet or snow up high.
Wind38 mph SWGusts 51 mph
Rain4.9 mm
Summit views40%
Braeriach1,296 m
10Poor
A poor day on the tops of Braeriach, with strong, gusty winds and sleet or snow up high.
Wind36 mph SWGusts 48 mph
Rain4.9 mm
Summit views37%
Weather data: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Mountain Weather.
Moon for your challenge
Night before your chosen day: Friday 23 October 2026
Cairngorms
Area reference: Ben Macdui. Local mountain horizons will vary.
Waxing gibbous moon
- Illuminated disc
- 94%
- Moonrise
- Outside this window
- Moonset
- 05:46 next morning BST
Moon up during darker hours18:30 BST to 05:45 BST next morning
Window: 23 Oct, 17:00 BST to 24 Oct, 08:00 BST
Night beginning Saturday 24 October 2026
Cairngorms
Area reference: Ben Macdui. Local mountain horizons will vary.
Near-full moon
- Illuminated disc
- 98%
- Moonrise
- Outside this window
- Moonset
- 06:18 next morning GMT
Moon up during darker hours18:30 BST to 06:20 GMT next morning
Window: 24 Oct, 17:00 BST to 25 Oct, 08:00 GMT
Approximate times in UK local time, for an open horizon. Moon-up periods are rounded to five minutes. Hills and cloud can hide the Moon. Illumination is the sunlit percentage of its disc, not how bright your route will be. Darker hours here begin after civil twilight. This almanac covers only the stated overnight window and does not change the weather grade. Take a headtorch and spare power regardless.
Planning the Cairngorms 4000s
The Cairngorms 4000s links five of Britain’s highest summits across a remote, exposed plateau and the Lairig Ghru. Even when the general pattern is settled, cloud, wind and temperature can differ across this large mountain area.
Use the challenge grade to compare dates, then inspect all five rows. The forecast does not account for river crossings, snow cover, navigation or the very substantial distance between summits.
Read Cairngorms 4000s route context