Team members in action during the rescue. Photo: Keswick MRT

A rescue team urged hillwalkers to ignore a route described by author Alfred Wainwright, after the third incident this year involving people getting stuck at the site.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team said an alternative ascent of Barf will avoid difficulties.

Its members were called out on Sunday after a group became cragfast on the fell, in the northern Lake District.

Rescuers said walkers try to follow Wainwright’s route up the hill above The Bishop, a white-painted boulder, and find themselves at a difficult step at the foot of Slape Crag.

A team spokesperson said: “Once they are there, they decide that they can’t retreat down what they climbed up. This time, a grandfather, his daughter and grandson were the subjects.”

Five team members made their way up to the site and joined another Keswick MRT member who had gone to the scene direct. The family group was helped to safety.

The spokesperson said: “It’s worth emphasising the unpleasant nature of the scree on the route, the looseness of the surrounding rock, and the apparent lack of a clear escape route when it all goes wrong.

“Once you’ve read Wainwright’s description, you’re better off ignoring it, and finding the path that goes up through the forest on the south side of the gill, to come out above the waterfalls.

“That way, you won’t get stuck in the abundant horridness, and we won’t have to come and retrieve you.”

The incident involved nine team members and lasted more than two hours.