From Issue Thirteen of Hidden Scotland Magazine

Wilderness Watch

The volunteers of Scottish Mountain Rescue.

Words by Athina Kontos

Printed in Issue Thirteen of Hidden Scotland Magazine, Autumn and Winter 2026–27.

Scotland's mountains can reveal their challenges as quickly as their beauty. When plans unravel, Scottish Mountain Rescue volunteers step into the wild without hesitation, putting their lives on hold to bring adventurers home.

When we think of wild places, the idea of wilderness tends to become synonymous with a promised feeling of escapism. A primal chance to undo, unwind; to outrun or outclimb screens, availability… problems. The mountains — forever the perfect listeners — are a backdrop to our evolving patterns of chaos, and there is often comfort in feeling small and insignificant in total vastness. But wilderness has never promised safety, and in Scotland, a paradox of beauty and harshness is written into the landscape, diligently safeguarded by 26 volunteer mountain rescue teams.

But wilderness has never promised safety, and in Scotland, a paradox of beauty and harshness is written into the landscape.

Mountain ridge seen through a window, Isle of Arran

Across the Lowlands and Borders, Highlands and Islands, eager outdoorsfolk venture into wild and rugged terrain every season and in all weathers, the fine line between challenge and risk becoming thin in extreme conditions. In the background, the fragile margin for error is monitored by a lesser-seen, deeply complex side of adventure, taking the form of almost a thousand responders, organisers, and technicians that make up Scottish Mountain Rescue, who attended over 1,200 callouts in 2025.

For members