Cairngorms
A mixed day in the Cairngorms, with sleet or snow up high.
Sunshine and sky
Cloud breaking up. Brighter spells should become more frequent as cloud breaks.
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 north-westerly wind of 15–25 mph, gusting 20–30 mph. A wind like that will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.
Walking impact
A steady wind of 15–25 mph will be noticeable on ridges and open tops, and you will chill quickly when you stop.
Ground conditions
The ground is likely to be wet after recent rain.
Rain and showers
Spells of sleet and snow through the day. Expect up to 2 mm in total, measured as melted water, so any snow would lie deeper. On some hills, sleet or snow is possible on the tops, with the balance depending on temperature. Blowing snow may quickly cover paths and footprints and make navigation difficult. Snow may collect in deeper drifts in hollows, behind boulders and on slopes sheltered from the wind. Exposed ground may be scoured while nearby drifts deepen. Wind-loaded slopes can also be avalanche terrain. Check the local avalanche forecast where one is available; this is not an assessment of slope stability.
Cloud-free summits
Clear-summit estimate: about 10% early, about 65% around midday and about 85% later.
Cloud and visibility
Cloud on the tops early should lift off them by mid-morning. The cloud base could be as low as 500–800 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 0 to 4°C, feeling like -6 to -2°C in the wind. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer. Pack waterproofs too, and keep a warm layer dry in your pack.
Freezing level
The freezing level is around 1100–1400 m, so it will be below freezing on the tops.
Daylight
Sunrise 07:49, Sunset 18:10, about 10.3 hours daylight.
Overnight · 17:00–08:00Wild campingBetaAcross these hills, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold: a frost, down to -1°C. 59Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full regional overnight outlook
Across these hills, a mixed night to camp, mainly because of the cold. Gusts reach about 30 mph on open ground, so peg out well and use the guylines. Look for shelter from the northwest. A little rain is forecast overnight. A frost up around 900 m, down to about -1°C.
Moon overnight
Waxing crescent moon
- Illuminated disc
- 34%
- Moonrise
- Outside this window
- Moonset
- 20:10 BST
Cloud and terrain vary across the area. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 16 Oct, 17:00 BST to 17 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
- 12 mph / 20 mph
- Coldest
- 0.4°C
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
- Wind / gust
- 14 mph / 24 mph
- Coldest
- 0.4°C
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
- Wind / gust
- 16 mph / 28 mph
- Coldest
- -0.8°C
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- Moderate
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 & scramblingBetaSnow is likely to be lying on some high ground, with further snowfall possible. Wet rock is likely. 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). 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. 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.