Category: Mountain Rescue

C134 RSO
Braemar Mountain Rescue Team
Kassbohrer

After nearly four decades of unwavering service, the Braemar Mountain Rescue Team retired its beloved rescue vehicle, affectionately known as “”Old Flex”” in December 2024. Since 1985, this six-tonne tracked vehicle has been a vital asset in some of the most challenging mountain rescue operations, navigating snowbound terrain and treacherous weather to bring help where it was most needed.

Powered by its 6.1 litre diesel engine, “Old Flex” earned its place in history by assisting in high-profile rescues, including the aftermath of the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and the recovery operation following an F-15 crash on Ben Macdhui. Alongside these momentous events, the vehicle played a key role in countless other rescues, becoming a reassuring presence for stranded climbers, hillwalkers, and the rescuers themselves.

Equipped with caterpillar treads, Old Flex’s ability to traverse snowbound peaks made it indispensable during harsh winters when conventional vehicles faltered. It has supported not only the Braemar team but also neighbouring rescue teams.

Now retired, Old Flex will spend its days at the Glenshee Ski Centre.

The Braemar Mountain Rescue Team continues its work with a newer generation of rescue vehicles, including Old Flex’s “wee sister,” which has been in service since 2006. Yet, for those who relied on her during emergencies or admired her tenacity in the snow, Old Flex will remain a legend.

OY18 AZD
Mountain Rescue
Land Rover Discovery
Used for evaluation across various MR teams

PX09 PZR
Kewsick Mountain Rescue
Mercedes Sprinter
Personnel carrier

OE16 UZW
Kewsick Mountain Rescue
Land Rover Defender

WG13 KCU
Kewsick Mountain Rescue
Land Rover Defender

PF17 BBU
Kewsick Mountain Rescue
Mercedes Sprinter
This long wheel base model is used to carry equipment

YJ64 BRF
Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association
Land Rover Defender
Fell 2

YC11 MZL
Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association
VW Transporter
4×4 Incident Control Unit

PO59 ODU
Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association
Land Rover Defender
Fell 1

SY67 NYM
Dundonnell MRT
Isuzu D-Max

SY67 NYM
Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team
Isuzu D-Max

DX05 VFT
Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team
Land Rover Defender
Seen towing the equipment trailer

SE17 RVN, SF08 RJZ, SN54 FRX
Arran Mountain Rescue
The line up of vehicles that are used on the Isle of Arran.

MX07 ZCL
North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team
Land Rover Defender

NJ60 OFK
North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team
Mercedes Sprinter
Control Unit

PF17 BBU
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team
Mercedes Sprinter 4×4
Incident Support Vehicle. Used to carry a small rescue boat and related equipment. The van seats three people and replaces the need for a boat on a trailer to be towed by one of the Land Rovers, freeing it up to attend other incidents.

PX09 PZR
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team
Mercedes Sprinter 4×4
Minibus used to carry rescuers and their equipment

CX61 AYG
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team
Mercedes Sprinter 4×4
This minibus has good off-road capabilities and can transport people as well as equipment as some of the seats have been removed. Notice the key safe on the rear so the vehicle can be accessed by other team members when the driver is up a mountain.

WG13 KCU
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team
Land Rover Defender
Sister vehicle to KCZ. It has first class off road capabilities. Some equipment is carried on the roof, including a stretcher and perspex box to cover the casualty’s face to protect them from falling debris.

WG13 KCZ
Keswick Mountain Rescue Team
Land Rover Defender
Sister vehicle to KCU.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team
Line up of all five vehicles in the fleet in Spring 2018

PX09 DNF
Langdale and Ambleside MRT
Land Rover Defender
With remote controlled spotlight mounted on the bonnet

NX03 AXJ
Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team
Iveco Daily
Based at Durham fire station. It was due to be replaced with a brand new control unit in late 2017 and sold on to another similar organisation.

