Rescuers faced snow and ice on Cadair Idris. Photo: Aberdyfi MRT

Three walkers and a dog were rescued after getting caught out by deteriorating weather on a Snowdonia summit.

The trio called for help from Cadair Idris on Sunday as darkness fell.

Aberdyfi Search and Rescue was alerted about 5.30pm as the men, in the 30s and from the Birmingham area, raised the alarm from the mountain’s summit hut.

The group started their trip up the Minffordd path, intending to walk the Mynydd Moel loops, but after a food stop in the summit hut, they stepped out to find the cloud had closed in to give extremely poor visibility.

A team spokesperson said: “A short foray left them doubting their own navigation, and with the prospect of encroaching darkness they recognised that they might be in trouble. Finding their way back to the summit, a call was made to alert mountain rescue.

“The group, appropriately equipped for a day on the mountain, initially intended to stay in the hut and try again at first light the following morning.

“However, with no overnight equipment and food all used up, coupled with poor ground conditions and the forecast for gales sweeping in overnight and into Monday, it was agreed that a rescue party would collect them and escort them down to safety.”

Team members made their way up the Pony Path, encountering iced-up rocks and snow and ice down to 350m, to reach the stranded walkers.

The spokesperson said: “The men were in good spirits and ready to move, and rescuers were quickly picking their way back down the mountain again.

“Everyone was safely off the mountain by 10pm.”