Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team

03/06/2026

Another busy spell for the team over the last few weeks.

The team were requested by Police Scotland to attend to the following rescues.
The team responded to a walker who was suspected to have suffered a stroke whilst out for a walk in the Kinlochleven area. Team members, along with Scottish Ambulance Service, administered first aid before transferring the casualty to a sports field for uplift by Scottish Charity Air Ambulance.

On the West Highland Way a walker sustained a lower leg injury. With the use of our Can-Am, team members quickly got to the casualty, administered first aid and then transferred the casualty to an ambulance for transfer to hospital.

On Aonach Eagach Ridge, a group of three climbers were traversing the ridge when one of the climbers had a fall. With the assistance of Coastguard Rescue R853 and Coastguard Rescue R199, team members were flown up onto the ridge and the casualty uplifted and flown to hospital in Glasgow. The team then walked the remaining two climbers off the ridge finishing the rescue at around 01:30.

Also on Aonach Eagach, the team responded to two separate cragfast incidents.

We wish the casualties a speedy recovery.

Glencoe Mountain Rescue, as with all rescue teams in the country, are all volunteers and regularly put themselves at risk to help anyone in difficulty in the mountainous environment. If you would like to support the Mountain Rescue Benevolent Fund (Glencoe) SC05243 then please click the link below:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/mountain-rescue-benevolent-fund-glencoe

Thank you.
GMR.

04/05/2026

A busy spell for the team recently with seven rescues in the last ten days.

A walker fell approximately seven metres in the Lost Valley area and sustained a head injury. Coastguard Rescue 199 assisted the team and transferred the casualty to hospital in Glasgow.

The following day, a walker became unwell on the West Highland Way. Team members attended, where they administered first aid and transferred the casualty to an ambulance. A few hours later, a group of walkers were traversing a slope on the Mamores when one of the walkers slipped and tumbled down approximately 50 metres into rocks. The team was once again assisted by Coastguard Rescue 199. They were able to winch the casualty on board and transfer the casualty to hospital in Glasgow. The team met up with the remaining group to walk them off the hill.

The following morning, a climber fell approximately 30 metres on Buachaille Etive Mor; sustaining leg and head injuries. Coastguard Rescue 851 were able to winch the casualty on board and transfer the casualty to hospital in Glasgow. Team members climbed up to the casualty’s climbing partner and assisted him off the hill.
While this rescue was ongoing, another call came in for a runner who had fallen on the West Highland Way sustaining an arm injury. Our team doctor and police were diverted to assist the runner who was then transferred to an ambulance. Thank you to the local estate who assisted with this rescue.

Finally, we had two separate requests to assist cragfast walkers on Buachaille Etive Mor.

Thank you to R199 and R851 for their valuable assistance on these rescues.
Thank you also to the bystanders who step in to assist and providing valuable first aid while waiting for help to arrive.

Glencoe Mountain Rescue, as with all rescue teams in the country, are all volunteers and regularly put themselves at risk to help anyone in difficulty in the mountainous environment. If you would like to support the Mountain Rescue Benevolent Fund (Glencoe) SC05243 then please click the link below:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/mountain-rescue-benevolent-fund-glencoe

Thank you.
GMR.

25/03/2026

A long night in full winter conditions.

Volunteers were recently called out when a walker sustained a fall from Bidean nam Bian. The other two members of the group struggled to reach the casualty, also falling and losing all but one of their ice axes. With the group now completely cragfast high in Glean Fhaolain, GMR rushed down Glen Etive.

Both team ATVs were used to get volunteers as high up the hill as possible, before the team continued on foot to locate the casualties in some very "complex" terrain. After locating the casualties, it was clear that extrication by foot was going to be incredibly difficult, so helicopter assistance was requested and Rescue 199 from Prestwick, swiftly arrived on scene.

Despite the crew's best efforts (while dodging a laser aimed at the aircraft), downdrafts in the glen made winching impossible. With no options to land, the helicopter departed, and the team continued slowly downward on foot, using a mixture of sliding and short roping back to the ATVs.

Tired and cold team members returned home over 10 hours after setting out on this rescue.

With our services being requested more and more, volunteers are increasingly putting themselves in harm's way on incidents like this. Unfortunately, we have discovered that there is a significant shortfall between the insurance and compensation available to us in the event of an injury or death on a rescue and the true costs of such an incident, particularly in the short term. It is for this reason that we asked an independent group to create a small benevolent fund that can offer a lifeline to volunteers and, particularly, their families when it is the rescuers who need help.

If you can, please donate below.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/mountain-rescue-benevolent-fund-glencoe

We love reading comments of support. But please be kind to each other.

Thank You
GMR

15/03/2026

During a rescue in December 2021, a team member suffered a lower leg injury requiring surgery and a lengthy time off work to recover. This extended period off work resulted in significant financial implications to the rescuer. Thankfully, these incidents are uncommon but when they do happen, the impact to the rescuer and their family is high.

In order to provide greater support in the event of such incidents, we established a benevolent fund as an independent charity. Mountain Rescue Benevolent Fund (Glencoe). Its purpose is to offer assistance to rescuers who sustain injuries and, in more serious cases, to provide aid to their families.

The family and friends of Dave Low, who lost his life in Glencoe, set up a fundraiser and raised over £10K which they donated to prime the benevolent fund. We are extremely grateful for this generous donation that kickstarted this important charity and will serve in great memory of Dave who loved being out in the mountains.

