Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team

02/11/2026

Incident No: 63
Date: 29 October 2026
Time: 18.32hrs
Location: Shieldrigg Bridge
Incident Type: rescue

On Thursday, ourselves and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team were alerted by Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team following reports of a car entering a river near Nenthead.

With the exact location initially unclear, volunteers prepared vehicles and equipment, and one of our team vehicles, Echo, set off while further information was gathered.

The casualty was subsequently located down a steep bank at Shieldrigg Bridge, just north of Coalcleugh, within our operational area. Local team members attended while other volunteers remained on standby.

Our members on scene assisted fire and rescue crews with their rope system, helping to safeguard the stretcher as the casualty was raised up the bank and handed over to the North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

The teams were stood down at 20:00, with members on scene remaining until around 20:30.

This response brought together crews from three fire and rescue services, the North East Ambulance Service, including its Hazardous Area Response Team, the Great North Air Ambulance Service and Northumbria Police

The incident involved 5 Team members for 2hrs with a further 26 members on standby.

31/10/2026

Recently, some of our volunteers had a fantastic training opportunity with the Bristow Search and Rescue crew at Humberside Airport, who operate on behalf of HM Coastguard.

Among those taking part were trainee search dog Gwen and her handler Andrew – a valuable opportunity for them to gain experience of the helicopter environment as part of Gwen’s ongoing training.

The session focused on working with the Sikorsky S-92, including practical experience with the high line system, which helps crews manage safe winching operations in challenging terrain.

We’ve seen the value of this support here in Northumberland this summer, with the S-92 helping casualties reach further medical care more quickly and reducing the need for lengthy, technical stretcher carry-outs.

Joint training helps our volunteers build confidence in working safely around helicopters and strengthens the teamwork and trust between everyone involved in a rescue.

A huge thank you to the crew at Humberside for sharing their time and expertise, and for their continued support of mountain rescue.

29/10/2026

A big milestone for Swift and Brian!

Congratulations to trainee search dog Swift and her handler Brian, who passed their Stage 1 assessment recently!

This stage focuses on a vital partnership: Swift reliably indicating to Brian when she has found someone, and Brian correctly recognising and reading her signals. The finds are deliberately straightforward, allowing the assessment to focus on their communication rather than Swift’s searching ability.

Next, they’ll build on those foundations, with Swift actively searching before making a find and the challenges gradually increasing as they work towards operational standard.

There’s plenty of training ahead, potentially another 9–15 months, with progress guided by their readiness. Every milestone reflects the time, patience and commitment that goes into developing a mountain rescue search dog team.

Well done, Swift and Brian, and thank you to everyone helping them along the way — especially the volunteer “dogsbodies” who hide out in all weathers to make this training possible!

27/10/2026

This 👇

27/10/2026

Thank you ☺️

27/10/2026

Our team has been chosen to be part of the Co-op Local Community Fund. The more Co-op members that support our cause, the more money we will get towards training our Team members! Just go onto the App and select us. You don't need to be local - anyone in the country can choose us as their cause to support with the link below. If you're not a member already, download the Co-op App, become a member (just £1) and choose our cause, so we can receive a share of £3.5m!

https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/102323?fbclid=IwZnRzaAVMKzFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mBWZkaWQWURCdtoO2dT8ipm1flDwhaOAPs9hRbnNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR63miFEhp52xb5EoiWVU9Om5OKwzyOutTX-snQ2fPWUy81W0R2W3jDvaGLYDw_aem_CMUff8wT8bq5Pa9-OvBdow

The Co-op Local Community Fund is supporting Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team. Become a member or sign in to choose a local cause to support.

25/10/2026

The clocks go back. Are you Ready for the Unexpected?

Mountain Rescue Awareness Day coincides with the end of British Summer Time — a timely reminder that shorter days and changing weather can quickly transform a day in the hills.

Most incidents don’t begin as emergencies. A wrong turn, a delayed start or a minor injury can become much more serious as darkness falls, temperatures drop and the weather closes in.

Before heading outdoors:

Pack a headtorch and spare batteries — don’t rely on your phone’s torch.

Carry warm layers, waterproofs and an emergency shelter.

Plan your route, carry a map and compass, and know how to use them.

Check the forecast and allow plenty of daylight for your plans.

Take food, a warm drink and a charged phone.

Tell someone your route and when you expect to return.

Be prepared to change your plans or turn back. The hills will still be there another day.

This year, Mountain Rescue England and Wales is working with alpkit to help people prepare while supporting our network of 48 mountain rescue teams.

From 25 October to 8 November, Alpkit will donate 10% of sales from selected winter safety and hill-going equipment, purchased online and in stores, to Mountain Rescue. Online shoppers can use the campaign code SAFER10.

Your preparation can make all the difference — helping keep you safe and reducing avoidable callouts for our volunteers.

If you need mountain rescue, call 999, ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.

24/10/2026

Incident No: 62
Date: 18 October 2026
Time: 22.09hrs
Location: Newton Tor
Incident Type: search

At 22:09 on Sunday, Northumbria Police alerted ourselves and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team after a member of the public spotted flashing lights on the hills near Wooler and was concerned that someone might need help.

With no other information to explain the lights, a small response involving local volunteers was organised to investigate. Using a team 4x4 and searching on foot, our volunteers checked the area around Easter and Wester Tors, supported by a team member observing from the valley below.

Shortly before midnight, volunteers located people camping on Easter Tor, who confirmed they had been using powerful torches earlier in the evening. Thankfully, everyone was safe and well and no assistance was needed.

Having established the source of the lights, our volunteers stood down, returning to base just after 01:30.

Thank you to the member of the public for looking out for others, and to Lilburn Estates for their offer of support. A well-intentioned call and a reassuring end to a late night for our volunteers.

23/10/2026

A weekend to give the tops a miss!

With two named storms bringing strong winds and heavy rain to the UK, please think carefully about your plans for the hills this weekend. Conditions on exposed summits and ridges can be much worse than those in the valley.

If local conditions allow, choose a shorter walk lower down, avoiding exposed ground, swollen rivers and woodland where falling branches could be a hazard. Lower down doesn’t automatically mean safe!

Check the latest weather warnings and mountain forecast before setting off, carry waterproofs, warm layers and a headtorch, and be ready to change your plans or turn back.

Or perhaps this is the perfect weekend to cosy up in front of the fire with a good book and plan your next adventure?

The hills will still be there when the storms have passed. Look after yourselves and each other.

21/10/2026

We have Curlew on draught this week, a pale ale from Cheviot Brewery Ltd of 4.2%. We will be donating 50p per pint to the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team. Enjoy the b**r 🍻🍻

Northumberland National Park