Moffat Mountain Rescue Team

11/10/2026

A busy few days for our team of volunteers. If you are interested in joining our team come along to our open day on Sunday 18th October 10am - 2pm.

Callout: Injured walker on Criffel

On Friday 9th October 2026 at 18:01, the team was called out to a walker with an injured ankle who had become disorientated in mist on Criffel.

Thanks to the what3words app, the casualty was able to give us an accurate location. Eight team members attended, with a hasty party heading up to reach them while others prepared a stretcher in case it was needed.

The hasty party assessed the casualty, provided warm clothing and heat packs, applied supportive bandaging and gave pain relief. They were then able to walk off the hill slowly with the team's help. Casualty and team were all off the hill by 22:15.

Planning your day on the hill

With temperatures dropping and sunset coming earlier, now's the time to adjust what you carry:

🔦 A head torch (with spare batteries)
🧥 Warm layers, hat and gloves, even if it's mild at the start
🌫️ Check the weather and cloud base before you set off, and be ready to turn back if conditions change
📍 Route plan with OS maps and download the OS app, which shows your grid reference using your phone's GPS
📱 Keep your phone charged

If you need help, call 999 and ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.

https://www.moffatmrt.org.uk/what-we-do/recruitment/

https://www.moffatmrt.org.uk/two-callouts-in-two-days/

Dumfries and Galloway! Whats Going on ? SFRS Dumfries & Galloway Police Scotland Dumfries & Galloway Ordnance Survey Scottish Mountain Rescue Police Scotland

11/10/2026

Callout: Injured mountain biker near Langholm

On Thursday 8th October 2026 at 16:23, the team was called out to assist the Scottish Ambulance Service with a mountain biker who had injured their shoulder high in the hills near Benpath, Langholm.

Team members met an ambulance paramedic at the roadhead while the police and team worked out the casualty's exact location using what3words. The team and paramedic then used our Land Rover and the ambulance response vehicle to reach the casualty, where pain relief was given.

The casualty was evacuated in the Land Rover and handed over to an ambulance crew at 19:46 for onward travel to hospital. Eleven team members attended.

Out on two wheels?

Remote trails can be a long way from the nearest road, so a few things are worth carrying:

📍 Route plan with OS Map and download the OS app which shows your grid reference using your phone's GPS
📱 Keep your phone charged in case you need to call for help
🧥 Spare warm layers and a waterproof, as you cool down fast if you become stationary through injury
🔦 A light, as it gets dark earlier now
👥 Tell someone your route and expected return time

If you need help, call 999 and ask for Police, then Mountain Rescue.

https://www.moffatmrt.org.uk/two-callouts-in-two-days/

Dumfries and Galloway! Whats Going on ? Ordnance Survey SFRS Dumfries & Galloway Police Scotland Dumfries & Galloway Police Scotland Scottish Ambulance Service Scottish Mountain Rescue

20/09/2026

Sincere thanks to Dumfries and Galloway! Whats Going on ? for supporting our up coming recruitment open day.

If you’d like to meet our team and learn more about what’s involved in becoming a part of Moffat Mountain Rescue save the date. Sunday 18th October 10am - 2pm

Moffat Mountain Rescue Team (MMRT) is opening its doors to the public for a Recruitment Open Day designed to give local residents and outdoor enthusiasts a rare behind‑the‑scenes look at how…

06/09/2026

Recruitment Open Day

We’re looking for new volunteers who want to step up, train hard and be part of a team that saves lives across Moffat, Eastern Dumfries and South Lanarkshire.

Could you be part of our future?
Moffat Mountain Rescue Team is staffed entirely by volunteers who provide a 24/7 rescue service — and we’re recruiting people with the commitment, resilience and skills to help us continue that work.

