Weather
There
is a saying in Scotland that 'there is no such thing as bad weather, only
the wrong clothing'; a philosophy that should be borne in mind when it
comes to all year round enjoyment of the Cairngorms National Park.
The weather in Scotland is fickle to say the least and can readily feel like four seasons in one day. It can be mild in February, yet it can snow in June, it can be bucketing with rain one moment and twenty minutes later be glorious sunshine. As the Park is an inland mass, the area experiences greater seasonal temperature extremes than Scotland's coastal regions and the summits of the Cairngorms can be topped with snow all year round.
Generally, the temperatures in the lower level glens and straths of the Cairngorms National Park, where the majority of people live and visitors stay, can, in the winter months of December, January and February, range from well below freezing up to around 5 to 7 degrees centigrade. In the summer months of June, July and August the temperature will get up to the mid to high twenties, but might get as low as 9 to 10 degrees. Spring and autumn months are anywhere in between and including all of the temperature extremities listed above. Furthermore, it has been known to rain in Scotland.
The best advice to visitors to the Park is to come prepared with clothing for all weathers.
Preparing for weather on the upper levels of the Cairngorms mass is however, a more serious matter. The temperature drops by degrees every few hundred feet and simply because you're comfortable in shorts and a t shirt in Aviemore doesn't mean you'll be as comfortable up the top of Cairngorm for example. Conditions atop the Cairngorms plateaux are sub-artic and can change very rapidly, so you should take every care to wear appropriate clothing whatever the season.
For forecasts and other weather information, see The MET Office (Please note that this link will take you out of the Cairngorms National Park website. The CNPA does not accept responsibility for the content of this external site).
The weather can change very swiftly in the Cairngorms National Park. The link to the BBC Weather Centre is for information only and the CNPA accepts no responsibility for its accuracy. If you are venturing into the hills we would advise you to always check the weather locally and always be prepared for changes.