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.”
Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av The Field.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra May 2020-utgaven av The Field.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Going over old ground
Forget modern tractors and minimum tillage - there is something glorious about the sight of farmer, horse and vintage plough in perfect harmony
Return of the natives
There is nothing as satisfying as creating a magical miniature woodland or conservation hedgerow using our native trees - and now is the best time to start.
Tagging the Cornish tunny
Enormous Atlantic bluefin tuna are once again making waves in UK waters almost a century after their showstopping appearance in the North Sea
In it for the long haul
It may have fallen out of favour at the elite level but long-format three-day eventing is still proving popular with grassroots riders
Unpicking the story of hunt buttons
These treasured tokens are bestowed only upon those who go above and beyond in service of their hunt but the rules around them can be complex
A place of tradition in the heart of town
Cordings has helped shape the sartorial landscape of Britain for 185 years, with its classic country tailoring a firm staple of many sporting wardrobes
Don't play it by ear
Hearing loss can have a devastating impact on day-to-day life, making ear protection a non-negotiable piece of field kit
Back to base-ics
Britain's famously unpredictable climate can make staying comfortable in the field a challenge but the right under layers can be a game changer
Stand and deliver
A good stance provides the platform for shotgun marksmanship and is fundamental to consistent success in the field or breaking clays
Heaven is a High Four
A team of guns enjoy a day of the finest sport Devon has to offer, courtesy of the GWCT and a quartet of generous shoot owners