The walkers took a wrong route after passing the Castell y Gwynt. Photo: Mike Peel CC-BY-SA-2.5

Three people had to be rescued when they got stuck on crags on a Snowdonia mountain after taking the wrong route in bad weather.

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation was called out yesterday when the man, his 18-year-old son and the son’s friend made a 999 call from cliffs overlooking Cwm Idwal.

The trio, from Portsmouth, made the ascent of Tryfan and Glyder Fach before cloud came down as they passed Castell y Gwynt.

Chris Lloyd of the rescue team said: “As they approached the stony plateau of Glyder Fawr, a navigational error was made.

“Instead of descending towards Llyn y Cŵn and the Devil’s Kitchen, they descended the footpath down Seniors Ridge.

“At the distinctive notch, they turned left, off the ridge, like so many others before them, and started down the 300ft Introductory Gully by the Idwal Slabs.

“As the exposure increased, the mist lifted and they became aware of their situation. Retreat back up the greasy rock was risky, so the 999 call was made shortly after 5pm.

“A team of a dozen team members made their way around the buttress and to the top of Introductory Gully. One member was lowered to retrieve the men, one at a time.

“They were brought back up to the mouth of the gully and walked out and down the side to the main path.”

Mr Lloyd said the walkers were taken back to the rescue team’s base for hot tea, soup, curry and pizza where, he said they related the tale of their epic end to a good day.

He added: “All three were well equipped. This was a case of a navigational error in low cloud.”