By Eric Nicolson

TO THE astonishment of a search and rescue team which, assisted by two RAF helicopters, had spent half a day combing a Perthshire mountain for a 73-year-old hill walker, the woman found her own way down yesterday morning and walked into a health centre fit and well.

The Ayrshire woman had scaled Schiehallion with her son to fulfil her husband’s dying wish of having his ashes scattered on the 3500ft mountain near Kinloch Rannoch.

They became separated on the return trip and rescue specialists from Tayside Police and RAF Leuchars and Lossiemouth launched a search, which lasted from Sunday afternoon until the early hours of yesterday when bad weather forced efforts to be abandoned.

Not long after the search had resumed, the woman—who had set out without a map, compass or torch—walked into a doctor’s surgery in Kinloch Rannoch where she was found to be suffering no ill effects.

Team leader with Tayside Police search and rescue unit, Sergeant Colin MacDougall, emphasised last night how lucky the woman had been, and used the incident as a “timely reminder” to hill walkers.

He said, “Thankfully this has not been a tragic outcome and remarkably the woman is none the worse for her experience.

“However, it still demonstrates the utter complacency with which people often take to the Scottish hills.

“Here we have two inexperienced walkers with no maps, no torches, and no navigational equipment whatsoever.

“Even on a simple hill walk, people should be prepared for all eventualities and weather conditions.

“I hope this incident serves as a timely reminder to anyone considering taking to the hills that being properly prepared is vital.”

It has been a hectic few days for the search and rescue specialists, as they were called out to find another missing walker on Saturday night.

On this occasion an experienced walker in her 60s became separated from the group she was with.

She wasn’t injured but lost her bearings after mist descended on the mountain.