Rescuers at the scene on An Cabar. Photo: Dundonnell MRT

An injured walker was airlifted to hospital after a lengthy rescue in wintry conditions on a mountain in Easter Ross.

Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team, search dogs and a Coastguard helicopter were involved in the callout on the Ben Wyvis massif, which lasted more than 15 hours.

The team was alerted about midday on Saturday by Police Scotland, after they received reports of a hillwalker in difficulties high on An Cabar, a subsidiary summit of the mountain north-west of Dingwall.

Andy Beaton of Dundonnell MRT said the walker had slid about 100m before coming to rest on a steep snow slope, from which they were unable to move.

Search and Rescue Dogs Association handlers and animals joined team members in a search for the walker, and the Inverness Coastguard helicopter flew to the area, but weather conditions on Ben Wyvis forced the crew to withdraw temporarily.

Mr Beaton said: “Later in the afternoon the casualty was located by team members and assisted to safer terrain where they were placed on a stretcher and carried to lower altitude. [Coastguard] Helicopter 151 was later able to evacuate the casualty to Raigmore Hospital.”

Dundonnell team members were at the scene until 3.30am the following day.

Team leader Iain Nesbitt said: “This was a lengthy rescue which was carried out in challenging winter conditions and I’m pleased to say it had a successful outcome. Our thanks also go to the other agencies involved, HM Coastguard and Police Scotland.”