THREE hillwalkers were found dead after falling from "the narrowest ridge on the British mainland"

Emergency crews and rescue teams raced to the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glencoe at around 9.05pm on Saturday night after the walkers failed to return from their hike.

Police were made aware of concern for the group- two men and a woman- when they had not arrived back from the scheduled walk.

A frantic search was carried out to try and find the hillwalkers but sadly, their bodies were found on the mountain.

Seven people have lost their lives on the Aonach Eagach ridge since 2014.

Previous deaths in the area have included a 63-year-old woman in September 2014 and a 44-year-old man in July 2016.

We previous told how a 36-year-old climber died last year after falling more than 650 feet from the ridge in September 2022.

The man was near the top of the Aonach Eagach Ridge in Glencoe when a rock he went to grip gave way.

It came just weeks after the body of a missing man Alan Taylor from Dundee was found in a gully under the Aonach Eagach.

The 57-year-old had been missing since September 2021.

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Walking website Walkhighlands describes Aonach Eagach ridge as the "narrowest ridge on the British Mainland".

The ridge connects the Munros of Meall Dearg and Sgòrr nam Fiannaidh in Glen, with summits higher than 914.4m (3,000ft).

The narrow and exposed ridge runs almost the length of Glen Coe – around six miles (9km) .

Its entire length runs for about six miles (9km) and the ridge has two Munros,

To traverse the ridge involves scrambling – a term used in mountaineers to describe hillwalkers using their hands to balance across difficult and steep terrain.

Dozens of hillwalkers safely walk the Aonach Eagach each year.

It is considered one of the most "scariest hikes in the world".

The magazine WiredForAdventure says hikers may want the protection of a rope in some sections, but "its the sheer drops and the spine-tingling exposure which gives it its scariest hikes in the world status."

Mountain experts The Summit Is Optional say although the technically difficulties of the ridge are few and far between, there is no way to get off the ridge once a hillwalker has started the scramble.

They said: "Once committed to the traverse, there is basically no way off other than to complete it or turn back.

"For this reason, it’s quite a serious undertaking."

The coastguard helicopter from Inverness and mountain rescue teams assisted with the operation.

The helicopter from Prestwick provided further support to police and rescue teams Sunday morning.

Police said there do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances around the incident.

A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of concern for a group of three hillwalkers who had not returned from the Aonach Eagach ridge in Glencoe shortly after 9.05pm on Saturday, 5 August.

“A search was carried out and the bodies of three people were found. HM Coastguard as well as Glencoe and RAF mountain rescue teams assisted with the recovery operation.

"There do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal."

A HM Coastguard spokesperson said: "HM Coastguard assisted Police Scotland following reports of three missing walkers in Glencoe on Saturday, 5 August.

"Alerted at around 10.50pm, the Coastguard helicopter from Inverness assisted with a thorough search of the Aonach Eagach ridge.

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"The helicopter from Prestwick provided further support to police and mountain rescue teams Sunday morning."

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