THREE MISSING WALKERS TRACED NEAR GLENTROOL

About 5.00pm on Sunday 5th September 2004 Galloway MRT were called to search for three missing walkers from Edinburgh who had become mist bound whilst walking from Tunskeen Bothy to Bruce's Stone near Glentrool.

The walkers, two women and a man, were experienced walkers who had been walking in the area around the Merrick on Saturday and had stayed overnight at the bothy. They intended to return to Bruce's Stone via Loch Enoch by late afternoon on Sunday. Around 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon they contacted a friend and reported that the mist had closed in and they were disorientated. The police were contacted and Galloway MRT and SARDA (Southern Scotland) personnel were called out to commence searching from Bruce's Stone.

At about 7.30pm the walkers were found by one of the search teams, safe and well albeit tired, nearto the Gairland Burn on a recognised walkers path leading to Lochs Valley, Neldricken and Enoch.

Deputy Team Leader Chris Marshall who was in charge of the team commented - "This was a quick find considering the terrain and the mist level down to around 1500 feet. It is a situation that walkers can find themselves in all to easily. Two of these walkers were experienced and all three were well equipped, yet they still managed to get into difficulties when the weather closed in".

He goes on to remind walkers - "Galloway MRT provide a free online Route Notification system on our team internet website (at http://www.gallowaymrt.org.uk). Walkers are urged to leave details of their intended route using this system to allow us to deploy search teams effectively"

Anyone who is interested in find out more about Galloway MRT can log onto http://www.gallowaymrt.org.uk.

Press Release issued - 6th September 2004