DARTMOOR rescuers have hit out after a 13-hour air and land search for two ‘lost’ walkers ended with the chance discovery that the pair found their own way off the national park.

Some 23 Ashburton-based volunteers were caught up in the hunt together with colleagues from Tavistock, Plymouth and Okehampton after the alarm was raised by the duo as they made their way from Burrator towards Okehampton via Postbridge.

Nearly 100 people – including coastguards, firefighters, police and ambulance crews – were involved in the weekend operation at a cost of thousands of pounds.

The couple, who were on a camping trip, were reckoned to be lost in the Rough Tor/Cut Hill part of the northern moor where they were ‘wet and borderline hypothermic.’

An area of 150 square miles was covered by the four teams from Friday night into Saturday morning when a farmer bumped into the Plymouth team and told them his wife had given a couple a lift into Tavistock at 9am.

Police contacted relatives who confirmed the wandering pair were being collected at Plymouth Bus Station by relatives.

A spokesman for the rescuers complained afterwards: ‘It would be very helpful if walkers who self-rescue, having raised the alarm, make sure they contact the emergency services at first opportunity to let them know they are OK – so as to avoid unnecessary efforts being made to locate them.’

Altogether 67 Dartmoor rescuers were involved in the search together with 10 firefighters, four coatsguard helicopter crew, three police chopper crew with six officers on the ground and seven ambulance personnel.

The rescuers’ spokesman said: ‘We are glad to hear they survived the ordeal, which is due in no small part to being well prepared with the right clothing, food and shelter.’

But he added: ‘We trust that should they re-attempt their excursion in the future, additional consideration should be given to leaving a route-card with family members, carrying a GPS device and establishing a check-in process to advise on progress or issues.’