Arrochar MRT: from broom cupboards to drone pilots
Arrochar MRT: from broom cupboards to drone pilots
Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team covers a large and varied area stretching from the Arrochar Alps to the Bridge of Orchy, and from Dumbarton down to Campbeltown. The team responds to dozens of call outs each year, working closely with neighbouring teams and agencies to assist those in need across the west of Scotland.
The team write;
The origins of the Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team involved local farmers Johnny Paterson and his brother Charlie when they were asked to assist with mountain rescues in the local area. The ever-increasing number of accidents involving hill walkers around the mid 1950’s necessitated a more structured approach to the previous reliance on local farmers and shepherds. Johnny quickly established the first Arrochar Mountain Rescue Post at his family farm in Succoth, also doubling it up as temporary shelter or ‘howf’ as it was affectionately known to visiting climbers.
The number of call outs during those early years were limited to around 3 per year, reaching a peak of 6 by 1978. By comparison, the Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team responded to 36 call outs in 2023 and 33 in 2024. These increased trends seem to be indicative of the rise in popularity and accessibility of the Arrochar Alps, with the Cobbler and its adjacent Munros being particularly favoured destinations among visitors. Despite the largest proportion of our call outs being concentrated in the Arrochar Alps, our operational area spans a much larger geographical area
from Dumbarton to the Bridge of Orchy and down to Campbeltown. A benefit of being located so close to Glasgow also means we enjoy regular support and a good working relationship with the Police Scotland MRT.
Our call outs tend to involve minor injuries and inadequately prepared hill walkers on the popular mountain routes, but there have been many notable exceptions over the years.
Recent examples include a technical rescue of rock climbers on the Cobbler’s dramatic North Peak, the retrieval of an injured hill walker after falling into one of the notorious fissures on Ben Vorlich, and a rescue involving two canyoners who got into difficulty whilst navigating the Eagle’s Fall near Glen Fyne.
The team has moved homes several times since those humble beginnings, including a broom cupboard inside a local outdoor centre at one stage, but the team eventually settled into its current base in 2002. Construction of this modern building was only possible through significant funding from St John Scotland for which the team remain extremely grateful, but we’ve recently outgrown these premises, so another significant fundraising project is underway. Our hope is that we can extend our building into a more spacious home which will see the team through another 20+ years.
Our team maintains extremely close links with the local communities in Arrochar, Lochgoilhead and Helensburgh where most of our volunteers reside. In addition to the 2 training sessions per month, our annual calendar includes the provision of Mountain Rescue support to various traditional hill races on Beinn Dubh, Jura, the Kilpatrick’s, and the Cobbler which is organised by our veteran team member Brian Cook. The increasing popularity of endurance sports also means the demand for our support is increasing, and we’ve recently committed to supporting the Kintyre Way Ultra Marathon and an iconic Durty Events Triathlon planned in the Arrochar Alps this summer.
According to our records, the team has had around 100 members since the mid-1950s. Our current call out list comprises 29 members including 3 Doctors, a Paramedic, a SARDA dog handler, 2 SARAA drone pilots, 2 Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructors, and our Team Leader Ross Cadie who is also the Mountain Safety Advisor for Mountaineering Scotland. With 5 new trainees and a healthy smattering of veterans amongst our number, the Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team continues to evolve and grow as a professional team of volunteers.
Find Arrochar MRT:
Facebook: Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team
Instagram: arrochar_mountainrescue