Tweed Valley MRT

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team responded to two separate callouts on 12 July 2026. A young mountain biker was injured at Glentress and treated before being stretchered to the Scottish Ambulance Service, while a walker suffered a hip injury near Traquair. Both casualties were assisted by the team, which used local knowledge to minimise stretcher carry distances.

Outcome: both casualties assisted and transferred to ambulance service

A walker fell on rocky ground near the summit of Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh on Monday evening. Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue attended and assisted the casualty to walk to a team vehicle, with handover to Scottish Ambulance Service at the base of the hill. Emergency services cleared the scene by 8.30pm.

Outcome: casualty walked to rescue vehicle with support and handed over to Scottish Ambulance Service

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team responded to two separate incidents within a week: an injured mountain bike rider at Glentress on 2 July requiring evacuation by ambulance, and a casualty who had fallen on rocky ground at Arthur's Seat on 6 July. Both casualties received treatment and support from the team.

Outcome: first casualty evacuated by Scottish Ambulance Service; second casualty walked to team vehicle with support

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team responded to two incidents within a week: an injured mountain bike rider at Glentress on 2 July and a casualty who fell on rocky ground at Arthur's Seat on 6 July. Both casualties received treatment and were evacuated with assistance from the team and emergency services.

Outcome: both casualties evacuated with team assistance and handover to Scottish Ambulance Service

Outcome: The rescue team successfully freed a cow that had become trapped at an icehouse after an 11-hour operation.

A 500kg heifer fell into a hidden Victorian icehouse on a farm near Kelso in May and was trapped underground. An 11-hour multi-agency rescue involving Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and farm contractors successfully freed the animal using a drone to locate a bricked-up door and a digger to create a safe exit route. The heifer was returned to the farm in good health.

Outcome: animal successfully rescued and returned to farm in good health

Specialist fire crews were called out to a farm near Kelso following an 11-hour operation to free a heifer that had fallen into a hidden underground Victorian icehouse. Using equipment from various rescue services and the assistance of local staff, teams managed to create enough space for the animal to climb out safely.

Outcome: The heifer was successfully rescued and is reported to be unharmed.

During routine police patrols in the Tweed Valley near Cardrona, an air rifle was seized following a public report. Later that day, officers assisted mountain rescue and ambulance services at an incident involving an injured cyclist near Innerleithen.

Outcome: Injured cyclist taken to hospital; male charged with possession of an air rifle.

A mountain bike rider sustained an injury while on Twitcher Trail at Glentress. The rescue team attended the incident in the afternoon and worked alongside ambulance services to assist the casualty off the hill for treatment.

Outcome: Transported from the scene for treatment

Mountain rescue teams were called out on Wednesday evening to assist a casualty who had sustained a lower limb injury near Neidpath Castle in Peebles. The operation required the use of a stretcher due to muddy and rough ground conditions, and the casualty was eventually taken by ambulance.

Outcome: Transported to hospital/medical attention

The Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team responded to Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park on 15 January after a walker sustained a lower leg injury on a steep section of the hill around 3.30pm. The casualty was assisted by the rescue team and Scottish Ambulance Service, with the team departing the scene at approximately 7pm.

Outcome: casualty extracted and assisted by rescue team and ambulance service

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team was called out on 13 January to assist a walker with a lower leg injury on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. The team worked with Scottish Ambulance Service to extract the casualty, with all personnel off the hill by 18:57.

Outcome: casualty extracted with assistance from Scottish Ambulance Service

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue assisted two injured cyclists in separate incidents at Glentress over two weeks in mid-September. Both casualties were treated and evacuated with support from Scottish Ambulance Service. The team also responded to a false alarm SOS call from the Ettrick Valley.

Outcome: both casualties treated and evacuated

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue responded to two separate incidents involving cyclists at Glentress over a period of time. On September 14th, an injured mountain biker was treated and evacuated by the team alongside ambulance staff. A second incident occurred on September 18th, where the team assisted with the extraction of another injured cyclist.

Outcome: Injuries treated and evacuated

A mountain bike rider sustained a leg injury at an old quarry near Galashiels after an accident on off-road trails. Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue attended to support the Scottish Ambulance Service, and the casualty was treated and evacuated by 5:50pm.

Outcome: casualty treated and evacuated

A cyclist came off their bike at Glentress Mountain bike trail near Edinburgh on 11 June. Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue attended, assessed the casualty, and carried them on a stretcher to an awaiting ambulance for handover to Scottish Ambulance Service.

Outcome: casualty assisted onto stretcher and handed over to paramedics

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team responded to multiple incidents on 17 January 2025, including an unwell hillwalker in the Pentland Hills, an injured hillwalker on the Eildon Hills, an injured mountain biker evacuated by helicopter from Glentress, and a drone search for a missing person.

Outcome: mountain biker evacuated by Helimed helicopter; other casualties assisted by rescue team

A hillwalker suffered a lower leg injury while walking on West Kip in the Pentland Hills and was airlifted to hospital by Scottish Air Ambulance. Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team, working with paramedics, located the casualty and packaged them for evacuation, completing the rescue by mid-afternoon.