NK53 TYA
Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team
Land Rover Defender
Stationed at Barnard Castle in the same building as the police, fire and ambulance

NX14 GKO
Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team
Land Rover Defender
Based at Durham fire station

CN66 ERZ
RAF
Isuzu D-Max
Based at RAF Valley. Each of the vehicle has not a fleet number but a mountain name shown, this one is Tryfan. Other Valley vehicle names are Glyder and Cnicht.

DF64 EEP
Edale MRT
Toyota Hilux
Fitted with a snorkel for wading through deep water while maintaining air into the engine

Scarborough and Ryedale MRT
Mercedes Sprinter

SV15 GNF
Aberdeen Mountain Rescue
Land Rover Defender

SM66 KJV
Tweed Valley MRT
Mercedes Sprinter
Incident Control Unit. New in December 2016, the vehicle has been custom built for the team. Inside is a briefing area, tv/monitor screen, 3 workstations and a printer. The vehicle has two VHF radios as well as a duel SIM Card router to create a permanent WiFi hotspot within the vehicle. Mounted in the vehicle is a 10m electronic mast will caries the VHF aerial. In the rear is a welfare area for MRT personnel which include a hot water boiler, hand wash station and microwave.

PX60 EAE
Bolton MRT
Land Rover Defender
One of four such vehicles operated by the team in 2015.

NJ60 OFK
North of Tyne MRT
Mercedes Sprinter

SY62 CJO
Torridon & Kinlochewe MRT
Land Rover Defender

YN15 GSZ
Buxton MRT
Ford Transit
Mobile Incident Control and Response vehicle. This is 4×4 Transit with mini office in the rear. It can carry a casualty if required and is based at Buxton fire station. In addition to the comms equipment, it has mapping facilities, voice recorders, incident response equipment, hot drinks and food. It cost £53,000 when it entered service in August 2015 and this was met entirely from donations.

DX05 VFT Scarborough and Ryedale MRT Land Rover Defender being used on this occasion for swift water rescue

PX61 AGZ, PX59 CVF Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team Land Rover Defenders

NK02 ESV Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team Ford Transit minibus ambulance

RAF Mountain Rescue Service Mercedes Sprinter

PX10 EUF Swaledale MRT use this Land Rover Defender



The side

VU09 OVV RAF Mountain Rescue Toyota Hilux.



Special 70 year roundel.



Rear logo.

NK53 TYA A Land Rover Defender used for rescue work by Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team.



The rear of the Land Rover packed with equipment.

WX53 PVE This Mountain Rescue ambulance carries wording down the sides stating ‘working with Avon and Somerset Constabulary’. It carries blue flashing lights but no roof-mounted light bar.



The rear view shows how the car has all bases covered with wording including: police, ambulance, mountain rescue, rescue, cliff rescue and search and rescue.

DX05 VFT Scarborough and Ryedale MRT are using their 2005 rescue Land Rover here to collect donations.



The rear view of the highly capable 4×4.

W301 SSX This white Land Rover Defender is used by Kintail MRT in Scotland. On the bonnet and rear of the sides it carries Order of St. John Transport Service logos.



The rear view of the simply-liveried MRT Land Rover.

SF52 OTR This Mercedes Benz Sprinter van is used as a control unit with the RAF mountain rescue service. Notice the large comms antenna with custom body mount.



The rear view of the Sprinter. The large ‘C’ indicates its control status.

WF04 XEG, PX60 EAC This shot is at Barton Airfield where an airfield Land Rover fire truck and the Bolton MRT Land Rover are posed in front of the tower. The fire Land Rover is still carrying ‘City Airport’ graphics.

PX60 EAC Bolton MRT’s 2010 Land Rover poses here alongside the North West Air Ambulance G-NWEM. Both teams ofter work together in rescues.

In this set of images we can see some of the vehicles used for a major MR incident. A walker on Ben Nevis has been reported missing for nearly two days. The 20-year old man was ill-equipped for walking the hill and was last seen at 3,300 feet wearing jeans and a jacket.



