Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA)

Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) The team is made up of over 80 well trained and well equipped volunteer cavers, climbers and mountaineers and is on call 365 days a year.

🚑 Saving Lives Above & Below Ground
Founded 1948 | 🌄 Fell & Cave Rescue 🐕People & Animal Rescue 100% Volunteer-Run
We’re Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) responding day & night across challenging terrain to keep people and animals safe. The majority of its work involves attending incidents involving people or animals in difficulty in caves, potholes, mineshafts, on fells, crags or

anywhere not accessible to the normal Emergency Services. Its membership live in "the Dale" or travel from as far away as Leeds or Bradford and are prepared to respond to a callout at any time of the day or night and in the worst of weather conditions. Whilst it has been called to assist at major national incidents, such as the Lockerbie air crash, it has also had its own difficult rescues, such as the successful extraction of 2 trapped cavers through 200 metres of flooded passage at Sleets Gill. Rescuing exhausted and injured cavers and fell walkers who are lost or have broken bones is more the norm. The Association's activities also involve helping local farmers, usually with, livestock stranded on crags, in mineshafts, rivers or snow

Call out 40 29th August 26Pinhaw The team was called out on request of the Yorkshire ambulance service to come to the ai...
29/08/2026

Call out 40
29th August 26
Pinhaw

The team was called out on request of the Yorkshire ambulance service to come to the aid of an injured mountain biker.

Initially the call came through to a location near Glusburn but after utilising our phone find tool we ascertained the location to be on Pinhaw.

Luckily a member of one of our neighbouring teams, Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team was near the biker and was able to confirm to both the ambulance service and UWFRA that the casualty had a lot of rib & pelvic pain and had an elevated breathing rate.

Once on scene the team assisted the ambulance crew and lifted the casualty on to our wheeled stretcher for onward mobilisation to the waiting Road ambulance.

We wish the mountain biker a speedy recovery.

And thank you to the Mountain rescue team member in your invaluable assistance.

🏔️🧡💙 International Mountain Rescue Day 💙🧡🏔️Today is a chance to celebrate mountain rescue, the people, the teamwork, the...
28/08/2026

🏔️🧡💙 International Mountain Rescue Day 💙🧡🏔️

Today is a chance to celebrate mountain rescue, the people, the teamwork, the friendships, and the slightly questionable decision-making that sees us heading out into the hills when most sensible folk are heading home. 😂

Here at Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association, we’re incredibly proud of our team and the communities we’re lucky enough to serve. From the fells and caves to the odd sheep that’s managed to get itself into a bit of bother, we’ll keep turning up when we’re needed.

But we couldn’t do it without you.

Every donation, fundraiser, cuppa, raffle ticket and kind word helps keep us trained, equipped and ready to go. Your generosity is what allows us to keep doing the thing we love, helping people when they need us most. And for that, we’re genuinely humbled. ❤️

A massive thank you too to our neighbouring mountain and cave rescue teams. We might have our own patches, vehicles and radios, but when the chips are down, we’re one family. We train together, support each other and, occasionally, argue over who’s got the best biscuits. 😉

“Rescue isn’t about one person being the hero. It’s about a team coming together, and a community standing behind them.”

So today, from all of us at UWFRA, thank you.
To our team. To our neighbouring teams. And most importantly, to every single person who supports us.

We couldn’t do it without you. 🧡💙

27/08/2026

💙 WHEN THE CALL COMES UWFRA WILL ANSWER ⛰️🧡

There’s been some discussion recently about charging for rescue.

At UWFRA, we believe rescue should be free at the point of need.

Because when t’weather turns,
When t’fell gets steep,
When t’water rises,
Or t’cave runs deep…

You shouldn’t be counting the cost.
You should be calling for help.

No judgement. No invoice.
Just a team on its way.

We come through rain, wind and snow,
Across t’fell and down below.
Through river, rock and darkest cave,
We’ll do our best to get you safe.

And aye, we might grumble at t’weather…
but we’ll still come. 😉

We stand in solidarity with our neighbouring rescue teams on this issue.

UWFRA is here because of our community, supported by our community, and when others can’t get there:

We will. 💙

⛰️🌊 Surface. Cave. Water. Ready when called.

☕️🎶💃 A HUGE THANK YOU TO LISA RODDIS! 💃🎶☕️Wharfedale has officially had a taste of a Coffee Rave… and we’re already itch...
25/08/2026

☕️🎶💃 A HUGE THANK YOU TO LISA RODDIS! 💃🎶☕️

Wharfedale has officially had a taste of a Coffee Rave… and we’re already itching for more! 🙌🏻✨️

A massive thank you to Lisa Roddis for bringing this brilliant first-time event to Wharfedale and turning coffee, dancing and good times into an incredible fundraiser for two fantastic local charities. ❤️

Thanks to everyone who came along, danced, socialised, put their phones away and helped make it such a memorable morning!

