Lomond Mountain Rescue Team

20/09/2026

Wise words from our colleagues at Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team ... especially about milk and tea 😉

12/09/2026

Whilst we don't deal with anything like the number of call-outs attended by colleagues in Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, would echo the words and issues detailed below.

After 59 callouts in August, the busiest month in our history, we think it is time for a serious conversation about what is happening in our mountains.

Our volunteers carried out prolonged rescues in darkness and poor weather, dealt with serious injuries, heat-related issues, assisted people stuck in serious terrain and, sadly, attended incidents where people and animals lost their lives.

What concerns us most is the increasing number of people taking on difficult terrain while completely unprepared for what they are facing.

The mountains have not suddenly become more dangerous. More people are visiting them, and the way routes are discovered and accessed has changed.

Routes once mainly attempted by experienced hillwalkers and mountaineers are increasingly attracting people with little or no experience.

A photograph or video of Crib Goch can make an exposed Grade 1 scramble look like just another route to the summit. What it doesn’t show is how intimidating that ridge can be in cloud, rain or strong winds or how quickly a manageable situation can become a serious emergency.

We want people to enjoy Eryri. We understand the physical and mental health benefits of spending time in the mountains but accidents happen, even to experienced, well-prepared people. That is why we volunteer.

But enjoying the mountains also comes with personal responsibility. Too often, people simply don’t know that a route may require specific skills, equipment, fitness, experience and judgement and how quickly conditions can change.

Our callout numbers tell the story:

147 in 2020
237 in 2021
233 in 2022
308 in 2023
327 in 2024
359 in 2025
Around 440 projected in 2026.

This trend is not sustainable.

The answer cannot simply be more Mountain Rescue. There has to be greater focus on prevention and personal responsibility.

We will always respond when someone genuinely needs our help. The bigger question now is: how do we stop so many people from needing help in the first place?

Enjoy the mountains but please try to understand the environment you are entering and if the terrain or conditions don’t feel right, turn around.

09/09/2026

38/26 and 39/26

At 11:39 yesterday, Lomond MRT were made aware of an incident on the West Highland Way with a walker who had sustained a knee injury. Following a discussion with the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat it was confirmed they were already attending and a "Stand By" was issued should assistance be needed for evacuation. After confirmation that the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Ranger Boat was transferring the casualty to Tarbet and a waiting ambulance, the "Stand Down" was issued.

At 13:17, Lomond MRT were called to assist colleagues from the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat and Scottish Ambulance Service with the evacuation of a separate casualty who had sustained a head injury following a fall close to Rowchoish Bothy. Lomond team members took a 4x4 vehicle to the casualty site and returned them back to Rowardennan for onward transfer to hospital.

Many thanks to all our partner agencies and especially to all at the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat whose work on the difficult to access West Highland Way sections has been invaluable in recent years.

08/09/2026

Many thanks to Peak Training Scotland for another great day of training.

01/09/2026

36/26

Yesterday morning at 10:07, Lomond MRT were called by Police Scotland following concerns being raised about a party overdue from an overnight camp on Ben Lomond.

As we were deploying, a team member who was on Ben Lomond for a training run was advised by a member of the public that a party fitting the description had been seen descending the main path earlier in the morning.

This was subsequently confirmed by Police Scotland who met the party at Rowardennan allowing a stand down to be issued.

28/08/2026

🏔️ ICAR - International Mountain Rescue Day
Today we’re celebrating International Mountain Rescue Day – and the spirit of collaboration that has connected mountain rescuers around the world for generations.

On 28 August 1948, mountain rescue pioneers from across Europe gathered at the Wilder Kaiser range in Austria. They shared knowledge, experience and ideas – laying the foundations for what would become the International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR), officially established in 1955.

Today, ICAR brings together more than 140 mountain rescue organisations from 41 countries. Scottish Mountain Rescue is proud to be a member of this international community.

Being part of ICAR means learning from mountain rescuers around the world, sharing our own experience from Scotland’s mountains, and helping to develop the knowledge, techniques and best practice that save lives in the mountains.

Today, we celebrate the volunteers and professionals around the world who work together to bring people safely home. ❤️🏔️

14/08/2026

35/26

At 09:07 this morning, Lomond MRT were called by Police Scotland to two individuals who had become trapped between deep pools in Finnich Glen (Devil's Pulpit) and who were unable to continue the descent or safely reascend.

Following rescue, they were checked over by colleagues from the Scottish Ambulance Service.

With regards to comments on social media ~ we always appreciate your support and welcome constructive input.

We share incident updates to keep you informed of our work and where appropriate, provide information that may assist in helping to avoid meeting us in a rescue scenario.

However, we ask that the conversation is kept kind and respectful to everyone involved.

Regardless of the wider circumstances, anyone can have an accident and Mountain Rescue exists to help those people without judgement.

(📷 by D.Dodson, S.McSporran and G.Kelly LMRT)

11/08/2026

33/26

At 14:11 this afternoon, Lomond MRT were called to assist colleagues from Scottish Ambulance Service who were attending an incident at Finnich Glen (The Devil's Pulpit) where a casualty had fallen and sustained a serious ankle injury.

Due to the location of the casualty, a technical rope rescue system was constructed to safely lift the stretcher and casualty out the gorge prior to transfer to a waiting ambulance.

(📷 by D.Lennon and G.Kelly LMRT)

09/08/2026

32/26

At 13:34 this afternoon, Lomond MRT were called to a casualty who had sustained an ankle injury on Ben Lomond.

After initial assessment and treatment, the casualty was stretchered back to a team vehicle before the return to Rowardennan and onward transfer to hospital.

(📷 by P.Mosley, T.Percival, D.Lennon, S.McSporran and G.Kelly LMRT)

08/08/2026

Worth a read over...

Absolutely incredible effort from colleagues in Skye Mountain Rescue Team SCIO