Ten Tors 2023

Over 2500 teenagers have taken part in this year’s Ten Tors and Jubilee Challenges.

There may be many challenging outdoor events in Britain today, but Ten Tors stands alone in its scale, its ambition and the fact that it is aimed solely at young people from the south west.

The Ten Tors Challenge is attempted by 2,400 teenagers in 400 teams of six. The teams navigate routes of 35, 45 or 55 miles (depending on age) over the Northern half of Dartmoor, visiting ten nominated tors / check points in under two days. Teams must be self-sufficient, carrying all that they need to complete their route and stay out overnight safely.

The Jubilee Challenge is run closer to Okehampton Camp and is designed for young people aged between 14 and 21 with a range of challenging conditions who complete one of several routes suited to their abilities.

For many years the event has been proudly and keenly supported by the Commando Helicopter Force. This year two Commando Merlins and their crews from the Force’s 845 Naval Air Squadron provided the air support. Being able to fly swiftly over terrain which is impassable by vehicles or which would take considerable time on foot, the helicopters provided logistic lift capability for the organisers as well as manoeuvrability for the ground marshals. However, it is their capability to provide the event’s medical teams rapid access to any injured participants, and subsequent airlift to regional hospitals that makes the Merlins so important and valuable to the event.