Warning to hillwalkers over Christmas and New Year

Many people will be taking to the hills to work off those extra calories during the Christmas/new year period, but danger lurks out there.

In a seasonal safety warning, one of the country’s busiest mountain rescue teams has urged people to prepare carefully and never go onto the hills alone.

The Kerry Mountain Rescue Team said those heading for the great outdoors should also be properly clothed and equipped and should check the weather forecast before setting out. The team had 39 callouts so far this year, including 12 with Coast Guard helicopter aid, and helped 50 people. There was one fatality on the Kerry mountains.