All of the vehicles shown in this line up are RAF mountain rescue from Kinloss and Valley. Around 50 people were involved in the search that was hampered by darkness and severe weather.

SF52 OTR A close up look at one of the RAF MRT Mercedes Sprinter vans.

Also in attendance are Lochaber MRT with this Ford Transit personnel carrier.

Royal Navy helicopter RESCUE 177 is also involved with a couple of Northern Police dog handlers. SARDA Scotland were already at work up the hill.

The helicopter circles with the door open as the winchman and winch operator scour the landscape for the walker. Unfortunately, six days after the walker disappeared, his body was found.

GR56 ROB This is a Toyota Hilux that is used by Glencoe MRT. It has two blue light bars on the roof along with a roof box and a floodlight. “Rescue” wording and a winch can be seen on the front.



The rear view of the Hilux as it looks out onto its territory.

In an unusual location is this Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Land Rover. It is parked outside the Houses of Parliament in central London with a search and rescue dog on the bonnet. A wheeled stretcher can be seen on the roof rack.

PX08 EHR This is a MR ambulance designed for going off and on road. It is pictured here battling through deep snow. These vehicles can be a vital tool for saving lives and the volunteers that use them are highly respected.

PX08 EHR, PX09 DNF, PX08 FHS, PX09 DNJ A line up of four Land Rovers used by Langdale & Ambleside Mountain Rescue Service.



The rear view of the line up.

A picture postcard view of one of Langdale & Ambleside’s MR ambulances with blue lights on.

A pair of silver Land Rover 130’s which have been converted to MR ambulances for use by Langdale & Ambleside. One of the vehicles is being checked over by a member of staff while in the background is an RAF helicopter.

VU09 0VV is a Toyota Hilux with the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service. Mountain rescue is mainly run by volunteers but this is a government-provided service. On the front it displays a big towing winch and in the back is the rescue equipment.

The rear view of the Mountain Rescue vehicle displaying the yellow and red chevrons.

K119 NAS is a Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team Land Rover which is primarily a communications vehicle. It is sponsored by Glenfiddich Scotch whisky.

PJ08 PYZ One of Penrith MRT’s Land Rovers, complete with telescopic communications antenna on the rear. The 4×4 is sponsored by ast signs and is in memory of Muriel Masson. It is identical to sister vehicle PJ08 PZG.

G391 REC In this moody shot, Glossop MRT’s Land Rover can be seen in deep show as the winter sun sets.



The same Land Rover is seen here earlier in the day as it battles through deep snow drifts.

J263 TNC This triple image shows Glossop MRT’s Land Rover Defender ambulance conversion.

YN07 WHS, FJ58 ZCF and MV54 AYE join the above vehicle for a line up of Glossop’s vehicles at the start of 2010.

V908 JGA Glencoe MRT operate this Honda Civic support car. It is decked out with blue and yellow striping on the front bumper and carries “Mountain Rescue” and “Glencoe Rescue” wording.

YW52 FKX This four wheel drive long wheel base Mercedes Sprinter is used by the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service. It is equipped with side mounted flood lights to illuminate the area at an incident.

VU09 OVV This Toyota High Lux is also used by the RAF Mountain Rescue Service. It wears an updated livery compared to the Mercedes Sprinter above.

PE08 HXK Here we have before and after shots of Keswick MRT’s Land Rover. This shot shows it with painted roof, roof-rack, floodlights and blue light bar. Small blue flashing LEDs are also fitted.



The after shot. Now with full livery applied and some additional equipment, the vehicle now stands out much more on the road and moorland.

MX05 XFK This Land Rover is used by Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team in Lancashire.



The rear of the Land Rover.

SY58 JDF This navy blue Land Rover is a mountain rescue vehicle used by Grampian Police and St. John Ambulance. Notice that it doesn’t have a blue light bar on the roof, just two small LEDs on the grille.



