The woman managed to make her way from the Central Fells to Great Langdale

A walker was described by rescuers as ‘very fortunate’ after surviving a cold night on England’s highest mountain range.

Four rescue teams, two helicopters and five search-dog handlers were involved in the operation to find the 62-year-old on the Scafell Pike range overnight.

The woman and her partner were attempting to summit Scafell Pike when they became separated near Great End.

Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team was called out late on Thursday and was joined by members of the Langdale Ambleside team.

A spokesperson from Keswick Mountain Rescue Team, which was alerted in the early morning along with Duddon and Furness MRT, said the woman stopped to rest above Esk Hause. Her partner wanted to continue to Scafell Pike, so she stayed where she was while he carried on to the summit.

“When he returned, she was nowhere to be seen, and it was established that she had not returned to their car,” the spokesperson said.

“Wasdale team mounted an overnight search, assisted by Langdale MRT, and a rescue helicopter overflew the area with a heat-seeking camera.

“In the morning, they were joined by Keswick and Duddon team members, five search dog teams from Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dogs and another helicopter.”

A Coastguard helicopter airlifted some team members to the summit of Scafell Pike through a hole in the cloud in deteriorating weather. Soon afterwards, the missing woman was found, having made her way to Great Langdale.

The Keswick MRT spokesperson said: “The missing person turned up at the Old Dungeon Ghyll, having spent the night out in very cold conditions – a very fortunate lady. She was checked over by an ambulance crew, and then was given transport over the Dunmail Gap.

“There she was met by a Keswick vehicle which returned her to her vehicle.”