When, in 1960, three Army officers decided to run a Dartmoor youth expedition to give young civilians the experience of navigating, bivouacking and field cooking so enjoyed by the Army’s junior leaders, they could not have imagined that more than 2,400 teenagers would still be gathering to do it 60 years later. The Ten Tors event is widely respected as one of the toughest weekend challenges any teenager will tackle. Over-subscription means few teams east of Wiltshire get in, although thousands of children are motivated to get fit, take up walking and learn to navigate, since 40 or so may find themselves vying for one of six places on each team.
Just making the starting line, therefore, is an achievement, a point emphasised with much military chutzpah as it gets underway at Okehampton Army Camp on the first Saturday in May. If this helps stoke nervous energy, so much the better: each team must navigate a route of 35, 45 or 55 miles, passing through 10 checkpoints and carrying full overnight kit, by 5pm on Sunday. Ducking into shops or public loos is forbidden, as are mobile phones and GPS devices. For a teenager, this is, of course, the definition of hell.
“Friends do ask, ‘Why would you walk for fun?’” agrees Helena Campbell, 15, of Devonport High School for Girls in Plymouth. Having completed the 35-mile route in 2019, she’s back this May for the 45-miler. With Scottish blood and an ex-Army father, she decided “it seemed like a challenge and fun”. For her, the most magical part is setting up camp on Saturday night and tucking into a sleeping bag. “There is literally nothing like it. But I also like having nice conversations while you walk and becoming close friends with people sometimes you don’t expect.”
This story is from the May 2020 edition of The Field.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2020 edition of The Field.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The apple of your eye
With scores to choose from in the UK, there is a delicious apple variety for everyone - and now is the ideal time to start thinking about planting one
Art in the field
Being able to study her subjects as she races alongside them has informed Belinda Sillars work, as she explains to Janet Menzies
A silvered sword from the Saxon armoury
With weaponry from the electoral court, the more silver on show, the higher the rank of the owner
Nicole Moore
The Shooting Girl With An Afro blogger explains her passion for fieldsports and outlines the importance of sharing skills and knowledge with newcomers
'Probably the greatest detective in the world'
For 100 years, on page and screen, Hercule Poirot has captivated audiences around the globe with his supreme intellect and peculiar eccentricities
View from a Bridgerton
They were the 18th-century version of a drinks trolley and now hunt tables are popular once again, partly due to Regency-period television dramas
A brush with history
Britain is world renowned for its contribution to hair care and grooming, and, as its oldest firms will testify, heirlooms come in many forms
Practically perfect
From modest origins, the gilet has evolved into a sporting wardrobe staple, combining function and fashion to become a status symbol in its own right
Best laid plans
The ancient craft of hedgelaying is playing a central role in efforts to restore the balance of nature on our farms
Under the spell of spaniels
Our favourite working breed comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, all of which have successfully carved out their own special niche in British sport