The pair of walkers were found on Pen yr Ole Wen. Photo: Ogwen Valley MRO

Mountain rescuers had to abandon their plans to listen to a talk by top climber Leo Houlding after lost walkers called for help.

Members of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation were preparing to depart for Houlding’s lecture in Caernarfon yesterday evening when they were called out.

Team spokesperson Chris Lloyd said: “Two young men in their mid-20s had become stuck and unsure of their descent route from Carnedd Llewelyn after the onset of darkness.”

The pair had encountered navigational problems from the outset during their day in Snowdonia.

Mr Lloyd said: “Their intention had been for a day out on Cadair Idris, but after some problems with the car’s sat-nav, they ended up opting for Carnedd Llewelyn.

“They had spent much of the day in low cloud which probably explains why, with the use of Sarloc, they were located not on Llewelyn but on Pen yr Ole Wen.

“Sounds like they might have had problems with their electronic mapping on the hill too.

“A small party of team members was dispatched to locate them and show them the way down.”

At least one team member managed to get to Houlding's talk. Photo: Alastair Lee/Berghaus

The rescue team was then called out to a second rescue of a group of walkers who had wandered on to dangerous ground on the other side of the Ogwen Valley.

Mr Lloyd said four German women and a man from Norway rang for the team’s help.

He said: “They had enjoyed a good day on the Glyders and descended to Llyn y Cwn above the Devil’s Kitchen at the back of Cwm Idwal.

“Unfortunately, in the darkness they were unable to find the descent path and wandered close to the chasm of the Devil’s Kitchen itself.

“Wisely, assistance was requested and a small party was dispatched to locate the group and bring them to safety shortly after 9pm.

“And as for me, I went to Leo Houlding’s excellent talk in Caernarfon.”