Ben Alder
29th December 2025
There was a significant change in summit temperatures yesterday evening. At our weather station at 906m a temperature of 3.0 degrees Celsius was recorded at 2000 (on the 28th). By 2200 it was -2.4 degrees Celsius, giving a decrease of 5.4 degrees in a 2-hour period. For anyone camping out, that would have felt significant. Summit temperatures have remained below freezing throughout the day.
The cloud base hovered around 700 metres for much of the day in the Ben Alder area. Unfortunately this gave limited opportunity for images of the remaining snow, which is firm and stable in all locations, and no change is expected in the next 24 hours.
Patches of water ice on paths and the open hillside remain a potential hazard.
Loch a’Bhealaich Bheithe (716m) to the East of Ben Alder. The loch was frozen as were significant sections of the footpath going around it. There was hope of views into Garbh Choire and Garbh-Choire Beag but unfortunately the cloud base didn’t lift to let those materialise.
The view down to a frozen Loch Pattack with a brief glimmer of sunshine. Culra Lodge can be seen just left of centre of the image. The location of Culra Bothy would have been central in the image but it has recently been demolished. Worth noting that the 2km section of track running along the tree line on the Eastern shore of Loch Pattack down the towards Glen Pattack has been resurfaced, making for a quicker journey to what was previously a very boggy approach.
The site of Culra Bothy which was demolished in November 2025. This is due to be rebuilt in 2026. Hopefully the folk heading along the track with heavy rucksacks had tents with them.
Unfortunately this was the extent of the views of the hills today, with the cloud base being fixed at around 700 metres for much of the day. This is taken from Culra looking towards Beinn Bheòil (1019m) on the left and Ben Alder (1148m) on the right.
Thin ice starting to form on Creag Dubh (550m) on the side of Loch Ericht.
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