'Lovely' woman plunged 35ft to her death after tragic mistake at waterfall

A woman who plunged 35ft to her death after losing her footing ata beauty spot's waterfall has been named locally as Betty Molloy.

Emergency services raced to Campsie Glen, East Dunbartonshire, north of Glasgow, at about 12:35pm on Saturday, July 12. Betty, 63, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her death happened on the hottest day of the year in Scotland with people flocking to beauty spots across the country.

Photos taken at the scene showed police vehicles, ambulances and fire engines responded. Emergency services were seen in the car park with the area being cordoned by police.

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Tributes have been paid to Betty following the tragedy, as reported by the Daily Record.. Eileen Dolan said: "Thoughts and prayers to Betty's family. This is an absolute tragedy. RIP Betty."

Mary Young added: "RIP Betty, you were such a lovely lady, thinking of all your family and friends." Pearl O'Donnell said: "RIP Betty, thoughts with the family. This is an absolute tragedy."

One witness at the scene told MailOnline: "There were at least seven police cars and officers were going around taking statements from people. They all looked distraught."

The incident happened on one of the hottest days of the year so far on Saturday amid the summer's third heatwave. Temperatures soared to 30C in Aviemore, a high not seen since June 2023.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "Around 12.35pm on Saturday, 12 July, 2025, police received a report a 63-year-old woman had fallen near Campsie Glen Waterfall Car Park.

"Emergency services attended and the woman died at the scene. Her family is aware and enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances. Emergency services remain in attendance."

Describing the beauty spot, Forestry and Land Scotland's website states: "From the pretty village of Clachan of Campsie, with its historic church, wind along grassy slopes into the Campsie Glen. Wander along the path beside the Kirk Burn, or stop for a feed at one of the many picturesque picnic spots beneath the trees.

"For a more energetic outing, follow the path behind Clachan of Campsie that forks steeply uphill from the burn to reach a car park on the B822 with lovely views into the glen. From here you can choose a path around the hill to see waterfalls along the burn below or carry on climbing along a steep, rough trail to reach the ridge of the Campsie Fells above."

Police Scotland said inquiries into the death continue Similar incidents have happened at the beauty spot in recent years.

Last year, a hiker fell 25ft at the same waterfall on July 17. Mountain Rescue teams, the HM Coastguard, police and Scottish Ambulance Service attended with the injured hiker being rushed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow where he was treated.

Another person was airlifted after falling 15ft into the Scots gorge in May 2022. A 39-year-old woman died after falling from rocks at he Clachan of Campsie area in July 2018 and another woman was left seriously injured in the same incident.