We all know by now that Snowdonia is tipped as one of the best places in the UK when it comes to outdoor pursuits and adventure sports… take your pick from climbing, hiking, bouldering, white-water rafting, gorge scrambling, kayaking, orienteering, trail running, coasteering, paddleboarding, surfing… phew – we’re tired just looking at that list!

Having all this adventure on our doorstep is great for local residents, and great news for the region. However, it can put a strain on the area’s emergency services as they keep up with the demand for help and assistance, as more and more people head out to the wilderness of Snowdonia. The region’s Mountain Rescue Teams are some of the busiest in Britain as the teams stand by 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ready to help anyone who’s got into danger on the region’s hills and mountains.

And this week it was announced that there will be a brand new Mountain Rescue Team for North Wales! This will help ease the burden of other busy Mountain Rescue Teams, as well as providing vital skills and support to the region’s emergency services, particularly during busy summer months. The New Mountain Rescue Team for North Wales will be based on Anglesey.

The Mountain Rescue Service is often referred to as the 4th emergency service in the UK, as teams assist, rescue and help people in trouble in all sorts of terrains – from the hillsides of Snowdonia to the lowlands of Anglesey. Teams also help out in emergency situations such as floods and extreme weather.

There are Mountain Rescue Teams that cover the whole of the country, and each is split into regions. The North Wales Mountain Rescue Association is a registered charity that relies mainly on donations and public support. 12 different rescue teams (such as the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team, Aberdyfi Search and Rescue Team, Ogwen Valley Rescue Organisation and the Search and Rescue Dog Association) make up the Association, and members of the teams are mostly volunteers who don’t get paid for their time or skills, and yet provide invaluable assistance for the people that need them.

So, we give all the Mountain Rescue Team volunteers a HUGE shout out and a thank you for being so brilliant, and for a remarkable service that the region simply couldn’t cope without.

You can find out more information about Mountain Rescue Teams here and if you’re thinking of venturing out to the hills of Snowdonia then you’ll find invaluable information and advice from the Llanberis Mountain Rescue Team here