Foggy Tors and Boggy Ground

News - 12th Mar 2026

Foggy Tors and Boggy Ground

On Friday 20th February, just before school restarted after the half-term break, the Ten Tors team gathered once again for another important step in their preparation for the Ten Tors Challenge. The evening began with practical tent craft, giving trainees the opportunity to practise pitching their tents efficiently – a vital skill when spending nights out on the often unpredictable moor.

The group were then treated to an inspiring talk from Ian Ridley, the 276th Briton to summit Mount Everest. Ian shared the story of his journey to the world’s highest peak, describing the challenges he faced and the determination required to return after an initial unsuccessful attempt. Hearing about the perseverance needed to succeed in such extreme conditions was both fascinating and motivating for the students as they continue their own Ten Tors journey.

After the talk, everyone enjoyed a well-earned treat of Domino’s pizza, followed by ice cream and a film before settling in for the night.

The following day, the team headed out onto Dartmoor for a demanding training walk. Starting at Four Winds Car Park, just north of Princetown, the route covered 15.5 km and included approximately 450 metres of ascent.

Recent rain had left the ground exceptionally soft across the moor, making the walking slower and more physically demanding than usual. In several places, the teams had to identify safer and more reliable crossing points, which meant adapting the route slightly and adding extra distance compared with the most direct lines.

From the start, the teams headed north towards Little Mis Tor before continuing on to Great Mis Tor. The route then climbed to White Barrow before turning east towards Lydford Tor. From there, the teams travelled south to Beardown Tor before heading west to Holming Beam and finally looping back to Little Mis Tor to complete the circuit.

Much of the day was spent walking through thick fog, which limited visibility across the moor and made navigation even more important. Occasionally the cloud lifted just enough to give brief glimpses of the surrounding landscape, but for the most part it remained a classic Dartmoor day of mist and soft ground.

Despite the conditions, the teams worked brilliantly together and showed excellent determination throughout the walk. Training days like this provide invaluable experience of navigating challenging terrain and adapting to changing conditions – all essential skills for Ten Tors.

A huge well done to all the trainees for their effort and positive attitude throughout the weekend. A special thank you also goes to Ian Ridley for giving up his time to speak to the team and for inspiring the students with his remarkable story. Each training event brings the group another step closer to the Ten Tors Event.