Barrisdale, on the remote shores of Loch Hourn. Photo: Bruce Cran

Barrisdale, on the remote shores of Loch Hourn. Photo: Bruce Cran

A walker who sparked concern while on a long-distance trail has been found safe and well.

The 60-year-old was located near Barrisdale, on the Knoydart peninsula, after a friend reported not receiving confirmation messages that the man, undertaking the Cape Wrath Trail, was all right. The man, whose details are not being released by police, is continuing his journey.

Members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team and a Sea King helicopter from HMS Gannet at Prestwick were involved in a search for the man yesterday, Sunday.

A spokesperson for the Northern Constabulary said: “Concerns had been raised due to the friend not receiving pre-organised automated messages from the walker.

“It has since been established that there was a fault in the equipment being used by the walker which meant that none of the messages were being transmitted as planned. At no time was he in any danger.”

Devices such as the SPOT combine a Global Positioning Receiver with a satellite transmitter, enabling both distress signals and ‘OK’ messages to be sent via satellite which then send text message to nominated friends or family. Alternatively, emails are sent with co-ordinates which allow the walker to be tracked using Google Maps.

The SPOT can be used where personal locator beacons are not licensed, such as in remote mountain and moorland areas.

The Cape Wrath Trail runs from Fort William to Cape Wrath in the North-West of Scotland. The route is almost 320km (200 miles) long and represents one of the toughest long-distance challenges in Britain, often crossing wild terrain where there is little accommodation.

It is not officially recognised as a long-distance trail and as such is not waymarked. The route is based on the book North to the Cape: A Trek from Fort William to Cape Wrath by Denis Brook and Phil Hinchliffe.

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