Rescuers rigged up ropes to bring the pair to safety. Photo: Keswick MRT

A woman and her eight-year-old son had to be rescued after getting stuck on a Lake District fell.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted about 1.15pm on Thursday when the mother called for help from Barf.

The team is used to callouts to the diminutive 468m (1,535ft) fell overlooking Bassenthwaite Lake, which has an awkward step on its crags near the summit.

A team spokesperson said the rescue involved a search for the pair who had not taken the usual route, and found themselves on ‘steep and gnarly terrain’. “Deciding it was probably safer not to go on, and finding the descent equally daunting, they requested assistance,” the spokesperson said.

“A team made a rapid ascent up the normal route past The Bishop expecting the couple to be in the usual rescue hotspot. Having failed to make contact the team searched the fellside finally locating the couple on a tree in a gully.

“Mother and son were harnessed and roped down to safety.”

The Bishop is a prominent white-painted rock part-way up the fell.

The 2¼-hour rescue involved nine volunteers from Keswick MRT.