Tryfan death-fall man used 'misleading' guide book

Mountain rescuers have criticised a guide book used by a walker who fell to his death on a Snowdonia peak.The inquest into the death of 32-year-old Christopher Parratt heard that the book was misleading and contained a map that was virtually impossible to use.

Ramblers ?bitter? as BMW wins fight to close path

Car giant BMW has won its fight to close a 2,000-year-old path at its Cowley works in Oxfordshire.Now, up to 400 people a day will face a walk along a new route, following the crowded Oxford ring road.

Seven rescued by Lakes teams as torrential rain sweeps fells

Lake District rescue teams spent most of last night searching the fells in two separate incidents.Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) was called out at 11.30pm to search for a party of teenagers who had phoned to say they were lost on Scafell Pike.

Xtreme Everest: a nurse's tale of near disaster

Earlier this year, a small team of climbers made it to the top of Mount Everest. What marked them out from the crowds of summiteers was that they had ...

Concerns for future as Scottish hostels face closure

Residents and councillors in Scotland have expressed concern after the closure of seven youth hostels was announced.They fear the loss of the hostels, among 53 in the country, will have a severe effect on the economies of the communities in which they operate.In September, the executive committee of the Scottish Youth Hostels Association (SYHA) announced it would follow the lead set by its English and Welsh counterparts and close an eighth of its centres.

Everest docs' TV expedition screens tomorrow

Mountains return to our televisions tomorrow with the first part of Horizon’s documentary on the Caudwell Xtreme Everest expedition.The programme promises to give an insight into why a team of medics risked their lives on the ascent of the world’s highest peak to further scientific knowledge.Xtreme Everest climbers tackle the Hillary Step, one of the last obstacles before the summit of the mountainMore than 250 people took part in the project which was set up to help advance techniques and knowledge of the treatment of patients in intensive-care units.

Stomach bug forces island closure

Climbers and walkers have been warned to stay away from a popular island after a stomach bug swept its inhabitants.Lundy, in the Bristol channel, is closed to visitors while authorities try to contain the gastroenteritis outbreak, which leads to diarrhoea and vomiting.So far, 54 people have been affected.

Ramblers may launch appeal for Gloag-case funds

The Ramblers’ Association (RA) in Scotland says it may mount an appeal to raise cash to pay for the failed Ann Gloag access case.The campaign could be extended to other countries where bus company Stagecoach, which Mrs Gloag and her brother Brian Souter founded, operates.

Beinn Dearg misses Munro mark

Munro-baggers can relax – there’s no need to pull on the boots for another conquest, with the news that Beinn Dearg has been officially declared short of the magic 3,000ft mark.Surveyors today announced that the Torridon mountain falls short by just 2ft 5in, and the number of Scottish Munros remains 284.