Dartmoor Ten Tors

Young people take the Ten Tors challenge on Dartmoor

The Ten Tors Challenge, an annual weekend hike over Dartmoor taking in ten pre-nominated tors. Tors are typically striated granite outcrops with names such as Believer Tor or Branscombe’s Loaf. Teenagers take part in self-sufficient teams of six, walking the 35, 45 or 55 miles over 26 pre-designated routes. The organisers include service personnel and the Dartmoor Rescue Group who maintain it is not a race but teams often compete to see who can cross the finish line first.

The first expedition takes place in September 1960 with 200 participants and by 1980 there are over 2,600. To protect the environment the event is restricted to 2,400 participants. The Army uses the event as a large-scale logistics training exercise and it starts from the First Artillery Brigade’s Okehampton Camp. Weather-dependent the expedition may be cancelled at short notice. In 2007 the event went ahead in poor weather conditions and a participant was swept away by the swollen Walla Brook. A court ruled that the children had been exposed to unacceptable risk. The Ten Tors Challenge has since improved its safeguarding procedures.