Cairngorms
A mixed day in the Cairngorms: breezy, with clear tops for most of the day.
Sunshine and sky
Sunshine and cloud. A mixture of sunshine and cloud is indicated.
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 southerly 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.
Rain and showers
Drizzle sets in during the early afternoon. Some forecast models bring rain during the morning, while others keep it mostly dry.
Cloud-free summits
Clear-summit estimate: about 40% early, about 80% around midday and about 90% later.
Cloud and visibility
The tops should stay mostly clear of cloud. The cloud base could be as low as 500–800 m in the late afternoon. Mist or fog is possible in some valleys early on. It will look largely cloudy overhead, but that cloud should mostly stay above the tops. It looks hazy, so views may be limited even when the tops are clear.
Temperature and wind chill
At around 900 m it will be 2 to 6°C, feeling like -2 to 2°C in the wind. It turns colder through the day. Take a hat, gloves, a windproof and a spare warm layer.
Freezing level
The freezing level is above the summits.
Daylight
Sunrise 07:59, Sunset 17:57, about 9.9 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 and about 5 mm of rain). 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. About 5 mm of 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. Overnight lows of about 3°C at 900 m.
Moon overnight
Waxing gibbous moon
- Illuminated disc
- 80%
- Moonrise
- Outside this window
- Moonset
- 02:54 next morning BST
Cloud and terrain vary across the area. Illumination describes the sunlit part of the Moon, not brightness at your pitch.
Overnight window: 21 Oct, 17:00 BST to 22 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
- 15 mph / 32 mph
- Coldest
- 5.9°C
- In cloud
- 0% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 18 mph / 38 mph
- Coldest
- 5.5°C
- In cloud
- 68% of modelled night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 21 mph / 45 mph
- Coldest
- 3.3°C
- In cloud
- 78% 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 & scramblingBetaWet rock is likely. 46Poor · Mixed 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 mixed (46/100). Rain is likely to leave rock wet. Polished slabs, vegetation and drainage lines may be notably worse. Gusts may reach about 25 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 15 October 2026 at 15:29 UTC. See typical weekly and monthly conditions for Cairngorms.