Ballater

Cairngorms National Park Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Cairngorms National Park, the United Kingdom in December.

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Aviemore Ballater

Considering a trip to Cairngorms National Park, the United Kingdom this December and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Cairngorms National Park in December

Cairngorms National Park, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. December in Cairngorms National Park generally has cold temperatures, with moderate precipitation. December falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

You can expect cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 5°C (41°F) and nighttime temperatures around -1°C (30°F) in Aviemore.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Cairngorms National Park, the United Kingdom, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snow/rainfall in Ballater with an average of 88 mm (3.5 in) to moderate snow/rainfall in Aviemore with 100 mm (3.9 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is more restricted in many locations in December. Aviemore sees roughly 27 hours of sunlight. Our weather planner can help you find destinations with more sunshine if needed.

Explore Cairngorms National Park by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Cairngorms National Park — and find the best time to visit. (based on Aviemore)

January5°C (41°F) February6°C (43°F) March7°C (45°F) April10°C (50°F) May13°C (55°F) June15°C (59°F) This monthJuly17°C (63°F) August17°C (63°F) September15°C (59°F) October11°C (52°F) November8°C (46°F) December5°C (41°F)
Best Time to Visit Cairngorms National Park →

Best Places to Visit in Cairngorms National Park in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Cairngorms National Park.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Cairngorms National Park

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Cairngorms National Park, the United Kingdom?

Temperature range in Cairngorms National Park (December)

Precipitation variation in Cairngorms National Park (December)

Aviemore

In December Aviemore generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -1°C (30°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
-1°C (30°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly sun hours
48 hours
27 hours
40 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
95 mm (3.7 in)
100 mm (3.9 in)
109 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
22 days
21 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Aviemore →

Ballater

In December Ballater generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -1°C (30°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
-1°C (30°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Monthly sun hours
69 hours
48 hours
62 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
92 mm (3.6 in)
88 mm (3.5 in)
95 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
21 days
22 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Ballater →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Cairngorms National Park, in the United Kingdom.

In our records: the United Kingdom December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in the United Kingdom in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the coldest December daytime high in the United Kingdom was -10°C (14°F) in Glasgow on December 29, 1995.
  • From our sources, the wettest December day in the United Kingdom brought 301 mm (12 in) in Belfast on December 4, 1982.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Cairngorms National Park in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Aviemore 5°C (41°F) -1°C (30°F) 100 mm (3.9 in)
Ballater 5°C (41°F) -1°C (30°F) 88 mm (3.5 in)

Cairngorms National Park weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Cairngorms National Park, the United Kingdom in December?

December in Cairngorms National Park, the United Kingdom brings poor weather. In Aviemore, daytime temperatures are typically around 5°C (41°F) and nighttime lows hover near -1°C (30°F).

What is the average temperature in Cairngorms National Park, the United Kingdom in December?

Average temperatures in Cairngorms National Park, the United Kingdom during December range from a nighttime low near -1°C (30°F) to a daytime high around 5°C (41°F) in Aviemore.

Does Cairngorms National Park, the United Kingdom get a lot of snow/rain in December?

December is on the drier side in Cairngorms National Park, the United Kingdom. Aviemore averages only about 100 mm (3.9 in), with most days staying dry.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Cairngorms National Park, the United Kingdom?

In our view, December might not be the best time to travel to Cairngorms National Park, the United Kingdom with often poor weather in Aviemore.

Generally speaking, June, July and September provide tolerable weather in Aviemore. The weather in January, February, March, April, October, November and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Cairngorms National Park.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to the United Kingdom? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in the United Kingdom.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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