Call Out : 17th February 2007 - Ben Venue

Click here to go back to the news reports page
Call Out : 17th February 2007 - Ben VenueCentral Scotland police received a call from a mobile phone at approximately 1845 hours on 17 Feb 2007 from a party of 3 hill walkers lost on the north slopes of Ben Venue. No injuries were reported but it was getting dark and they were on steep ground. Requested assistance and Lomond MRT called.

Team alerted by text at 19:01. A briefing from the Police established that the missing party’s location could be seen from the road on the north side of Loch Katrine. The MSPs had a torch and were able to keep in contact with Police/MRT by mobile phone.

Casualties were located at 20:38: they were reported to be cold but otherwise uninjured, and able to walk from the hill.

The group had left their car at the Ben Venue Car Park by Loch Achray and had followed the way-marked tourist route to Ben Venue. Given the conditions which were generally good, they were reasonably well clad for a walk, but had little in reserve. They had no waterproof clothing and only one rusac between three. They had no map or compass but they had a mobile telephone and a torch.

Having left the car park they reached the summit of Ben Venue at 1500.
As conditions were good, they decided on a circular walk and descended via the north slopes of Ben Venue following a series of paths. They felt confident about this having spoken to a forest ranger who said the route to Ben Venue was straightforward and well marked. (I suspect he meant the ascent by the tourist route).

The party became confused as many of the paths they were following were indistinct or completely disappeared. They found themselves on the shore of Loch Katrine on difficult steep ground and with the onset of darkness phoned for assistance.

MRT and casualties arrived back at the sluices at 20:10.