The walkers got into difficulties after walking round Llyn Idwal. Photo: Malcolm Neal CC-BY-SA-2.0

Rescuers used a specialised smartphone system to locate two walkers stuck in a Snowdonia gully after the What3words system placed them in a quarry four miles away.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation was alerted to the women’s plight on Sunday.

A team spokesperson said the pair walked around Llyn Idwal then headed directly up a gully towards Y Gribin ridge. After getting stuck on steep ground in the gully they called 999.

The spokesperson said: “Unfortunately the What3words location they passed to the police placed them in the middle of Penrhyn Quarry.

“Initially the team leader had no contact as their phones went directly to voicemail but the PhoneFind link was sent to them which placed them on the side of the Gribin Ridge.

“Two team members were deployed but before they arrived on scene other climbers had stopped to assist the walkers. In a joint effort the walkers were brought to safe ground and walked back down to the car park.”

The rescue lasted almost four hours.

The previous day, the team leader had guided two walkers in difficulties on Y Garn.

The walkers took a wrong turn while descending the mountain’s north-east ridge and called for help.

The spokesperson said: “Although they could see Ogwen falls and Llyn Ogwen below them they were unable to see a route down to them.

“PhoneFind put them on the relatively easy ground above Yr Hafod so the team leader was able to give them directions by phone so no team members were deployed. Shortly afterwards the walkers confirmed they were back at their car.”