The walkers were found near Trow Gill. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

The walkers were found near Trow Gill. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

Rescuers in the Yorkshire Dales cautioned walkers against leaving vital safety gear out of their rucksack to save weight.

The Cave Rescue Organisation was called to aid two lost Yorkshire Three Peaks challengers who failed to pack a map and compass.

The men, aged 21 and 27, called 999 on Sunday after getting lost in the dark two hours after leaving the summit of Ingleborough, heading for Horton in Ribblesdale.

The rescue team said police enquiries suggested the pair were actually on the path leading to Clapham, between Gaping Gill and Trow Gill.

A rescue team spokesperson said: “An online PhoneFind search by a CRO controller confirmed this.

“In order to save weight, they had left critical kit – compass, map, second light, second phone – at home, relying solely on a smartphone app.

“When the duty controller rang them, they had only 7 per cent battery and a single, fading headtorch. Otherwise, they were well equipped and at least they stayed put as instructed.

“A small team from CRO drove up to Trow Gill, walked up to where they could see the torch, then escorted the pair to a team Land Rover. They were driven down to CRO base and waited in the New Inn, for a friend to drive them back to Horton.”

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