Students complete 2025 Ten Tors challenge on a high
This year marks 63 years since the Ten Tors expedition was first established. Fast forward to 2025 and the event has grown from one that attracted just hundreds of participants in its early years to one that now sees around 2400 young people take on the challenge each year.
This large-scale outdoor adventure event is organised by the British Army’s Headquarters South West and sees teams navigate allocated routes across the northern part of Dartmoor in under two days. Teams are comprised of six individuals and successful completion of the expedition is dependent on teams crossing the finish line together: a real test of teamwork and determination for all those involved.
Exeter College has entered teams for the Ten Tors expedition for many years and continues to do so through its extra-curricular offer. This year the College was delighted to enter four teams for the challenge: two undertaking the 45 mile route and two tackling the 55 mile route across Dartmoor’s wild and sometimes unforgiving terrain.
Just before heading off to the Okehampton base camp on Friday, student Freddie Davidson (Team A – 45 miles), who studies A Levels in Biology, Maths and Environmental Science, told us;
“I have done the 35-mile route twice now and this will be my first time doing the 45 miles. I am feeling good. Nervous but excited. I am looking forward to the buzz, the pre-event festivities, and meeting other teams out on the moor. Training has been amazing but difficult at times. There’s been a lot of rain, then lots of sun recently.”
The weather has significant impacts on outcomes for participants. In 2007 severe wet weather saw the event cut short for safety reasons. This year, after a week of warm and dry spells the Ten Tors weekend itself saw a turn in the weather, moving from hot on the Saturday to cold and wet on the Sunday. Despite this all four College teams crossed the finish line successfully; testament in part to the importance of training in all weathers and under a variety of conditions. An army spokesperson described the weekend as ‘a safe event’, in spite of the challenges the weather and terrain might have presented for those taking part.
There is significant preparation that goes into readying challengers for Ten Tors, students having spent many weekends away from home, camping in the cold and rain and walking for miles with heavy packs, often with blisters.
Exeter College Principal and CEO, John Laramy, said;
“What the students have achieved in completing the challenge is truly brilliant. Not many people are aware of the level of commitment required to be able to complete Ten Tors successfully. These students have had to learn essential skills to survive independently including navigation, tent pitching, cooking meals to name a few, and have had to ride the highs and the lows of two days unaided by others, trekking across open moorland. We are extremely proud of them all.”
Crossing the finish line is the culmination of months of training together, building friendships and learning to work as a team along the way. Issy Williams (Team B – 45 miles) attends Exeter Maths School and studies her A Level in Chemistry at the College’s Maths and Science Centre. She reflected;
“Training has been really enjoyable; we’ve all had a good time. There are lovely people in my team. We’ve all banded together. I am excited for us to cross the finish line.”
Issy admits she also cannot wait to “go home and wash my face”. In being self-sufficient during the course of the expedition students have to forgo many of the comforts of home. Harry Newman, Exeter College’s Ten Tors Manager, told us;
“All four College teams have shown real dedication in training. They’ve learned to be self-sufficient, they’ve developed important life skills in leadership and problem-solving, they’ve grown as a team. They should all be proud of their achievements.
“This is a real landmark moment for those who have completed the 55 mile expedition, especially if they have finished all three distances. For the 45 mile teams I hope they have loved it enough that they will join us again next year to take on the 55 miles.”
Overall, participants commit to eight training weekends, plus planning meetings and briefings, in addition to their core study programme. There is a lot of time and effort that goes into preparing for this final Ten Tors event. General Sir Roland Walker, Chief of the General Staff for the British Army, kicked off the expedition and echoed notions of commitment in his opening speech;
“Ten Tors is a tradition that brings together communities in a shared celebration of resilience, determination, and above all else, teamwork.”
Exeter College Outdoor Adventure staff from Haven Banks also trained and supported 10 teams from local schools and youth organisations to be able to participate in the weekend. These included three 35 mile teams from both St James School in Exeter and Newton Abbot College, and four teams undertaking the Jubilee Challenge, a one day event with four different routes aimed at young people with special needs. Jubilee teams came from Orchard Manor (7.8 miles), Southbrook School (8.7 and 11 miles), and Devon Girl Guides (11 miles).
Congratulations to all our teams and to all those staff at the Haven Banks Outdoor Education Centre who supported them in completing their Ten Tors expedition so successfully.
Our 2025 Ten Tors Teams were:
