Concern was growing last night for a missing hillwalker facing a second night lost on the Skye mountains.
A major land and air search was launched after the 67-year-old man failed to return from a trek in the Cuillin Mountains.
The alarm was raised shortly before 10pm on Tuesday after the walker did not return from Coire Ghrunnda. But due to poor visibility on the hill, searches were deferred until yesterday morning.
At 7am Stornoway Coastguard’s search and rescue helicopter began scouring the area, while members of Skye Mountain Rescue Team began a search of the area around 9am.
A police spokesman said the missing man was an “experienced mountaineer” and that his disappearance was reported by a relative after he failed to return on Tuesday evening.
Coire Ghrunnda is a lonely bowl, surrounded by several peaks, some of them more than 3,000ft high. It is recognised as a spot that can afford some marvellous views of the surrounding mountains.
One guidebook describes it as one of the most beautiful and impressive of all the Cuillin corries, benefiting from being much less visited than Coire Lagan. It is part of a recognised walking route which can be challenging in places.
Skye is a major magnet for mountaineers and earlier this month, two experienced female hillwalkers were found safe and well after becoming lost in difficult conditions near the Old Man of Storr on Trotternish Ridge.
But earlier in the year there was tragedy when a Fife walker died while out on a lone expedition
Oliver Smith, 33, of Cupar, went missing while walking in the Bla Bheinn area on April 6, and his body was found in June after extensive searches.
He had intended to climb the 3,044ft Blaven then descend and walk via Loch Coruisk and the coastal path to Elgol.