Outcome: casualty evacuated to hospital by air ambulance

The local mountain rescue team has noted a significant increase in callouts, with approximately half involving injured mountain bikers at Glentress. The team advises riders to assess trails carefully, read all signage, and use trail grading systems appropriate for their abilities.

Outcome: No outcome specified (Ongoing concern)

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team assisted Scottish Ambulance Service in evacuating an injured mountain biker from the 'Turn and Burn' trail at Glentress on 16 October 2024. The casualty was transferred to a waiting ambulance by 5:35pm. This was the team's third callout in three days.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by ambulance

A hillwalker sustained a lower leg injury while hiking near Scald Law in the Pentlands on 15 October 2024. The Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team, paramedics, and coastguard responded; the casualty was evacuated by Scottish Ambulance Service using an all-terrain vehicle and was off the hill by 1.50pm.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by all-terrain vehicle

Multiple rescue operations occurred across the Scottish Borders and Northumberland region over the weekend. A mountain biker was injured at Glentress and hospitalised; a walker suffered a suspected broken ankle on the coastal path near Coldingham Bay and was evacuated by ambulance; and seven people were rescued from chest-deep water on the Pilgrims Way to Holy Island, though they were assisted by Holy Island Coastguard and removed the water safely before Berwick team arrived.

Outcome: mountain biker and walker evacuated by ambulance to hospital; seven people rescued from water by Holy Island Coastguard

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team and Scottish Ambulance Service SORT attended a medical incident on the Pentland Hills near Hillend Ski Centre on 28 July 2024. The casualty was packaged and evacuated to an ambulance. The team were supported by colleagues from Ochils MRT.

Outcome: casualty evacuated to ambulance

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team responded to two separate incidents within six hours on 3 July 2024. The first involved an injured hillwalker above Ettrick Kirk who was evacuated by stretcher, whilst the second concerned a lost cyclist between Eddleston and Romanno Bridge who was located sheltering in a hut and assisted to safety by police and a local farmer.

Outcome: injured walker evacuated by stretcher; lost cyclist located and assisted to safety

A woman sustained a lower leg injury at Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh on the evening of 10 May 2024, in an inaccessible location. HM Coastguard helicopter Rescue 199 was deployed, and with assistance from Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team members, the casualty was winched aboard and transferred to the Scottish Ambulance Service near Holyrood Palace.

Outcome: casualty winched by helicopter and transferred to ambulance care

An injured walker fell near the summit of Tinto Hill in the Southern Uplands on Saturday morning. Due to strong winds, a helicopter could not winch her directly, so she was carried to a suitable landing site and airlifted to a nearby car park. She was then transferred by ambulance to hospital for treatment.

Outcome: casualty airlifted by helicopter and taken by ambulance to hospital

A woman was injured after falling near Galashiels on Gala Hill on 7 January. Eight members of Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team assisted emergency services in getting her into an ambulance approximately one hour after the callout. She was taken to hospital for treatment.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by ambulance to hospital

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue assisted in three separate incidents over two days in October 2023. These included locating an missing 82-year-old man near Whitburn after 60 hours outdoors, evacuating an injured mountain biker from Glentress Forest, and rescuing a teenager who had fallen from height on Blackford Hill in Edinburgh.

Outcome: missing man found alive, mountain biker evacuated by stretcher to Royal Edinburgh Hospital, teenager rescued by multi-agency response

Eight volunteers from Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue assisted Scottish Ambulance Service in evacuating a female casualty who had sustained an ankle injury on steep ground at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh. The casualty was transported to New Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Outcome: casualty evacuated to New Edinburgh Royal Infirmary

A mountain rescue team rescued an injured walker on Caerketton Hill after she broke her ankle while slipping. To reach her quickly in poor conditions, rescuers improvised by using a ski tow to ascend the hill before sledging her down the dry ski slope.

Outcome: The injured walker was safely evacuated.

A hillwalker sustained a broken ankle on Caerketton Hill in the Pentlands near Edinburgh on Saturday evening. Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue teams used a makeshift sled fashioned from a stretcher to evacuate her down the artificial ski slope at Hillend. The casualty was transferred to hospital for further treatment.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by stretcher and transferred to hospital

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue attended to multiple incidents involving mountain bikers over three days in Innerleithen. The team provided initial first aid and assisted casualties to waiting ambulances following separate crashes.

Outcome: Casualties transported to hospital

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team responded to two walkers stranded on the Pentland Hills after dark on Monday evening. The team of 18 volunteers located the couple within an hour; they were cold but otherwise uninjured. The incident highlighted the importance of carrying appropriate navigation and safety equipment during shorter daylight hours.

Outcome: walkers located and assisted, no injuries reported

A hillwalker was injured while climbing on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh on Friday afternoon. Emergency services including Police Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service, and mountain rescue teams responded to the incident. The casualty was evacuated using the Ambulance Service's all-terrain Wolverine vehicle and transported to hospital.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by all-terrain vehicle and transported to hospital

An injured walker was rescued from Holyrood Park in Edinburgh with the assistance of emergency services. The casualty was extracted from the location and received appropriate care.