And what a result… £1,000 RAISED! 🎉🙌🏻

💷 £800.50 raised from coffee & dancing
💷 Plus a very generous £200 anonymous donation

The money will be split between Grassington Hub and Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) — making all those dance moves even more worthwhile! 💃☕️🎶

Lisa, thank you for creating something so joyful, bringing people together and supporting our local community. ❤️

Now that Wharfedale knows what a Coffee Rave is… we’re definitely ready for the next one! 👀🎶💃

🏏 WHAT. A. NIGHT! 🏏A brilliant evening of rounders, laughs and friendly competition with the fantastic Threshfield Round...
25/08/2026

🏏 WHAT. A. NIGHT! 🏏

A brilliant evening of rounders, laughs and friendly competition with the fantastic Threshfield Rounders Team! 🙌

Even better, the Threshfield team have been raising money for us through a tournament — so a huge THANK YOU for your amazing support! ❤️

After the match, we headed to the Gamekeepers Inn for food, drinks and a very detailed analysis of all the things we definitely could have done better… if only we’d been professional athletes! 😂🍻

☔ The rain stayed away
💪 No serious injuries
😂 Plenty of laughs
❤️ A fantastic team effort all round

And the final score…

🏆 Threshfield 23 – Upper Wharfedale 13½

Could this be the start of an annual sporting tradition? We certainly hope so! 🏏🎉

Thanks to everyone who made it such a brilliant evening! 👏

Incident #39 – Valley of DesolationAt 13:20 on Friday 21st August, we were called by North Yorkshire Police to assist a...
22/08/2026

Incident #39 – Valley of Desolation
At 13:20 on Friday 21st August, we were called by North Yorkshire Police to assist a 17-year-old male who had sustained a serious knee injury while walking on the waterfalls track in the Valley of Desolation.
The casualty had slipped, aggravating a previous knee injury. His knee had become locked, leaving him unable to bear weight or straighten or bend his leg.
A team of 10 volunteers made their way to the casualty via Bolton Abbey Estate. Once on scene, the team assessed and splinted the injured knee before carefully transferring him by stretcher across challenging and complex terrain to a team vehicle.
He was then transported back to the car park for onward care.
The incident lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes.
A huge thank you to Bolton Abbey for their assistance and for opening the gates to help us reach the casualty as quickly and safely as possible.
When the terrain is difficult and someone can’t walk out, our volunteers are ready to step in. Every callout, every carry, every rescue, made possible by people giving their time to help others.
We wish the casualty a speedy recovery. ❤️

🚨 CALL OUT | Incident #38 – Bolton Abbey 🚨This afternoon, our team was called by Yorkshire Ambulance Service to assist ...
16/08/2026

🚨 CALL OUT | Incident #38 – Bolton Abbey 🚨

This afternoon, our team was called by Yorkshire Ambulance Service to assist a 78-year-old woman who had suffered a fall near St Mary and St Cuthbert’s Church at Bolton Abbey.

The casualty had sustained a suspected neck of femur injury. Our casualty carers provided pain relief before the casualty was carefully packaged and carried by stretcher back across the bridge, where she was handed over to the Yorkshire Ambulance Service crew for further care.

A huge thank you to the staff at Bolton Abbey for their assistance during the incident and for helping our team work safely and efficiently on site. Your support was greatly appreciated. 💙

We’d also like to wish the casualty a smooth and speedy recovery. We hope she’s soon back on her feet and enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Bolton Abbey again. ❤️

As always, a massive thank you to our volunteers who gave up their Sunday afternoon to answer the call. Your time, commitment and willingness to help when people need it most never goes unnoticed. 👏

13/08/2026

Everyone welcome to come & watch ❤️

🚨 CALL OUT | Incident #37 – Scar House Reservoir 🚨This afternoon, our volunteers were called by Yorkshire Ambulance Ser...
04/08/2026

🚨 CALL OUT | Incident #37 – Scar House Reservoir 🚨

This afternoon, our volunteers were called by Yorkshire Ambulance Service to assist a 45-year-old woman who had injured her ankle following a fall near Scar House Reservoir.

The initial 999 call was made using Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite by someone who was unable to safely reach the casualty due to the steep terrain. With limited information available, both YAS and the team responded to locate and access the casualty.

Fortunately, our team was able to drive directly to the casualty’s location via the Middlesmoor track, meaning a stretcher carry wasn’t required. Working alongside the Yorkshire Ambulance Service crew, we assisted with the casualty’s evacuation before she continued her journey to hospital for further assessment and treatment.

We’d like to wish her a speedy recovery and hope she’s back enjoying the Yorkshire Dales again soon. 💙

A huge thank you to our volunteers and our colleagues at Yorkshire Ambulance Service for another great example of teamwork. 👏

If you’re heading into the hills, make sure you’re prepared, carry the right kit and always let someone know where you’re’re going.

Address

The Hut, Hebden Road
Skipton
BD235LB

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category