Mountain rescue team assist 20 people in difficulty on Skye Trail across several incidents

The Skye Mountain Rescue Team helped 20 people who were in difficulty on Friday.

Volunteers were called out to several separate incidents across the Skye Trail in one of the “busiest days”.

The callouts took place between 7am and 8pm, with some occurring simultaneously.

Following the significant number of people calling for assistance, Skye Mountain Rescue Team has issued a warning to walkers saying that the popular route is “sometimes misunderstood”.

They describe the trail as “being challenging” and note that there are no obvious paths in some sections.

Their statement read: “Yesterday’s weather was particularly poor, but it was not exceptional for Skye and, importantly, it had been forecast. Our role is, and always will be, to help those who need us without judgement. Things can and do go wrong despite good preparation.

“However, when 20 people undertaking the same route require assistance in separate incidents on the same day, we think it is reasonable to ask whether there is a wider message in that.

The team assisted 20 people in difficulty Skye Mountain Rescue Team

“The problems we encounter are not unique to the Skye Trail. People can underestimate the terrain and the time involved, become over-reliant on electronic navigation, be caught out by mountain weather, or continue when perhaps it would be better to change plans or turn back. These are things we have spoken about before.”

The charity has urged hill walkers to “know your route, know your escape options and have a Plan B” if technology fails, and check “proper mountain forecasts such as MWIS”.

The mountain rescue team added: “None of this is intended as criticism of the people we assisted yesterday, and we are not suggesting that the same factors were involved in every incident. Things can and do go wrong in the hills despite good preparation.

“Perhaps there is a wider conversation to be had about how the Skye Trail is named, described, promoted and sold, as well as how those undertaking it are prepared and supported. If expectations are not matching the reality people encounter on the ground, then we need to ask why.

“We want people to come to Skye, enjoy our hills, undertake the Skye Trail and have great adventures. We’d just much rather you had a fantastic time, and we never had to meet.”