The sun shines on our Emergency Services Weekend!

What a weekend! Arriving at Badaguish Outdoor Centre on the Friday night it was already clear that the months of planning and preparation by the 999 RE:SET team and their volunteers were paying off. Every now and again, the Scottish weather does what we want it to do and we were treated to a cool, crisp evening to socialise and enjoy some top notch burgers in the heart of the Cairngorms. While the food and drink had been enjoyed, the first of the events kicked off with SMR legend Kev Mitchell of Ochils Mountain Rescue who gave an informative talk on mountain safety. An assortment of lodges, tents and pods then awaited us for a good night’s sleep in preparation for a day of activities.

Saturday morning dawned with a low lying mist adding to the impressive setting at the foot of the Cairngorms. A busy day of physical activity was on the cards so everyone assembled at 7.30am to fuel up with bacon rolls, tea and coffee before heading off to spend the day enjoying the great outdoors. While some opted to fill the day indulging in their own favourite outdoor pursuits, many embraced the opportunity to have a go at something new at some of the workshops arranged by 999 RE:SET and led by our partner companies.

Following on from the mountain safety talk the previous evening, there was an opportunity to put this knowledge into practice with 999 RE:SET Mountain Leader, Keith Thomson and Kev Mitchell leading a group up Cairngorm. Participants enjoyed a relaxed accent and explore of the area whilst enjoying an introduction to mountain navigation on a blue sky day above the misty lochs and forests below.

Those who chose to join the trail running session with Trail Running Scotland enjoyed a run through some of the best running trails the country has offer!

At nearby Loch Morlich some of the group took the plunge and tried out open water swimming, a sport gaining increasing popularity in Scotland. This session, in one of Scotland's most scenic locations, was supported by Beyond the Water. Back at camp there was some high energy activity in the form of fun fitness sessions with Aeternum Crossfit. After a day of physical exertion and learning new skills, everyone was ready for an evening of socialising while enjoying a hearty BBQ and a few beers on a beautiful late summers evening.

Up and coming Scottish rock artist Mark Mullady treated us to a selection of crowd pleasers with his acoustic guitar, contributing to the relaxed and joyful atmosphere as we watched the sunset on an epic day. I think it’s safe to say everyone slept well after such a busy day.

Once again, Sunday morning got off to a great start with bacon rolls and cuppas. Lifelines were then on hand to remind us of the focus of this weekend and the purpose of 999 RE:SET. They spoke about mental health and how the charity supports this through raising awareness and offering people the opportunities to explore outdoor activities to support mental wellbeing. Before heading home, for those who still had enough energy, Aeternum Crossfit hosted a team fitness challenge. This finished with a Hang Tough challenge with participants trying (some unsuccessfully) to stay dry as they crossed the “loch of doom”!

With all the activities concluded, it was time to dry off, pack up and go home - tired, satisfied and already looking forward to next year’s RE:SET weekend. The 999 RE:SET team would like to thank all of the 999 responders and their families who travelled to the event, some from as far afield as Cambridgeshire. Massive thanks must be paid also to our partners who provided activities and workshops, Badaguish Outdoor centre who, once again, provided an unforgettable venue and to React Disaster Response who provided volunteers and assisted with planning, preparation and logistics.

Were you at the weekend? We’d love to hear about your weekend highlights in the comments below.