The bodies of another two hillwalkers have been found in the Highlands as the number of people who have died in Scotland’s mountains this week rose to four.
The tragic incidents happened in a week that saw blizzards hit some of the country’s highest peaks just weeks after a spring heatwave had created perfect climbing conditions.
The latest tragedy took place on a 2,920ft hill in Wester Ross. A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘Around 1.20am on Saturday, June 7, the body of a 70-year-old man was recovered by mountain rescue teams from An Ruadh-stac.
‘There are no suspicious circumstances and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.’
The climber has not yet been named. The police statement came just hours after officers announced that a body had been found in the search for a hillwalker who went missing on the Isle of Skye.
Roddy MacPherson was last seen walking towards Sligachan Bridge. The 67-year-old had not been heard from since, sparking a major search.
Police have said a body was found at Harta Quarry in the Cuillins on Friday.
It was spotted by a mountain rescue team and extracted by the Stornoway Coastguard helicopter.
Neil Urquhart, leader of Skye MRT, said it appeared the hillwalker had fallen. His team had searched for three days in what was their seventh call-out in six days.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: ‘There would appear to be no suspicious circumstances. Formal identification has yet to be made.
‘The family of Roddy MacPherson, 67, who had been reported missing from Skye on Wednesday, June 4 have been informed.’
It comes after the death of two other hillwalkers this week. On Thursday a 46-year-old climber plunged 650 feet to his death on Ben Nevis.
His female companion was rescued by visiting members of Cockermouth MRT who were on the UK’s highest mountain at the time.
Members of Lochaber MRT and a Coastguard helicopter from Prestwick extracted the body of the climber who was on the Great Tower of Tower Ridge – about 600 feet below the 4,413ft summit.
Astie Cameron, deputy leader of Lochaber MRT, said. ‘It was very difficult conditions – a return to winter. It was a full-on blizzard.
‘The chap must have fallen 200 metres [656 feet]. Fortunately, there were mountain rescue team members from Cockermouth nearby and they were able to get the other climber to safety.
‘But because of the conditions we had to get the man’s body round to Observatory Gully so the helicopter could get in. It was very difficult.’
Police Scotland said it was made aware of a hillwalker having fallen from Tower Ridge around 1.45pm on Thursday, June 6.
It said the Coastguard attended and located the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
A body was also found on Monday in the search for a missing Swiss hiker who was on a long distance trek through the Highlands.
Bernard Trottet was last known to be at Corryhully Bothy near Glenfinnan on May 27.
The 65-year-old had been heading north towards Kinloch Hourn in Knoydart on the Cape Wrath trail.
Police discovered a man’s body in the water of the Kinloch Hourn area. Again, there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances.
While formal identification is yet to take place, Mr Trottet’s family has been informed.
It is believed Mr Trottet may have been trying to cross a river when he was swept away.