The bodies of two men and a woman have been found on a mountain ridge in Glencoe.
Emergency services were alerted that the group had failed to return from a hike on the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glencoe just after 9.05pm on Saturday.
A search involving police, RAF and Glencoe mountain rescue teams and the Coastguard was launched.
Due to the inaccessibility of the area, the Coastguard’s 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 of three people were found and a rescue helicopter from Prestwick returned in daylight to assist mountain rescuers with recovering them.
VisitScotland/Stephen McCallAonach Eagach ridge is regarded as the narrowest ridge on mainland Britain, with extremely dangerous slopes to each side.
Its steep grass-and-scree slopes hide even-steeper slopes, which end in cliffs on both north and south sides of the ridge.
Police Scotland said there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths, and that a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.
A spokesperson for the force 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, August 5.
“A search was carried out and the bodies of three people, two men and a woman, were found. HM Coastguard as well as Glencoe and RAF mountain rescue teams assisted with the recovery operation.
Google Earth“There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: “HM Coastguard assisted Police Scotland following reports of three missing walkers in Glencoe on Saturday, August 5.
“Alerted at around 10.50pm, the Coastguard helicopter from Inverness assisted with a thorough search of the Aonach Eagach ridge.
“The helicopter from Prestwick provided further support to police and mountain rescue teams Sunday morning.”
Reacting, First Minister Humza Yousaf said: “I am deeply saddened to hear this news, my thoughts with the family, and the loved ones of those who have tragically died.
“My thanks to our Mountain Rescue teams and other emergency services for their efforts.”
Kate Forbes, SNP MSP for MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said: “This is horrendous news. My thoughts are with the families.
“My sincere appreciation to Mountain Rescue, as always, and the emergency services.”
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