OPEN DAY — For Prospective Volunteers

📅 Sunday 18th October 2026
🕙 10:00–14:00
📍 MMRT Base, Selkirk Road, Moffat, DG10 9JU

This event is aimed at people genuinely interested in joining the team. You’ll meet current members, see our equipment, watch demonstrations and learn what’s involved in becoming operational.

Who We’re Looking For

Mountain rescue relies on a wide range of skills. We’re keen to meet people who can offer operational commitment on the hill, but also those who bring specialist support skills that help run our charity day‑to‑day — from logistics and equipment management to admin, fundraising and technical expertise.

Operationally, a solid foundation in navigation, hill safety, rigging, climbing, or strong knowledge of the local terrain will put you in a strong starting position. If you’re committed, willing to train and ready to develop these skills further, we’d love to speak with you.

Our Values

• Innovation — embracing new ideas and technology to save lives
• Inclusion — a team that respects, supports and welcomes everyone
• Compassion — caring for those in need and for each other
• Excellence — trained, prepared and committed to the highest standards

If you’re ready to make a meaningful difference and join a team built on skill, dedication and community service, come along and talk to us.

👉 Get involved: [email protected]
🌐 https://www.moffatmrt.org.uk/what-we-do/recruitment/
📘 facebook: moffatmrt

Dumfries and Galloway! Whats Going on ? Police Scotland Dumfries & Galloway Visit Moffat Scottish Mountain Rescue

06/08/2026

🚨 Call‑Out Update – A Busy 7 Days 🚨

Our volunteers have responded to three call‑outs in the last seven days, supporting Police Scotland and partner agencies across our region.

🔹 31 July – Mouswald
Called at 02:21 to search for a high‑risk missing person.
With support from Galloway Mountain Rescue Team, SARAA - Search and Rescue Aerial Association, Police Scotland Dumfries & Galloway, search dogs and HM Coastguard Rescue 199, the missing person was found safe and well later that morning.

🔹 2 August – Criffel
At 13:44, we assisted a crashed paraglider.
7 team members attended and helped recover equipment. Thankfully, the paraglider was uninjured.

🔹 5 August – Wanlockhead
At 19:32, we were deployed to locate missing walkers.
16 Moffat MRT volunteers, Police Scotland MRT and HM Coastguard Rescue 897 worked together to find the group and extract them safely from the hillside.

Further details available on our website alongside other useful information on keeping yourself safe in the hills, our events and the work the team do:
https://www.moffatmrt.org.uk/busy-spell-for-mmrt-3-incidents-in-a-week/

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💛 Powered by Donations, Driven by Service

Our team is made up entirely of volunteers, and we rely on public support to stay operational.
If you’d like to help us continue this work, please consider donating:

👉 Support Moffat Mountain Rescue https://donate.justgiving.com/charity/mmrt/donation-amount

08/07/2026

National Map Reading Week highlights how vital strong navigation skills are in search and rescue.

For our team those skills sit alongside a wide range of technical capabilities that keep our volunteers ready to respond professionally in all conditions.

Last night, 17 team members took part in a focused training session covering stretcher rigging, PowerPoints, and lowering systems — techniques that allow us to move a casualty safely through steep, complex or hazardous terrain. These systems are built, checked, and operated by volunteers who give their time to ensure the team can reach people quickly and bring them home safely.

Navigation gets us to the right place.
Rigging and lowering get everyone out.

If you’re able to support our work, please consider donating to help us continue providing a professional mountain rescue response:

👉 Donate on JustGiving https://www.justgiving.com/charity/mmrt

07/07/2026

It’s National Map Reading Week, and it’s a perfect chance to celebrate one of the simplest but most powerful bits of kit you can carry — a good old‑fashioned map.

A map isn’t just lines and symbols. It’s a treasure trove of adventures waiting to happen. Every contour, every path, every tiny feature is a hint of what you might discover on your next big hill day or even a wee ramble close to home. Learning to read it well lets you immerse yourself in the landscape long before your boots hit the ground.

