Braemar Mountain Rescue Association was formed in 1965 by a group of local people who were concerned about the increasing number of mountain accidents and the resultant hardship and risk to local residents, who, often with no mountaineering experience or proper clothing, were called upon to rescue others; and all to often to carry home the bodies of those for whom rescue had come to late. These volunteers carried on a long tradition of local people giving aid to those lost in the mountains and from the outset they worked hand in glove with the local Police Mountain rescue team who had been formed some years earlier. This tradition is maintained today, and on rescues the two Teams operate as one integrated unit with a joint leader.

As well as our direct involvement in rescue work, which is now in the hands of a well trained, well equipped and efficient team of 30 volunteers, all based on Upper Deeside, The Association is involved in a number of related ventures. Among these are the provision of emergency telephones at Derry Lodge and The Spittal of Glen Muick; the yearly programme of lectures, visits and static displays all of which further the cause of mountain safety and mountain rescue. The Team is also involved in providing assistance to Grampian Police in the search for missing persons wherever their expertise might prove useful.

The situation has changed dramatically since those early days. Mountain rescue is now a very sophisticated and expensive business; all the more so for a Team like Braemar who attend in excess of forty incidents each year.

Fund raising is thus an important part of the work of the Association as the total running costs of the Team are met from Public Subscription.