Outcome: casualty rescued by emergency services

An injured walker with a lower leg injury was evacuated from Holyrood Park near Arthur's Seat on the evening of 29 May 2021. A Coastguard rescue helicopter attempted to assist but was unable to land due to dense fog, so the casualty was evacuated by Scottish Ambulance Special Operations team using a Wolverine vehicle.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by Scottish Ambulance SORT team for transport to hospital

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team assisted two walkers stranded in the North Pentland Hills near Edinburgh on Saturday evening due to deep snowdrifts. The team's standard vehicle could not progress through the snow, and the Scottish Ambulance Service's 'Wolverine' all-terrain vehicle was called to complete the evacuation.

Outcome: two walkers evacuated with assistance from Wolverine vehicle

A woman suffered a broken ankle after slipping on ice near the summit of Caerketton Hill in the Pentland Hills on 29 December 2020. More than 35 mountain rescue and firefighters attended in severe winter conditions with wind chill of minus 10°C. She was evacuated by helicopter after rescue teams determined that a stretcher-based descent would have taken too long.

Outcome: evacuated by helicopter, recovering from broken ankle

Moffat Mountain Rescue Team assisted 12 people stranded in vehicles on the A702 at Dalveen Pass near Durisdeer during severe snow conditions on Tuesday night. Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team also responded to a separate incident in the Borders where a vehicle had slipped off the road in blizzard conditions.

Outcome: 12 people assisted to safety overnight

A hillwalker became disoriented and lost in the Pentland Hills as darkness fell on Sunday evening and called for help. Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team responded with 19 members, aided by a police helicopter with searchlight, and located the walker cold but uninjured and walked them to safety.

Outcome: walker found cold but uninjured and walked to safety

A 42-year-old walker slipped and broke his leg near the top of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh on snowy conditions. Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team, along with police, ambulance, fire and rescue services, and a Coastguard helicopter, worked together to lower the casualty down the steepest section using rope rescue techniques before carrying him to an ambulance at Dunsapie Loch.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by stretcher via multi-agency rope rescue

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue attended a mountain bike incident on a steep hillside near Innerleithen on Sunday afternoon. The rider sustained a leg injury in a fall and was evacuated by stretcher to the roadside before being transported to hospital.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by stretcher to roadside and taken to hospital

A teenager was reported missing after failing to return from a late-night walk near Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders. Following an extensive overnight search involving mountain rescue teams, police, and dog handlers, the young person was located by a police officer on a minor road near the village at 6am after having taken a wrong turning in the forest.

Outcome: found safe by police officer

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team responded to two mountain bike crashes within half an hour in the Scottish Borders. A woman suffered head injuries and a broken wrist at Innerleithen, while a 12-year-old boy sustained a suspected broken shoulder on the Eildon Hills. Both casualties received first aid from other riders and were successfully evacuated by the rescue team.

Outcome: both casualties evacuated and taken for treatment

An elderly couple aged 70 and 71 living in a remote home near West Linton became isolated when heavy snowdrifts up to 12 feet high surrounded their property. They were rescued by police officers and Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team after losing heating due to depleted firewood supplies. The couple and their two dogs were safely freed and are now staying with friends.

Outcome: couple freed safely with their two dogs, now staying with friends

A group of 10 walkers and two dogs were rescued from Windy Gyle in the Cheviot Hills after becoming stranded in severe winter conditions. Four mountain rescue teams involving 64 people conducted a 10-hour operation in heavy snow, locating the group after three and a half hours of searching. Three members of the group required urgent medical treatment, including two for hypothermia, and were transported off the hill by a local farmer's 4x4 vehicle.

Outcome: all safely rescued; three members received urgent medical treatment and were taken to hospital

Two riders participating in Selkirk's annual Common Riding event suffered lower leg injuries on hill sections of the route. Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue attended and transported both casualties to Borders General Hospital for treatment.

Outcome: both casualties transported to Borders General Hospital

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team coordinated with multiple agencies during Storm Frank to assist with flood evacuation and welfare checks across the Scottish Borders. Team members helped residents evacuate from high-risk areas including Hawick and Peebles, assisted a driver trapped in floodwater at Stobo, and conducted door-to-door welfare checks until standing down on the evening of 30 December.

Outcome: residents evacuated to reception centres; stranded driver assisted by emergency services; welfare checks completed

A 75-year-old woman with dementia went missing from Drummond Grange Nursing Home in Lasswade on the evening of 29 January. An extensive overnight search involving police, Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue, police dog handlers and helicopters was launched. She was found safe and unharmed in the grounds of the nursing home at 11.15am on 30 January after approximately 14 hours.

Outcome: found safe and unharmed in nursing home grounds

An 83-year-old man from Edinburgh was reported missing after failing to return from a walk and was found at the bottom of a disused mineshaft in Roslin Glen, Midlothian. After an eight-hour search involving Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team, Search and Rescue Dogs Association, and Scottish Cave Rescue Organisation members, he was located and carefully extracted using ropes and rigging. He was treated for suspected spinal injury and released from hospital later the same day.

Outcome: casualty extracted by rope and rigging, transported by ambulance, released from hospital same day