Couples relief after Cairngorm mountain rescue

A couple who were forced to spend the night in the Cairngorms in white-outconditions have spoken of their relief when they saw their rescuers approach.

Robert and Cathy Elmer, from Leicestershire, were reported missing on Sunday night when they failed to return from a New Year's Day walk with their collie dog.

The couple, who are both aged in their 50s, were forced to take shelter in abivvy bag after bad weather closed in while they were walking in the Glenmore area.

Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team started searching on Sunday night but could find no trace of the couple.The search resumed on Monday morning, with Police Scotland, the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Team, Braemar Mountain Rescue Team and the Coastguard helicopter all involved.They were found with their dog at around 12pm and were walked to safety.Mr Elmer said:

He added:

Cairngorm rescue team leader Willie Anderson said the bivvy bags they had with them saved their lives.He said:

The team from Cairngorm Mountain Rescue updated their Twitter feed regularly with updates from the mountains.

The Cairngorms National Park is a mountainous national park in North East Scotland, established in 2003.