The beginning
1965 – Founding and early years
Scarborough & Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team (then called Scarborough & District Search and Rescue Team) was established on 7 July 1965. It grew from a need identified by the North York Moors voluntary rangers: as more people began walking and exploring the moors, there was a growing number of lost, injured, or distressed visitors, especially on long endurance challenges such as the Lyke Wake Walk.
The first callout
The team’s first call-out took place on 26 October 1965, when six young people from Teesside went missing on Fylingdales Moor during the Lyke Wake Walk.
A new base and new name
In 1996, the team moved base from Ravenscar to its current location at Snainton, off the A170 between Scarborough and Pickering. It was also at this time that the team adopted its modern name: Scarborough & Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team.
Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service (2012)
In recognition of the team’s contribution to the community through voluntary work.
Our Base, Equipment & Operations Today
Since 1996, the base at Snainton has served as our operational hub. Its location gives good access to the North York Moors, Dalby Forest, the Wolds, and Scarborough.
We have multiple vehicles: a long wheel base Land Rover Defender and a Toyota Hilux for mountain rescues, a 4×4 personnel carrying ambulance, and a mobile control unit with radio, mapping & welfare facilities.
We are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, ready to respond. Training is ongoing in first aid, navigation, survival, casualty care, specialist rescue techniques.
Charity status and fundraising
Scarborough & Ryedale MRT is a registered charity (Charity number 1174125) and receives non government funding. All work, training, equipment, and response capability is sustained by donations, sponsorship, fundraising, and the generous help of the public and local businesses.
Looking Forward
Every rescue or search we attend, reminds us why the team was founded back in 1965: to be there when people need us most. That spirit still drives us today.
As we look to the future, we know the challenges will keep changing. New technology, new environments, and new demands will shape the calls we receive. But our objective remains the same — to bring people home safely.
We will continue to:
Embrace the best equipment and techniques so we can respond faster, safer, and smarter.
Train for every situation, whether it’s a somebody injured on the moors, flooding in our communities, or a missing person far from home.
Share our knowledge so that everyone can explore our wild places with greater confidence and respect.
Welcome the next generation of volunteers, whose commitment ensures the team will always be ready, day or night, whatever the weather