Cairngorms
Saturday 29 August 2026 · The Cairngorm plateau and eastern high tops
Why: Rain timing may shift by several hours, which could change how much of the main walking period stays dry.
A risk of patchy rain or drizzle. A noticeable northerly breeze, with cloud coming and going on the tops.
High-ground wind (900 m)
Northerly around 15 mph at 900 m. Gusts reaching around 20 mph at 900 m, with locally higher values possible on the most exposed tops. Little overall change through the day.
Walking impact
Noticeable on exposed ground, but unlikely to impede most walking.
Rain and showers
The odd passing shower, otherwise dry. The heaviest rain is expected early in the day.
Cloud-free summits
Around 45%. Around 55% early, falling to around 35% later.
Cloud and visibility
Cloud bases mostly around 1100-1400 m. Bases are likely to lower later in the day. Cloud is likely to come and go on the higher summits; breaks may be useful but not dependable.
Temperature and wind chill
Around 8°C at 900 m, feeling like 5°C in the wind.
Freezing level
Above the summits.
Daylight
Sunrise 06:09 — Sunset 20:20 — about 14.2 hours daylight.
Overnight · 6 p.m.–9 a.m.Wild campingBetaCloud or condensation could make for a wet pack-up. 64/100Mixed · 600 m View detailsHide details
Full regional overnight outlook
Across representative hills, open-hillside camping looks mixed around 600 m (64/100). Little rain is expected, but cloud or condensation could still mean a wet pack-up.
Elevation reference (open ground)
- Wind / gust
- 4 / 9 mph
- Coldest
- 10.8°C
- In cloud
- Unlikely
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 5 / 10 mph
- Coldest
- 10.0°C
- In cloud
- 21% of night
- Condensation
- High
- Wind / gust
- 6 / 12 mph
- Coldest
- 8.1°C
- In cloud
- 21% of night
- Condensation
- High
Open-hillside guidance across representative hills. Local shelter, ridges, tent design and the exact pitch can change conditions substantially. How to use the wild-camping forecast.
Daytime · exposed rockClimbing & scramblingBetaWet rock is likely on some representative hills. 38/100Poor · Poor View detailsHide details
Full regional climbing & scrambling outlook
Conditions for exposed scrambling across the area look poor (38/100). 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 29 August 2026 at 04:40 UTC. See typical weekly and monthly conditions for Cairngorms.