Timely words of caution for walkers and climbers from the Ordnance Survey facebook page.
It is concerning to see our local Ben Cruachan being such a hot spot for people needing help on the hills. We have an amazing Oban Mountain Rescue team.
The clocks changing, shorter days and unpredictable weather mean good prep is everything for winter hiking safety: These stats from our pals in Scottish Mountain Rescue show that if you get into trouble, you need to be able to stay warm, fed and watered until they can get to you.
And don't forget the basics
✅ Let someone know where you're going and when you'll be back
🗺️ Take a paper map or print your OS Maps route as a backup
🔋 Pack a charged power bank for your phone
🧦 Bring warm, waterproof layers — and spare socks!
🥪 Carry plenty of food and drink to keep you fuelled
🔦 Always take a head torch (and spare batteries!)
📍If you do find yourself needing to tell someone your exact current location, the Locate Me feature in OS Maps gives you a 10-digit grid reference.
These data visualisations explore call out hotspots, average rescue response times across Scotland in 2024 and how they increase in remote and mountainous areas due to large distances being covered by each rescue team. In some places, it could take a team hours to reach you, so it is critical to make sure you’ve got enough kit to stay safe and comfortable until help arrives.
A huge shoutout to Scottish Mountain Rescue and Mountain Rescue England and Wales — we’re so proud of the incredible work they do to keep adventurers safe across Great Britain. 💙🧭❄️
The clocks changing, shorter days and unpredictable weather mean good prep is everything for winter hiking safety: These stats from our pals in Scottish Mountain Rescue show that if you get into trouble, you need to be able to stay warm, fed and watered until they can get to you.
And don't forget the basics
✅ Let someone know where you're going and when you'll be back
🗺️ Take a paper map or print your OS Maps route as a backup
🔋 Pack a charged power bank for your phone
🧦 Bring warm, waterproof layers — and spare socks!
🥪 Carry plenty of food and drink to keep you fuelled
🔦 Always take a head torch (and spare batteries!)
📍If you do find yourself needing to tell someone your exact current location, the Locate Me feature in OS Maps gives you a 10-digit grid reference.
These data visualisations explore call out hotspots, average rescue response times across Scotland in 2024 and how they increase in remote and mountainous areas due to large distances being covered by each rescue team. In some places, it could take a team hours to reach you, so it is critical to make sure you’ve got enough kit to stay safe and comfortable until help arrives.
A huge shoutout to Scottish Mountain Rescue and Mountain Rescue England and Wales — we’re so proud of the incredible work they do to keep adventurers safe across Great Britain. 💙🧭❄️