The alarm was acitvated between The Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine. Photo: Stuart Westwater CC-BY-SA-3.0

A major search was mounted after a distress signal was received from a walker in Glen Shiel.

Kintail Mountain Rescue Team was alerted on Sunday when a Spot personal tracking device sent an SOS message.

The unit was activated between The Saddle and Sgurr na Sgine this afternoon, prompting a callout from the rescue team and the Inverness Coastguard search and rescue helicopter, but poor weather conditions high on the mountains prevented a proper search by the aircraft.

A Kintail MRT spokesperson said: “A fast party was sent up to get as far as possible to the site while the aircraft refuelled with three other members on board ready to be dropped off as high as possible to aid the search.

“With limited daylight now available and the potential of extremely bad weather due, other members were called to assist. It was good news when word was received that the fast party had spotted the person who was being led off the hill by another group who were on the hill.

“It turns it was a Dutch national who, while doing the Cape Wrath Trail, became disoriented in the whiteout conditions high on the hill while making his way from Kinloch Hourn and Kintail Lodge Hotel.”