Police are investigating after a climber died during an operation to rescue him on Ben Nevis. Mark Phillips aged 51 from Spean Bridge, had fallen approximately 50m while climbing in the Raeburn’s Buttress area on the north face of the mountain on Monday (24 Feb). It is understood that he sustained serious injuries during the fall but was still attached to the rope and his climbing partner who was able to call the rescue services. A helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth and the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team attended the scene and at some point during the operation to try and airlift…

Daniel Smith has become the youngest person to climb all the Munros. The nine year old from Glasgow climbed his way into the record books with his final Munros yesterday (Saturday 23 February) Stuchd an Lochan and Meall Buidhe. Recent years have seen a flurry of young walkers tackling mountain challenges. Last year Ben Fleetwood from Cumbria became the youngest person to scale all the Munros, aged ten. He was quickly joined by ten year old Scottish twins Cliona and Nuala McCheyne from Dunoon. Nine year old Daniel started walking with his father Mark in the Campsies and climbed his…

With Scotland’s hills and mountains currently at their most beautiful and most challenging, mountaineering bodies today (21 February) have issued the following joint safety reminder, emphasising the need for preparation before heading out into the mountains. “Whether you’re out walking or attempting a technical climb, the presence of snow and ice adds an extra dimension to the risks and rewards of a day spent in our wildest environments. The primary consideration of every expedition, whatever the season, should always be a safe return. But conditions in winter make particular demands: shorter days, low temperatures and conditions underfoot which can quickly…

Bookings are now being taken for events at this year’s Moray Walking Festival. The varied 5-day event will take place between Thursday 20 June to Monday 24 June. The programme includes a dawn walk up Ben Rinnes to catch the sunrise, a navigation skills walk, an evening whisky nosing session, coastal, riverside and moorland rambles, an evening mountain safety talk, as well as historical, nature and whisky themed-walks. Festival organisers say, “Moray has much to offer walkers that visit this less well known area of Scotland. Picture yourself strolling along clifftops over long sandy beaches watching out for the famous…

Police have named two of the three people who died after an avalanche in the Cairngorms on 14 February as on Thursday. Squadron Leader Rimon Than, 33, of RAF Valley, North Wales, and Flight Lieutenant Fran Capps, both members of the RAF Mountaineering Association were killed along with a student taking part in a winter skills course at Glenmore Lodge. Nine other people were caught up in the avalanche in the Chalamain Gap, a steep sided glen linking the Cairngorm ski road with the Lairig Ghru, were unhurt. Bob Kinnaird, Principal of Glenmore Lodge, said it was the first fatality…