The rear view of the same Land Rover. On the roof rack you can see a one-wheeled stretcher for moving casualties over tricky terrain.

SH08 KFP This Vauxhall Vivaro is a MR ambulance for the Lochaber area. It has a full-width blue light bar on the roof and additional front fog lamps.



The rear and side views. On the side are sponsors’ logos and a mountain range scene.

W542 EAG This white Ford Focus is a Yorkshire Ambulance Service MR Team vehicle. It is not fitted with any emergency warning equipment.



The rear view of ther Focus with simple livery. “M.R. TEAM” is written on the boot lid and side windows. The car as an ex-front line rapid response vehicle that was moved to MR duties in 2009.

PX 29 AA This is a Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service Land Rover Defender. It is fitted with two full-width blue light bars on the front and rear parts of the roof. A roof box for storage has also been added to the roof rack.



The rear shot of the RAF MRT Land Rover. The vehicle is looking rather sorry for itself with rusty steel wheels and a heavily faded livery.

NK53 TYA This Land Rover Defender is with Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team. The County Durham-based team have painted the headlight surrounds in bright yellow to increase the road presence in motorists rear-view mirrors.

W371 PSG Skye MRT’s Land Rover.



The rear view, showing that they are affiliated with the Order of St. John Transport Service.

SP56 ABX This Land Rover is the “Mobile 2” vehicle of Braemar MRT. Notice the absence of any blue lights.

This is one of the first outings of a new ambulance Landrover for Langdale / Ambleside MRT. It is one of two identical first response vehicles.

W904 XDM This Land Rover is used by Kinder Mountain Rescue Team.

76 AM 26 This classic image from 1979 shows an RAF Mountain Rescue Land Rover. It has dark blue bodywork with yellow accents, in a similar style to Coastguard vehicles. Notice the Raynet radio operator with large backback on the right.

YN07 WHS is a 2007 Land Rover 110 TD4 used by the Buxton Mountain Rescue Team, with the call sign ‘Mobile 1’. The vehicle is designed to carry rescue equipment as well as a stretcher. Note how this vehicle is almost identical to the Land Rover used by neighbouring Edale MRT, shown elsewhere in this section.



The rear view of the heavily laden Land Rover.

YG03 XUF is a 2003 Ford Transit minibus, call sign ‘Mobile 2’, used as a support vehicle by Buxton MRT. Buxton Team is a member of the Mountain Rescue Council of England and Wales and is a division of St John Ambulance.



The rear view of the Ford Transit showing the extensive front and rear roof mounted light bars.

This caravan provides an incident control for the Buxton MRT. It has a large extendable communications aerial mounted to its left hand side. The caravan is usually towed by the Ford Transit support vehicle.

T975 PGB is a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van used by Glencoe MRT.

X697 USX This Land Rover Defender 110 is used by Dundonnell MRT in the Scottish North West Highlands.



The rear view, showing the ‘Order of St. John Transport Service’ logos.

NU56 GKY This is a Toyota Hilux that is used by the RAF Mountian Rescue Service. It is fitted with a hefty winch on the front and a range of blue flashing lights.



The rear view of the Hilux. Notice the number of flashing blue and red lights on the rear, partly due to the lack of visibility to the roof-mounted light bar.

YP05 WHS This very smart silver Land Rover is used in the Peak District by Edale MRT. Notice that it doesn’t have a blue light bar on the roof. Extra roof space is gained by having numerous flashing blue leds around the periphery of the roof rack.

T151 BST is a Ford Transit that is used in Scotland by Lochaber Mountian Rescue. The van is showing its age with patches of rust visible and a very minimal livery. A comms antenna and a blue light bar can be seen on the roof.

V388 ESX Here another of Lochaber MRT’s fleet can be seen alongside the Transit, a Land Rover Defender. Again it is minimally marked and has blue lights fitted to the front grille, but none on the roof.

