A group of dog walkers used the light on their mobile phones to alert rescuers after getting stranded on the shores of the Black Isle last night.
Four holiday-makers and two dogs were picked up by lifeboat crew after the tide came in and cut them off in the dark, about a mile north of Rosemarkie.
They managed to raise the alarm with the coastguard at about 5pm, and desperately waved their mobile phones to show rescuers from Invergordon to their location.
The group and their two dogs were “wet and cold” but did not require medical attention when they were later taken to Fortrose Harbour.
The group is believed to be from Edinburgh and on holiday in Rosemarkie for the week.
A coastguard spokesman said: “It was good of them to help out in their own rescue. They were a little wet and cold but had kept moving around and were all fine.”
Michael MacDonald, Invergordon RNLI Lifeboat spokesman, said seven crew were on the scene.
“Shortly after 5pm we launched to find two females, two males and two dogs, who were stranded off by the tide about one mile north from Rosemarkie.
“They were on a holiday from Edinburgh. They had gone out for a walk. They did the right thing and called the coastguard.
“We arrived there in 30 minutes or so, we picked up the people – we had the inflatable boat take them back two at a time.
“They were not injured, just obviously cold.
“We made a request to the coastguard for them to use the torch on their mobile phone to show the area.
“That area they were walking has a coastal path there, but it does get cut-off by the tide. They wouldn’t have known that, being tourists.”
Black Isle councillor David Alston said: “We’re all delighted with the good weather, but the downside perhaps is that it’s easier for something like this to happen.
“We’re lucky to have such a great lifeboat service.”
Gwyn Phillips, a member of Fortrose and Rosemarkie Community Council, said: “Once you get past the footpath leading to Caird’s Cave it’s very dangerous.
“It’s a rocky path and the tide washes in and stops people getting back to Caird’s Cave, and the only other way out is the footpath up to Hillockhead, which is very steep and I wouldn’t want to do that in the dark.”
Last month, two women had to be rescued by lifeboat after being cut off by the tide on a different walk on the Black Isle.
The Invergordon RNLI crew was launched to retrieve the two walkers who were stranded on a rocky cliff near Cromarty.
They were found on the shoreline coastal path out of Cromarty in the Gallow Hill area of the South Sutor.