Cairngorms
A mixed day in the Cairngorms, with a blustery wind.
Sunshine and sky
Less sunshine later. Sunshine is indicated less often later in 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.
Overnight forecast: 17:00–08:00 (UK local time), in Wild camping below.
High-ground wind (900 m)
At around 900 m, expect a westerly wind of 25–35 mph, gusting 35–45 mph. Gusts like that are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges.
Walking impact
Gusts of 35–45 mph are strong enough to make walking into it hard work, with buffeting on ridges and edges.
Ground conditions
The ground is likely to be wet after recent rain.
Rain and showers
A short band of rain crosses mid-afternoon.
Cloud-free summits
Clear-summit estimate: about 10% early, about 65% around midday and about 55% later.
Cloud and visibility
The tops are likely to drift in and out of cloud, with the best chance of clear tops in the early afternoon. The cloud base could be as low as 400–700 m early in the morning. Some forecast models are much cloudier overhead. That may limit sunshine without putting the summits in cloud. The air should be clear, so expect far-reaching views whenever the tops come out of the cloud.
Temperature and wind chill
At around 900 m it will be 2 to 6°C, feeling like -6 to -2°C in the wind. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.
Freezing level
The freezing level falls through the day, to around 1400–1700 m by early afternoon.
Daylight
Sunrise 07:46, Sunset 18:12, about 10.4 hours daylight.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaToo windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m on some hills (gusts of about 45 mph). Lower down, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. 39Poor · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full regional overnight outlook
Too windy for an exposed pitch up around 900 m on some hills. Lower down, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the wind. Gusts reach about 45 mph around 900 m and nearer 30 mph around 300 m, enough to damage a tent on open ground. Check the forecast for the hill and height you have in mind, and don't assume lower ground will be sheltered. Some light rain is forecast overnight. Above about 600 m you'd likely be in cloud for part of the night: damp, and hard to find your way if you need to move. The air is damp at every height we checked (300-900 m), so expect heavy condensation. Leave the vents open. A cold night, down to about 2°C around 900 m.
Moon overnight
Waxing crescent moon
- Illuminated disc
- 26%
- Moonrise
- Outside this window
- Moonset
- 19:16 BST
Cloud and terrain vary across the area. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 15 Oct, 17:00 BST to 16 Oct, 08:00 BST. Approximate open-horizon times; hills can hide the Moon. Still take a headtorch.
Representative location: 57.070, -3.669. Times vary across the area.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 19 mph / 32 mph
- Coldest
- 3.8°C
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 23 mph / 39 mph
- Coldest
- 3.6°C
- In cloud
- 73% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 27 mph / 45 mph
- Coldest
- 1.6°C
- In cloud
- 73% of modelled 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 & scramblingBetaRock may be damp or still drying. Gusts near 40 mph may affect balance on exposed rock. 0Poor · Very poor View detailsHide details
Regional climbing & scrambling outlook
A broad guide to dampness and exposed rock across the area, not a forecast for every crag. Lower, sheltered crags and individual rock types may behave differently.
Conditions for exposed scrambling across the area look very poor (0/100). Some rock may remain damp or incompletely dried, especially in shade and seepage lines. Gusts may reach about 40 mph on exposed ground, making crosswinds an important route consideration. Mapped summit-point geology across the representative hills includes granite, gneiss or gabbro. Rock can therefore respond differently to moisture 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.
Recommended kit for this dayWeather-aware packing prompts, plus your core hillwalking kitView kit
For a day hillwalk, not a complete route-specific checklist. Carry navigation and backup you can use, warm and waterproof layers, suitable footwear, food and water, a headtorch, emergency shelter, first aid and a way to call for help. Snow, ice, technical terrain and overnight trips need additional equipment and skills.
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Weather data: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0). Adapted by Mountain Weather.
Updated 14 October 2026 at 15:27 UTC. See typical weekly and monthly conditions for Cairngorms.