Three hillwalkers have been found dead in Glencoe, western Scotland, after failing to return from a hike.
An alert was raised soon after 9.05pm on Saturday 5 August after the walkers did not come back from an excursion to Aonach Eagach Ridge.
Police Scotland said their bodies were found during a search of the area which included HM Coastguard as well as Glencoe and RAF mountain rescue teams.
The Scottish Highlands path is one of the narrowest ridges on the British mainland and requires hillwalkers to scramble across using their hands to keep their balance on the difficult terrain.
The ridge runs for six miles and there are two Munros – a Scottish term for a summit over 3,000ft. They are Sgorr nam Fiannaidh at 3,175 feet and Meall Dearg 3,124 feet.
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 Glencoe 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.”
The coastguard said it sent out its Inverness search and rescue helicopter after being alerted at 22:50 on Saturday night.
Dozens of walkers and climbers undertake the famous hike safely each year.
However, the body of Alan Taylor, from Dundee, was found near the ridge last September after he had been missing since September 2021.
A 63-year-old woman also died in the area in 2014, as well as a 44-year-old man in 2016.
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) said climbers should be confident moving around Grade 1 ground without a rope before undertaking Aonach Eagach – which is a Grade 2 scramble.
“For Grade 2 and 3 scrambles, the line between scrambling and rock climbing becomes a lot more blurred, and the use of protection becomes more advisable,” said the BMC.
The organisation quoted mountaineering instructor Alan Halewood, who regularly takes groups across the ridge, advising walkers to get a number of other Grade 2 scrambles under their belt before attempting Aonach Eagach.
“Liathach makes a better introduction to grade two scrambling because the difficulties are more escapable – unlike the Aonach Eagach, where there’s really just two convenient ways off: the beginning and the end,” he said.
This story is being updated.
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