A 72-year-old hillwalker was stranded on a cliff above Loch Hourn in the western Highlands for 24 hours before being rescued by a lifeboat crew. The man encountered difficulties near Kinloch Hourn on Sunday but had no mobile phone reception in the remote area, leaving him unable to contact the coastguard until Monday afternoon. The Kyle RNLI lifeboat crew embarked on a rescue operation that lasted over six hours and successfully located the stranded individual. According to an RNLI spokesperson, the hillwalker, who was experienced in such activities, found himself in an “impossible situation” with no way to progress or retreat.
The search was initiated after receiving an alert at around 13:20 on Monday. The Kyle of Lochalsh-based RNLI crew, along with members of the Glenelg Mountain Rescue Team, conducted the search. Due to the lack of electronic communication signal in the region, the Glenelg team was dropped off at the head of the sea loch. Meanwhile, the lifeboat crew returned to establish communication with the coastguard. At this point, the stranded hillwalker managed to contact emergency services once more, informing them that he had spotted the lifeboat but was unable to signal to the crew due to the distance.
The Kyle RNLI then retrieved the Glenelg team and resumed the search in Loch Hourn. Finally, at 19:00, the man was found on a small ledge just above the waterline. Approximately 30 minutes later, he was safely reunited with his family in Kyle of Lochash. The spokesperson for Kyle RNLI emphasized the stranded hillwalker’s experience and the challenging circumstances he faced. The lack of mobile signal prevented him from contacting help until he noticed a weak signal on Monday. The successful rescue operation was attributed to the cooperation and coordination between the rescue agencies involved.
Kinloch Hourn, located in the remote area of Knoydart, is a small community accessible via a single-track road and often referred to as the “last great wilderness.”