Rescuers fitted snow chains to their Land Rover. Photo: Keswick MRT

Two walkers were rescued after taking a wrong turn in wintry conditions on the descent of Skiddaw.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted shortly before 5pm on Thursday when the pair got lost in fading light and deep snow.

The team said the two men had an intermittent mobile phone signal, but rescuers managed to determine their position using the PhoneFind system, placing them towards Sale How, a subsidiary peak between the Skiddaw summit and Skiddaw House hostel.

Keswick MRT advised the two walkers to head towards Skiddaw House.

“Meantime a small Keswick team used a Land Rover with snow chains to get as far up the Glenderaterra valley from the Blencathra Centre as possible before making the remainder of the distance on foot.

“Once they had finished their hot porridge – they were at least partially prepared – the two men were provided with micro-spikes and torches to help with the icy descent back to the Land Rover.”

The incident involved seven Keswick MRT volunteers for a little over 3¾ hours.