Cairngorms
Lochnagar Weather
Mountain forecast and current conditions · summit 1156m
Current conditions
Daylight Today
- Sunrise
- 06:23
- Sunset
- 20:01
- Civil dawn
- 05:43
- Civil dusk
- 20:41
NOAA Solar Calculator · 5 September 2026
About the weather here
Lochnagar (1,156m at Cac Carn Beag) is the great mountain of Royal Deeside, climbed from the Spittal of Glenmuick car park by a long but well-made path. The summit is a broad plateau, and the mountain's fame rests on the north-east corrie: a huge, cliff-ringed bowl with the loch of the name sitting at its foot. The normal route reaches the plateau rim above that corrie and follows it round to the top.
What to expect
Lochnagar is on the eastern side of the Cairngorms and is generally drier than the western Highlands, but its plateau is high and broad and gets the full force of any wind. The corrie rim is the hazard: in cloud the plateau gives no warning that the ground ends in a cliff. The hill often sits in cloud rolling up from the south-east, and the plateau between the rim and the summit is bleak in anything but settled weather.
Wind exposure
High. The plateau rim and the summit tor are fully exposed, and the Ladder — the steep section up to the plateau — funnels wind. Gusts along the corrie edge push walkers towards the drop rather than away from it. Descent routes across the plateau are open to whatever is blowing.
Winter conditions
Lochnagar is one of Scotland's classic winter climbing venues and its plateau in winter is serious hillwalking. The corrie rim builds large cornices that overhang the cliffs and cannot be seen from the plateau side; walking along the rim in cloud without a compass bearing is how people fall. The avalanche forecast linked on this page covers Lochnagar; the corrie itself and the approach slopes are avalanche terrain. Snow lies on the plateau well into spring.
Avalanche forecast: Lochnagar is in the SAIS Southern Cairngorms forecast area — the link is in the official forecasts below.
Official forecasts
Always check an official mountain forecast before setting out. Current conditions displayed above are from the Open-Meteo API and are indicative only.
Hills in this area
| Hill | Height |
|---|---|
| Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach | 1110m |
| Conachcraig | 863m |
| Carn an t-Sagairt Mor | 1047m |
| Cairn Bannoch | 1011m |
Frequently asked questions
- Is Lochnagar exposed to wind?
- Very. The plateau is high and open and the corrie rim, which the normal route follows, is the most exposed part. In strong wind the rim is dangerous because gusts push towards the drop. If the summit forecast gives gales, choose a different day.
- Is there an avalanche forecast for Lochnagar?
- Yes. The SAIS forecast area linked on this page covers Lochnagar and the hills around it. The north-east corrie and the slopes above Loch nan Eun are avalanche-prone, and the corrie rim carries cornices in winter and spring.
- Is Lochnagar drier than the western Highlands?
- Generally yes — Deeside sits in the rain shadow of the Cairngorms and gets less rain than Lochaber or Glencoe. But drier does not mean calmer: the plateau is high and exposed, and cold, windy days are the norm rather than the exception.
- What is the safest route off Lochnagar in cloud?
- Retrace the ascent: from the summit back to the plateau path and down the Ladder. Do not try to shortcut along the corrie rim without a bearing. The plateau has enough features to be confusing and few enough to be useless without a compass.
Weather for other locations
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