Kinder Scout, at 636m (2,087ft), the highest point in the Peak District

Two walkers spent a night sheltering on the Peak District’s highest hill after getting lost in the dark.

The pair, described by rescuers as ‘mature gentlemen’ huddled together in a plastic emergency bivvy bag in torrential rain on Kinder Scout.

The men were found the following day after mountain rescuers called in the help of a helicopter carrying out moorland restoration work in the area, and airlifted to safety in the valley bottom

The St Helens walkers, aged 58 and 68, had earlier set off from Hayfield but found navigation difficult as low cloud and heavy rain slowed their progress. As darkness fell, they became disoriented on the summit plateau.

A spokesperson for Buxton Mountain Rescue Team, which along with the Kinder and Glossop teams mounted a search for the men, said: “The men decided to use their experience and stay put on the moor.

“They spent a very uncomfortable night sharing a plastic emergency shelter bag. The rain continued for most of the night swelling the rivers and streams. When daylight came in the morning the two attempted to walk off, but both were tired, and one was starting to suffer from a stiff ankle.  It was then that they thought continuing was foolhardy and called for assistance.

“Not sure of their exact position, Kinder and Glossop teams were called out immediately, with Buxton team on stand-by.  Several Buxton members went to the team base to make ready for the call and later took the team vehicles over to Kinder’s base at Hayfield.

“Rangers and wardens working on Kinder as part of the Moorlands Project were alerted to the incident.  A small helicopter from Pennine Helicopters was working with the rangers lifting materials on to the moor. The pilot was asked to do an aerial sweep of the area and soon located the missing men to the west of the plateau.”

Howard Taylor of the Kinder MRT said one of the men was suffering the onset of hypothermia.

The helicopter airlifted the walkers from the hill and flew them to Chunal, where a waiting Buxton team vehicle took them back to the Hayfield base. The spokesperson continued: “Both men were tired and soaking wet from their night on the moor, however both were fit enough to leave without hospital treatment.”

Ten Kinder MRT members took part in the incident on Wednesday, along with nine from the Glossop team and seven Buxton colleagues.