Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ten Tors?

  • Ten Tors is  2 day expedition that takes place on Dartmoor and is organised by the British Army for young people. For more information click here.

Will missing a hike through illness or holidays prejudice my child’s chance of a team place?

  • The training programme is progressive so missing a hike may affect their knowledge and/or building up of stamina. However everyone gets ill now and then so missing one hike is unlikely to be of great importance.

I don’t feel well and am unable to do the walk, who do I tell?

  • You MUST inform the team manager if you can not make the walk the night before the walk.
  • If it is the morning of the walk and you feel unwell you must call the number given to you in your information leaflet.
  • If you do not turn up, we will not chase you. We will leave without you and your position on the team is at risk. Remember the staff are giving up their own time for free and the team are reliant on each other.

Is my child guaranteed a team place?

  • No. It will depend on how many team places we are allocated by the Army and how many walkers we have who complete their training. Securing a team place is a combination of merit, attitude and attendance. The final team selection will be made by the leaders.

Will my child be sharing tents?

  • On practise hikes we will try to arrange sharing boys or girls – max 3 to a tent. For the event (one night) boys and girls may share. No one will ever be expected to sleep alone.

What happens to walkers who drop out part way through a hike?

  • Life gets really boring as its no fun sitting in a cold minibus waiting for everyone else to finish! In the event of having to retire part way through a hike
  • We will escort the walker to a safe rendevous where they will be handed over to the minibus staff and will arrange appropriate action eg deal with the injury, provide TLC, let them map read for the minibus driver etc.
  • Providing that the team’s progress will not be impaired, and depending on which stretch of the moor is to be covered, it may be possible for the walker to rejoin their team later in the day or to start with them on the second day.
  • In some cases parents will be asked to collect their child from the moor.

My child has told me that what they have brought along is not acceptable. What should I do?

  • Please contact us so that we can clearly explain the reasons for kit being unsuitable and what standards need to apply – see the information sheet on kit and equipment.
  • Dartmoor is a rugged and unforgiving place, walker need to be properly equipped. If we allowed them to continue they may endanger themselves and/or other members of the team. Also even for practise hikes, a team may have their kit checked by independent roving scruitineers out on the moor. If any item is found to be below standard then not only is the whole team removed from the moor but as an organisation we will lose our team place. We won’t allow that to happen.

Do I need a Gore-Tex jacket –they are so expensive; and then there’s the boots and sleeping bag and everything else?

  • Many of these items are expensive and what is more your child is likely to grow out of them very quickly. We have a supply of items we can loan out – there is no hire charge just a £5 deposit on high value items for fair wear and tear.
  • We can supply: rucksacks; stoves, sleeping bags, water bottles, survival bags, head torches and a few fleeces/microfleeces. Fill in the form on the website if you want to borrow kit.
  • We do not supply boots.
  • Don’t rush out and buy new kit straight away. First of all see whether your child is enjoying this adventure. Secondly DO seek advice from us as to what is appropriate and what to avoid.
  • The very important things section of the website identifies what standards are required; ask us as to which shops understand what equipment might be suitable and that to avoid. It is possible to buy “cheap” kit but it will not last and may not be to the standard required. Equally it is possible to buy kit cheap, and we will help you to identify purchasing opportunities.