Cairngorms
Thursday 3 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.
Poor visibility is the main concern. Expect showers or rain at times and summit clag likely.
High-ground wind (900 m)
Southwesterly around 15 mph at 900 m. Gusts reaching around 20 mph at 900 m, with locally higher values possible on the most exposed tops. Starting nearer 5 mph, then strengthening toward 10 mph later.
Walking impact
Noticeable on exposed ground, but unlikely to impede most walking.
Rain and showers
Showers or spells of rain at times. The heaviest rain is expected later in the day.
Cloud-free summits
Around 20%.
Cloud and visibility
Cloud bases mostly around 700-1000 m. Bases should tend to lift as the day goes on. Most higher summits are likely to be in cloud for much of the day, with only brief or isolated breaks.
Temperature and wind chill
Around 9°C at 900 m, feeling like 7°C in the wind.
Freezing level
Above the summits.
Daylight
Sunrise 06:19 — Sunset 20:06 — about 13.8 hours daylight.
Overnight · 6 p.m.–9 a.m.Wild campingBetaA damp or wet night is likely, with about 3 mm before pack-up. 54/100Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full regional overnight outlook
Across representative hills, open-hillside camping looks mixed around 600 m (54/100). Some overnight rain is likely, so expect a damp pitch or pack-up.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 9 / 14 mph
- Coldest
- 9.3°C
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 10 / 19 mph
- Coldest
- 8.9°C
- In cloud
- 62% of night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 12 / 22 mph
- Coldest
- 6.9°C
- In cloud
- 62% 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 & scramblingBetaWet rock is likely on some representative hills. 25/100Poor · Poor View detailsHide details
Full regional climbing & scrambling outlook
Conditions for exposed scrambling across the area look poor (25/100). Rain is likely to leave rock wet; polished slabs, vegetation and drainage lines may be notably worse. 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 30 August 2026 at 04:40 UTC. See typical weekly and monthly conditions for Cairngorms.