In this scene, the Lochaber team scramble into a Royal Navy Sea King rescue helicopter to be transported to an emergency on the West coast of Scotland.

SS03 BVZ is a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter that is used in Scotland by the RAF Mountain Rescue Service.

P493 JAS is a blue Land Rover Defender that is used by the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team to respond to emergencies. The only clue that it is used by an emergency service is the blue beacon on the roof. It is used for towing a trailer.

J344 UDU is one of Swaledale MRT’s rescue ambulances. Based at Catterick, they respond to about 25 emergency calls per year. Notice the length of rope on the front and the ‘rescue’ mirror-image ‘number plate’.



The rear view of the 1992 Land Rover. Inside is seating, a stretcher and an array of equipment.



The above ambulance used to be a front line vehicle with Durham County Ambulance Service in the 1990s. Here it is in its former paint-scheme and roll in early 2000.

PY52 JSX & J238 BAO are two of Cockermouth MRT’s Land Rovers. They are parked in the valley as the team are on an exercise on Buttermere Fell in the background.

PY52 JSX This is a cloder look at the Land Rover used by Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team to get help to people who are in difficulties on the fells in the Lake District, Cumbria. A full blue light bar on the roof is complemented with repeaters on the front bumper and around the roof rack.



Flashing blue and white lights help motorists see the vehicle a distance away. This is the one of the three vehicles operated by Cockermouth MRT.



The rear view of the same Land Rover. You can see that the spare wheel cover has specially made art work on it, and the windows are tinted black.

G693 NHH leaving the rescue base. It is a 1990 blue Land Rover 110 V8 also with Cockermouth and is equipped in the same way as the 2002 example above. Notice the bulky winch fitted to the front and the orange paintwork around the grille to increase its road presence.



The rear view of the same Land Rover. It can carry eight people to an incident on the fells using its 182 bhp V8 engine. This Land Rover (G693 NHH) was made famous by being featured in a two-page spread in the “Big Book of Rescue Vehicles”.

J238 BAO This white Land Rover Defender 110 has a V8 petrol engine too. The front grille has orange and white checker markings across it and the vehicle has a full complement of blue flashing lights.



The rear view of the same go-anywhere Land Rover.

MX05 XFK is Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team’s Land Rover Defender ambulance. It has a simple battenburg livery and bright yellow grille to attract attention. It has a roof box for equipment next to the blue light bar. Repeater blue lights are on the front grille and front wings, as well as at the rear.

H881 XCK This is one of Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team’s Land Rover 110s. It has a bright yellow front grille and equipment stowed on the roof under the blue sheeting.

H881 CFR Another picturesque view of an almost identical sister vehicle.



The rear view of the Land Rover, showing the conspicuity of the livery.



The same Land Rover again with its previous livery which is less eye-catching from the rear.

L510 DFV This Leyland DAF is used by Bowland Pennine MRT as an incident control vehicle.

CN04 NPC is a Land Rover Defender 110 TD5 used by the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team. The roof and the inside of the vehicle are filled with specialist rescue equipment. Notice how the roof light bar is nearly covered by the substantial roof rack.



The rear view, showing the additional blue rotating beacon above the rear door. Notice the wording on the wheel cover advising other vehicles to stay back from the Land Rover.

This Land Rover is in service with Western Beacons Mountain Rescue Team. It has orange and white battenburg markings down the sides and blue lights on the roof rack.

PN02 SVR This is a Keswick Mountain Rescue Land Rover Defender Td5.



The side view of the same Landy. It has minimal livery but the bright orange stripe and roof make it stand out from other traffic. All sides have bright floodlights to illuminate the ground immediate around the vehicle.



The rear view. The high-intensity blue flashing lights at the rear complement the light bar at the front of the roof and the repeaters on the front grille. The white pole to the right is a telescopic communications antenna, essential in mountainous terrain where mobile ‘phones don’t work.



The rear three-quarter view. The registration plate is just visible behind the ladder and mesh protector.