Cairngorms
Tuesday 1 September 2026 · The Cairngorm plateau and eastern high tops
Why: Rain could reach the main walking period or hold off until later; forecast models disagree on the timing.
Strong westerly wind is the main concern. Expect showers or rain at times, with cloud coming and going on the tops.
Sunshine and sky
Extensive cloud. Cloud is likely to remain extensive for much of the day.
These are direct modelled sunshine hours during daylight, not the probability of sunshine. Cloud cover and summit cloud are assessed separately in the forecast above. The regional median prevents one unusually bright or dull summit cell defining the whole area.
High-ground wind (900 m)
Westerly around 35 mph at 900 m. Gusts reaching around 50 mph at 900 m, with locally higher values possible on the most exposed tops. Strongest early (around 30 mph), easing toward 20 mph later.
Walking impact
Arduous in exposure, with buffeting and difficult progress into the wind.
Rain and showers
Showers or spells of rain at times. The heaviest rain is expected around the middle of the day.
Cloud-free summits
Around 35%.
Cloud and visibility
Cloud bases mostly around 1100-1400 m. Bases should tend to lift as the day goes on. Cloud bases are likely to remain high, but some forecast models are much cloudier, so more extensive summit cloud remains a credible outcome. Cloud is likely to come and go on the higher summits; breaks may be useful but not dependable.
Temperature and wind chill
Around 6°C at 900 m, feeling like 1°C in the wind.
Freezing level
Above the summits.
Daylight
Sunrise 06:15 — Sunset 20:12 — about 13.9 hours daylight.
Overnight · 6 p.m.–9 a.m.Wild campingBetaGusts near 40 mph make sheltered pitches important. 64/100Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full regional overnight outlook
Across representative hills, open-hillside camping looks mixed around 600 m (64/100). Open-ground gusts may reach about 40 mph, so sheltered pitches will matter. Little rain is expected, but cloud or condensation could still mean a wet pack-up.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 14 / 27 mph
- Coldest
- 6.3°C
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 17 / 32 mph
- Coldest
- 5.9°C
- In cloud
- 31% of night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 20 / 38 mph
- Coldest
- 3.9°C
- In cloud
- 31% of night
- Condensation
- High
Open-hillside guidance across representative hills. Local shelter, ridges, tent design and the exact pitch can change conditions substantially. Read about sleeping-bag comfort ratings, pitching in strong winds or using the wild-camping forecast.
Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaGusts near 50 mph increase the seriousness of exposed ground. 0/100Poor · Very poor View detailsHide details
Full regional climbing & scrambling outlook
Conditions for exposed scrambling across the area look very poor (0/100). Rain is likely to leave rock wet; polished slabs, vegetation and drainage lines may be notably worse. Gusts may reach about 50 mph on exposed ground, making crosswinds an important route consideration. Mapped summit-point geology across the representative hills includes granite, gneiss or gabbro; moisture response can therefore vary substantially between crags and routes.
Representative summit-point samples across the region; individual crags and routes may differ.
Generic exposed hands-on-rock terrain across representative summits; mapped summit-point geology is a broad regional sample, not a named-route survey. Contains British Geological Survey materials © UKRI 2026. How to use the climbing and scrambling forecast.
Updated 1 September 2026 at 15:33 UTC. See typical weekly and monthly conditions for Cairngorms.