The man was lowered to safety using a rope system. Photo: Keswick MRT

A walker was rescued after getting stranded on steep ground on Blencathra.

The man called for help after getting into difficulties on Sharp Edge.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team was alerted about 4.55pm on Sunday.

A team spokesperson said the experienced walker had made it to the summit of the mountain in poor conditions but then lost the path in cloud.

“He descended towards Sharp Edge, but didn’t like the look of it in the conditions, opting instead for what he hoped would be a safer option: a grassy gully,” the spokesperson said.

“After a few steps he slipped and slid a short distance. He was now on his back on scree in a gully that feeds into ‘the usual gully’ – the scene of many incidents.

“Thankfully, he didn’t try to extricate himself from this position, risking a further slide. Instead, he dialled 999 and asked for mountain rescue.”

The walker provided an accurate grid reference, using the OS Locate app on his phone.

“Lying in the gully, he soon started to cool down but had packed a foil bivvy bag,” the spokesperson said.

Because many Keswick MRT members were on a training exercise on the Isle of Skye, the team requested the help of colleagues from the Penrith team.

The spokesperson said: “On arrival the team set up a rope system on Sharp Edge and lowered a team member down the gully. After putting on a helmet and harness the two were lowered to safer ground below where they were met by members of Penrith MRT.

“Penrith MRT then walked the casualty down to Mousthwaite Comb from where one of the Penrith team kindly offered him a lift to his car at Mungrisdale.

“Many thanks to Penrith MRT for their assistance.”

The rescue lasted more than 4¾ hours and involved 13 Keswick MRT members, plus colleagues from Penrith MRT.

The OS Locate app can be downloaded free and is available for both Android and iPhones. Once installed on a smartphone, it uses the phone’s built-in GPS receiver to provide an accurate grid reference without the need for an active mobile phone signal.

The Keswick team was called out the following day when two walkers came across a 55-year-old man in Great Wood, below Walla Crag, who had fallen and suffered a very large cut to his scalp.

The spokesperson said: “The walkers, one of whom is a nurse, administered first aid and contacted the ambulance service who in turn contacted Keswick MRT.”

The team was alerted about 12.50pm and was able to park one of its Land Rovers very close to the injured man. Rescuers put the stretcher together while the ambulance crew and a team medic assessed him.

He was then stretchered down to the ambulance in the car park and taken to Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.

The incident lasted just over an hour and involved 16 Keswick MRT members.