The girls were found on Loxidge Tump. Photo: Andrew Lewis CC-BY-SA-2.0

A group of teenagers did the right thing after getting lost in appalling weather conditions on a south Wales hill, rescuers said.

The five girls, aged between 14 and 15, put up their tent and sheltered before calling for help from high on the Offa’s Dyke national trail on Sunday.

Longtown Mountain Rescue Team was called out about 4pm on Sunday when police alerted them to the plight of the Scouts, who were on a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition when they got lost in rain and low cloud on the Black Mountains in the East of the Brecon Beacons national park.

The Abergavenny-based rescuers said the girls camped at Llanthony before setting off on Sunday morning. But nearly 2,000ft up on the hill, visibility dropped to 5m in driving rain and wind.

Dave Bevan, Longtown MRT search manager, said: “The group did exactly the right thing. After becoming lost they set up their tent for protection from the environment and called for help.

“We sent up three hill parties to search for them and they were located near the cairn on Loxidge Tump, well away from the main path.

“As you can imagine they were very pleased to see us. They were cold and tired but otherwise unharmed.”

The girls were led off the hill and checked over at Longtown MRT’s control vehicle before being reunited with the rest of their group.