Three groups of hillwalkers rescued after heading out onto hills 'with inadequete kit'

A mountain rescue team ventured out into icy conditions three times on Valentine’s Day after hillwalkers became stuck while climbing without ‘adequate equipment’.

Tayside Mountain Rescue team were called to Kilbo Path at Corrie Sharroch, near Glen Doll in the Cairngorms, on February 14 following reports of stranded walkers.

The first two callouts happened in the afternoon after walkers were unable to continue “due to a complete lack of adequate kit, exacerbated by the icy conditions”.

Tayside Mountain Rescue team called to three separate incidents in the same area on Valentine's Day — Tayside Mountain Rescue team called to three separate incidents in the same area on Valentine’s Day Tayside MRT

They were called out for a third time to a party of six, after two people had slipped on the ice and suffered injuries.

Tayside MRT said the conditions on Saturday called for “full crampons, axe and helmet” on the path, as snow and ice were found on top of the Corrie to the floor and a hard crust had formed on the 60-degree slope.

The team said: “In winter conditions, it is imperative to be properly equipped with an ice axe and crampons and be trained in the skills needed to use them.”