The number of people getting into difficulty in the Galloway Hills has jumped since lockdown travel restrictions were lifted, according to Galloway Mountain Rescue Team.
Police Scotland has scrambled the award-winning volunteer service six times to help walkers in distress in recent weeks, the latest incident coming on Tuesday night.
Team leader Stewart Gibson said: “We were tasked to find a lone, lost walker who was caught out by a change in weather conditions on the Rig of the Gloon and area just south of the Merrick.
“Four members quickly gathered their kit and using one of the teams vehicles from Newton Stewart, drove as far up the hill as possible.
“They continued on foot, finding the missing person, and escorting her to safe ground.
“The incident was completed just after midnight.”
Tuesday’s rescue followed three call outs over August 6-7, the last involving a five-hour search for two walkers.
The pair had became disorientated in poor visibility close to the summit of the Merrick.
GMRT was also in action on July 12 when they evacuated a walker on Screel Hill near Castle Douglas.
And on the 25th they worked throughout the night to locate a pair of walkers lost in bad weather near Tunskeen bothy, below Shalloch on Minnoch.
Police Scotland Mountain Rescue Team and the coastguard helicopter Rescue 199 were also involved in the search.
Mr Gibson, from Dalry, said: “It has been an exceptionally busy few weeks for the members of Galloway Mountain Rescue Team.
GMRT was presented with the Queens Award for Voluntary Service in June in recognition of their work.
