Blessed with fine weather on the Saturday; less so on the Sunday, the 2025 Ten Tors and Jubilee Challenge events held over the northern half of the Dartmoor National Park in Devon over the weekend of May 11-12, 2025 was attempted by approximately 2,400 teenagers aged between 14 and 19 years old plus a further 400 teenagers and young adults with disabilities. Ian Harding/AeroResource takes a look at this incredible event with images provided by Mark Empson/AeroResource and Kevin Wills. 

There may be more challenging out-ward bound events held across the United Kingdom but watching such a large group of teenagers set out alongside their team mates watched by adoring parents and spectators, is truly inspiring. First held in 1960 and each subsequent year over the weekend following the early May public holiday, this unique event is firmly established in the south west mindset and especially that of the many hundreds of military personnel and other volunteer groups without whose support this event would be impossible. Starting and finishing at Okehampton Camp located on Dartmoor, the Ten Tors event is organised by the Army’s Headquarters South West with support from the Royal Navy as well as many other public civilian emergency services and volunteers. These all work closely with the Dartmoor National Park Authority and many landowners to ensure the event runs smoothly and that those participating remain safe and are able to appreciate the best the national park has to offer.

The two-day Ten Tors Challenge event comprises three routes which extend over 35, 45 and 55 miles depending on age. Walking unaided and carrying their own water, food, bedding etcetera over some of the United Kingdom’s toughest terrain, each of the 400 teams is assigned to one of 26 routes during which they must visit a minimum of ten manned safety control and check points in the order provided. They must complete their challenge as a team without any adult support. The Jubilee Challenge takes place much closer to Okehampton Camp and is designed for people aged between 14 and 21 with a range of challenging physical or educational needs. The routes chosen for this challenge are based on individual abilities with individuals or teams supported by cadet officers from the Exeter University Officer Training Corps. Exercise Wyvern Tor

Organised by the British Army with support from the Royal Navy, is the exercise which facilitates the Ten Tors event. With safety the priority, these services work closely with a number of civilian organisations which include the Devon and Exeter Police, Dartmoor Search and Rescue and the British Red Cross. Casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) is a key feature of this event and as always, it was provided by the Royal Navy’s Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) and 846 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset who provided three Leonardo Helicopters Commando Merlin HC4/4A’s for the duration of the event. In addition to the three helicopters, CHF and 846 NAS provided a large complement to ensure they could provide the 24-hour CASEVAC capability required for the exercise. This complement comprised three full aircrew plus the Detachment Commander, approximately 25 engineers and ground technicians, eight members of CHF Mobile Air Operations Team (MAOT) who manned the Helicopter Landing Strip (HLS) and the co-located Forward Refuelling Point (FRP), plus Royal Navy Reserves (RNR) brought in to man the Ten Tors headquarters and operations centre. With so much of Dartmoor and the many routes accessible only by helicopter, 846 NAS and the HLS were extremely busy. AeroResource spoke with a senior pilot with 846 NAS and the Ten Tors 2025 Detachment Commander, about the challenges provided by this event:

“As a change from our varied routine work and flying training, Ten Tors is eagerly looked forward to annually by all Squadron personnel and there is no shortage of volunteers. Because it is local to us in the South West it feels like a community event but with a very real edge to it. Providing the youngsters taking part with the support that we do is a privilege, and perhaps provides them with an insight of what Navy helicopters can do”.

From a training perspective, the Ten Tors Challenge provides CHF and 846 NAS with an outstanding training opportunity as another pilot explained:

“The Moor is different when we fly during Ten Tors. The barren and almost deserted terrain becomes a hive of activity with event participants and onlookers. We have to fly into places and spaces that are not routine to deliver or collect eventers or coordinating staff, medical staff or logistic supplies. With Dartmoor having its own apparent ecoclimate we are kept on our toes………..it’s sunny one minute, foggy the next, then a mix of thunderstorms and horizontal rain. It’s very unpredictable but invaluable”.  

24 Hour watch

846 NAS were flying practically non-stop from the moment they arrived on Friday May 9 to help set up the event. With much of Dartmoor inaccessible by road, the Merlin HC4/4A provided the only transport option available to move the vital check point teams and their equipment into position. With Friday complete, the squadron was on station very early on Saturday morning from 07:00 hours. It was all systems go from then.

There are few events taking place in the United Kingdom which match the scale, stature and spectacle of the Ten Tors event. Watching so many teenagers navigate unaided around some of the most testing terrain in the United Kingdom is truly inspiring as are the efforts made by the British Army, Royal Navy and so many other organisations to ensure this unique event can be staged. From an aviation perspective, 846 NAS confirmed their aircraft performed well and they were able to complete all the tasking required of them. Ten Tors 2025 was another excellent event which boosts community spirit and goodwill in a way which is hard to quantify. It means so much to so many people.

You can find out more about the Ten Tors 2025 event here: Ten Tors

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