Glencoe hiker deaths – latest: Bodies found after three go missing near Aonach Eagach Ridge
Six-mile ridge running through Glencoe is notoriously difficult to climb
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Three hikers have been found dead in Glencoe, after failing to return from the “narrowest” mountain ridge on mainland Britain.
The hillwalkers were reported missing shortly after 9pm on Saturday, with a Coastguard helicopter assisting Police Scotland, the RAF and Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team in searching the Aonach Eagach ridge.
Their bodies were discovered shortly after the rescue mission began in the Scottish Highlands, and police said their deaths do not appear to be suspicious.
The ridge is “probably the trickiest scrambling on any” route listed on WalkHighlands, the website says, describing it as “hard, exposed” terrain linking the Munros of Meall Dearg and Sgòrr nam Fiannaidh, which have summits reaching 952m and 967m above sea level respectively.
Police said: “We were made aware of concern for a group of three hillwalkers who had not returned from the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glencoe shortly after 9.05pm on Saturday 5 August.
“A search was carried out and the bodies of three people were found. HM Coastguard as well as Glencoe and RAF mountain rescue teams assisted with the recovery operation.”
Highland councillor reacts to news
Angus MacDonald, a local Highland councillor, has reacted to the news - having grown up in Clachaig Inn, below the ridge
"This is a tragedy for those who died and their families,” he told the BBC.
“I know everyone in the area will feel for them."
Deaths are not suspicious
No names of the walkers have been released by Scottish police with the circumstances said not to be suspicious.
On Tuesday morning, the force said they had nothing to add to their statement.
This said: “We were made aware of concern for a group of three hillwalkers who had not returned from the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glencoe shortly after 9.05pm on Saturday 5 August.
“A search was carried out and the bodies of three people were found. HM Coastguard as well as Glencoe and RAF mountain rescue teams assisted with the recovery operation.”
Mountain ridge ‘is one of most exposed and narrow in UK’
A mental health and outdoors campaigner has described Aonach Eagach as “one of the most exposed and narrow mountain routes in the UK”, as he reacted to the “desperately sad” news.
“Thoughts with their friends and families, and with the mountain rescue team which found them,” Ross Cunningham, editor of the Mountains Mend Minds documentary project, wrote on social media.
“Aonach Eagach is popular but it’s also one of the most exposed and narrow mountain routes in the UK, particularly among the mainland summits. Such a tragic incident.”
Kate Forbes describes hillwalkers’ deaths as ‘horrendous news’
Kate Forbes, the Scottish National party MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, described the deaths as “horrendous news”. She said: “My thoughts are with the families. My sincere appreciation to mountain rescue, as always, and the emergency services.”
The hikers’ identities have not been revealed by the police.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of concern for a group of three hillwalkers who had not returned from the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glen Coe shortly after 9.05pm on Saturday 5 August.
Aonach Eagach ridge is known as the ‘narrowest ridge on the British Mainland’
The Aonach Eagach ridge spans nearly six miles from east to west and features two Munro summits, Sgùrr nam Fiannaidh at 3,175 feet and Meall Dearg at 3,124 feet, both exceeding 3,000 feet in height.
Scottish Daily Express reported that the terrain in this area is predominantly rocky, necessitating scrambling skills for traversing the route.
The slopes flanking the ridge on either side are treacherous, characterised by steep grass-and-scree inclines that obscure even steeper gradients.
These slopes culminate in cliffs along the northern and southern edges of the ridge, posing significant hazards.
According to the Walkhighlands website, the Aonach Eagach ridge is renowned as the “narrowest ridge on the British Mainland”.
WiredForAdventure magazine characterizes it by stating, “Certain sections of this trail might lead hikers to consider employing a rope for added safety. However, it’s the dramatic precipices and nerve-tingling exposure that contribute to its distinction as one of the most spine-chilling hikes globally.”
Tragically, the Aonach Eagach ridge has claimed the lives of seven individuals since 2014.
In September of the previous year, a 36-year-old male climber lost his life due to a fall exceeding 650 feet on the mountain.
Police enlisted help of coastguard due to inaccessible conditions
The Coastguard are said to have been called out some time after police were alerted on Saturday.
HM Coastguard said they were alerted to the incident at 10.50pm and a Coastguard helicopter proceeded to assist the police in searching the Aonach Eagach ridge.
A police spokesperson said: “We were made aware of concern for a group of three hillwalkers who had not returned from the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glencoe shortly after 9.05pm on Saturday 5 August.”
Police Scotland called out the coastguard due to the inaccessibility of the area and the Inverness search and rescue helicopter was despatched and carried out a search in difficult weather conditions, with low visibility caused by mist and fog.
The bodies were located and the Coastguard’s search and rescue helicopter from Prestwick returned in daylight to assist mountain rescuers with recovering the bodies.
ICYMI: ‘There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances'
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “We were made aware of concern for a group of three hillwalkers who had not returned from the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glencoe shortly after 9.05pm on Saturday, 5 August.
“A search was carried out and the bodies of three people were found.”
He added: “HM Coastguard as well as Glencoe and RAF mountain rescue teams assisted with the recovery operation. There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
Mountain ridge ‘is one of most exposed and narrow in UK’
A mental health and outdoors campaigner has described Aonach Eagach as “one of the most exposed and narrow mountain routes in the UK”, as he reacted to the “desperately sad” news.
“Thoughts with their friends and families, and with the mountain rescue team which found them,” Ross Cunningham, editor of the Mountains Mend Minds documentary project, wrote on social media.
“Aonach Eagach is popular but it’s also one of the most exposed and narrow mountain routes in the UK, particularly among the mainland summits. Such a tragic incident.”
Full report: Three hikers found dead on mountain ridge in Scotland
Three hikers have been found dead on a mountain ridge in Scotland after they failed to return from their walk.
Emergency services were called to the Aonach Eagach Ridge in the Scottish Highlands on Saturday after the group were reported missing shortly after 9pm.
Police Scotland, HM Coastguard, the RAF and Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team took part in the recovery operation. However, their bodies were tragically discovered shortly after the rescue mission began.
My colleague Maryam Zakir-Hussain has the full report here:
Three hikers found dead on mountain ridge in Scotland
Tragedy occured on ‘narrowest’ route on British mainland, Aonach Eagach Ridge
Police statement in full
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of concern for a group of three hillwalkers who had not returned from the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glen Coe shortly after 9.05pm on Saturday August 5.
“A search was carried out and the bodies of three people were found. HM Coastguard as well as Glencoe and RAF mountain rescue teams assisted with the recovery operation.
“There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”
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