The pair, a mother, 73 and daughter, 39, had been following a walking-book route around Minllan quarries. At some point they became lost and had been on the hill for around 9 h when they finally called for assistance.
Using the Phonefind protocol which quizzes the casualty's mobile phone for location information, call handlers were quickly able to identify the group's position. With good landmarks and a public footpath to follow, the prospects looked good for describing an exit route by phone so that the pair could self-rescue. As a precaution, two Team volunteers were dispatched to meet the walkers as they came off the hill. However, conditions on the ground were challenging, and the lost walkers were greatly hampered by deep bracken and gorse, and though remaining on the course described to them, the elder of the two became exhausted trying to make progress.
Team members met up with the younger woman who had made it through to better terrain and were able to assist the older lady off the hill.
Everyone was safely back at their cars by 8:15 p.m.