Strong navigation skills also keep you safe and help us reach you quickly if things go wrong. It’s confidence, calm, and clarity all rolled into one.

If you fancy learning, sharing this knowledge with your friends and family or brushing up, Ordnance Survey have some brilliant free guides for National Map Reading Week — friendly, easy, and great for all levels.
👉 https://osmaps.com/discover/guides/map-reading-week/

We hope you have a fantastic summer of new adventures, good decisions, and enjoying the hills with a map and compass - two pieces of kit that will serve you every time.

Brush up on your map reading skills with these free guides from National Map Reading Week suitable for total beginners, expert navigators and even kids.

24/06/2026

🚨 Callout – Injured Walker Near Langholm 🚨

At 15:13 on Tuesday 23rd June, Moffat Mountain Rescue Team were requested by Police Scotland to assist a walker who had fallen and sustained a knee injury near Langholm.

11 team members responded. A hasty party made their way to the casualty, assessed their injuries and provided appropriate pain relief. Thanks to a nearby off‑road track, the team were able to access the location directly, allowing the casualty to be packaged into a stretcher and transferred to our VW ambulance 🚑.

Following discussion with the Scottish Ambulance Service, it was agreed that the best option was for the casualty to be transported directly to hospital in the team vehicle. The team conveyed them safely DGRI Emergency Department, completing a full handover with medical staff.

We wish the casualty a smooth and speedy recovery 💛

Our teams rely on donations in order to allow us to respond at speed in emergency situations. If you would like to donate please visit https://www.justgiving.com/charity/mmrt

Full callout details, photos, previous news and advice on staying safe in the hills available here at: https://www.moffatmrt.org.uk/callout-to-warb-law-langholm-for-injured-walker/

Dumfries and Galloway! Whats Going on ? Scottish Mountain Rescue Police Scotland Dumfries & Galloway

17/06/2026

🚨⬆️ CALLOUT TO INJURED WALKER – WATERLOO MONUMENT, DUMFRIES ⬆️🚨
📅 Wed, 17th Jun 2026 | 🕠 17:48 hrs

The team was called out this evening to assist a walker who had injured their ankle while out at the Waterloo Monument, south of Dumfries. The casualty was unable to weight‑bear and required rescue.

👥 12 MMRT volunteers responded, along with 🚑 4 Scottish Ambulance Service crew members.
One local team member — a Remote Rescue Medical Technician (RRMT) — arrived early to provide an on‑scene update and help coordinate resources.

Working together with SAS colleagues, the team:

• Assessed the ankle as possibly broken
• Provided strong pain relief
• Stabilised and treated the injury
• Evacuated the casualty by stretcher to the team’s VW ambulance
• Completed handover at the SAS RV point

We wish the casualty a speedy recovery. 💛

Full report at: https://www.moffatmrt.org.uk/callout-to-injured-walker-at-wallace-monument-dumfries/

Scottish Mountain Rescue
Dumfries and Galloway! Whats Going on ?

14/06/2026

Moffat Mountain Rescue Team is incredibly proud to congratulate James Coles on being awarded the MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours.

James served as Team Leader for the last five years, guiding the team through some of our most challenging periods — including the Covid‑19 pandemic — and strengthening the resilience, training, and operational readiness that define MMRT today. His leadership supported improvements to our base, the creation of the Skene Room, and the continued development of our volunteers.

He also championed community fundraising, helped re‑establish the Charity Challenge, and ensured the team remained financially stable and well‑governed.

James leaves the role with the respect and gratitude of every member of the team. His MBE is a fitting recognition of his dedication to public service and to the safety of those who live, work, and travel in the hills of Southern Scotland.

Congratulations, James — and thank you for your leadership and continued support as an active member of our team.

Read the full statements from John Burnham, current Team Leader and Moira Weatherstone, Chair of Scottish Mountain Rescue at:
https://www.moffatmrt.org.uk/james-coles-mbe-honoured-in-kings-birthday-honours-2026/