The man was found descending Whernside. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

Rescuers in the Yorkshire Dales expressed disappointment at having to go to the rescue of a man who travelled from Derbyshire to attempt to walk the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

The man, in his late 20s, reported he had suffered a leg injury and was struggling to walk on Friday afternoon.

The Cave Rescue Organisation was alerted about 3.10pm. He had told police he was ‘somewhere just north of Bruntscar’, which is at the foot of the Whernside path.

A team spokesperson said: “Despite having a good phone signal, according to the walker when he made the call, the duty controller was unable to make contact with him to establish his precise location.

“To minimise risk to team members, a single team member responded to try and identify the walker’s location and make an assessment before calling for more resources.

“He came across the walker slowly making his way off the hill. The walker, one of a group of three from Derbyshire, was attempting the Three Peaks. His companions were not at that point with him. The walker was returned to his vehicle in Horton in Ribblesdale.”

The team added that North Yorkshire Police have the walker’s details.

On Thursday, David Butterworth, chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority had said: “We have already begun planning for the moment when the countryside will once again be open to all, and how we keep our communities and visitors safe. But for now, and certainly for this weekend, please stay home, exercise locally, and plan your visit for when the restrictions on travel are lifted.

“Many in our community fall into most the vulnerable category of people. Please respect that and visit the park when travel restrictions are lifted.”

The authority said North Yorkshire and Cumbria police, supported by the national park ranger service, would be stopping and checking vehicles to ensure they were on essential journeys. Travelling to exercise is not considered an essential journey, it said.