Glencoe Mountain Rescue, as with all rescue teams in the country, are all volunteers and regularly put themselves at risk to help anyone in difficulty in the mountainous environment. If you would like to support the Mountain Rescue Benevolent Fund (Glencoe) SC05243 then please click the link below:

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/mountain-rescue-benevolent-fund-glencoe

Thank you.
GMR.

14/03/2026

Incredible behaviour from someone putting the aircrew and those on the ground in danger. Everyone involved in Search and Rescue accepts enough risk without people like this adding to the danger. If you have any information please pass on to Police Scotland.

Officers are appealing for information after a report of a laser being shone at a helicopter in Glen Etive on Friday, 13 March, 2026.

Around 9.10pm, the laser was shone at HM Coastguard Search and Rescue helicopter, which was assisting Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team in the Glen Etive area.

The light appeared to come from the eastern end of Glencoe in an area near to Kingshouse Hotel. Officers attended, however, they did not trace whoever was responsible and enquiries are ongoing.

Sergeant Brian Heriot said: "Shining a laser light at any aircraft is incredibly dangerous and whoever is responsible has shown a total disregard for safety. Aircraft should always be able to operate safely and without distraction.

"Such incidents are not only extremely dangerous and reckless, they are also criminal acts. If you have any information on this incident, please contact us. If you witness a laser being shone at an aircraft, please contact police immediately."

Anyone with information should contact us through 101, quoting incident number 2087 of Friday, 13 March, 2026. Alternatively, please contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given in confidence.

12/03/2026

Do you have a Mountain Rescue or near-miss experience to add to this growing piece of work?

GMR

Have you ever needed to call Mountain Rescue or had a near-miss in the mountains? Help us shape the future of mountain safety!

We have around 750 self-reported mountain incidents - and that collection is being opened up for academic analysis by the Centre for Mountain Medicine at the University of Lancashire.

The goal is to uncover patterns, identify what goes wrong, and turn shared experience into safer mountains for everyone.

We're also planning focus groups later in 2026 - so if you've submitted a report before, watch this space.

Every story counts, help us build a bigger database and share your real-world story here: https://tinyurl.com/35a3jy9h

Glenmore Lodge Scottish Mountain Rescue Mountain Training Police Scotland DMBinS Snowsport Scotland

10/03/2026

Three jobs at a time now seems to be the new normal for GMR!

The first incident of the day involved a fallen walker in Coire Gabhail. A team set off on foot, but Rescue 199 from Prestwick reached the casualty just ahead of them and were able to manage the casualty without MRT assistance.

This proved to be really fortuitous as 15 minutes after the first call, a second 999 was received for a fall on Buachaille Etive Mor. The team in Coire Gabhail were able to turn round and head for the Buachaille to support team mates who had already arrived with the casualty. They provided initial treatment and packaged the casualty for Rescue 851 from Inverness to winch on board.

In the midst of these two shouts, we received a third request for help, this time on Buachaille Etive Beag to a crag fast walker. A single volunteer was able to es**rt them to safety, along with the assistance of some other willing hill-goers.

We wish the casualties a swift and full recovery.

Thanks to Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team & Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service. Both teams mobilised to offer assistance but were stood down after it became apparent that, thanks to the efforts of the crews of R199 & R851, stretcher carries weren't necessary.

Glencoe Mountain Rescue is made up entirely of volunteers who give their time freely to go to the aid of all who need it in Glencoe and beyond. To support the work we do, please visit the link below.

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/glencoemr

Thank you
GMR

01/03/2026

Always glad to help out our neighbours to the north Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team.

13/02/2026

It's finished!

Work has finished and the completion certificate has been issued on our revamped and extended Rescue Centre.

We couldn't be happier with the building, and during the recent busy spell it has already proven to make the process of getting out on rescues much quicker and simpler.

We would like to thank everyone who donated and fundraised, as well as all those who gave time and materials to make this happen.

We would like to thank Spit for the design concept and Rhuaraidh at RKtecture for working drawings and obtaining permissions.

Thanks also to our main contractor Glencoe Builders; Spit, Brian, Jamie, Lewis and Kenny. Along with sub contractors Macphersons Welding, Neil Malcolm Electrical, KS Refrigeration , Davie MacDonald Roofing, Andrew McAllister Decorating, Neil Henderson Flooring and Travis Perkins Fort William. Also Geo-Rope and Chisholm's Recovery Specialists for the use of lifting equipment. Everyone came together to give us an amazing building on time and under budget to let us help anyone who needs it on our hills or beyond for many years to come.

From the entire team at GMR a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has played a part no matter how small.

GMR

10/02/2026

A couple of recent callouts for our volunteers.

The first was to a hill walker who had taken a long fall into Coire Gabhail, the only available helicopter was R936 based in North Wales. Team members were able to climb up to the casualty and provide initial assessment and treatment. Despite a great effort from the Welsh crew, they weren't able to get their S-92 into a position to hoist the casualty. So team members carried the casualty down to the floor of the hidden valley, hoping that a landing might be possible from there. The crew of R851 from Inverness, who fly the smaller AW189, also made a good attempt to get in, but conditions made it impossible. Volunteers then had to carry the casualty all the way out to the roadside, from where they were finally handed over to R936, who had returned after refuelling and were able to land in the Glen.

The second incident came after a skier got disoriented in the mist and descended off the wrong side of the hill at Glencoe ski centre. Fortunately, he was soon located and recovered, safe and well, with assistance from the staff at Glencoe Mountain Resort.

We would like to wish the casualty a speedy recovery and thank both helicopter crews and the staff at Glencoe Mountain Resort for their continued and invaluable support.

If you would like to support the work we do, please follow the link below.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/glencoemr

As always, we love reading your messages of support, but please be kind.
Thanks
GMR