Every year Moffat Mountain Rescue Team holds its annual charity walk in the hills around the team’s area of operation.
There are 4 walks of varying difficulty to meet the needs of all comers. This years challenge is being held in the Durisdeer Hills on the 12 June. Today the team have released the routes and application form for this years challenge. They can all be found on the team’s website at www.moffatmrt.org.uk
Walk 1 is suitable for children and adults and covers approximately 3 km with an option to extend it further with a walk back to the hall at Durisedeermill.
Walk 2 is always a popular walk and this year covers a distance of 8 km and includes transport to the route start.
Walk 3 is more challenging and covers 15.5km in a circular route across the Durisdeer Hills.
Walk 4 although a little shorter in distance than walk 3 at 12 km is not without its challenges. Again a more strenuous walk crossing the hills from Daer Reservoir to Durisdeer.
More information can be found on the team’s website. www.moffatmrt.org.uk.
Moffat Mountain Rescue team was formed in 1969 and is available 7 days a week 24 hours a day to assist persons in distress or lost in rural areas, whether in lowland or mountainous terrain. The team covers the Eastern side of Dumfries and Galloway and South Lanarkshire and on occasions helps further afield in support of other mountain rescue teams. The team is completely made of up volunteers with who are available day and night to respond to calls as the need arises. Apart from some money provided by the Scottish Government and equipment provided by the Order of St John, the team is completely reliant on the generosity of the general public to fund the team.
It costs around £30,000 per annum to keep the team operational. This money pays to upkeep the team’s base at Moffat, keep three vehicles on the road and pay for lifesaving first aid, communication and technical equipment.