Exeter School has a long and distinguished tradition of tackling two of Dartmoor’s most demanding challenges: the Abbots’ Way Walk and the Ten Tors Expedition. Both events push pupils to their limits, building resilience, teamwork and a genuine love of the great outdoors.
The Abbots’ Way Walk
Held every October, the Abbots’ Way Walk is open to all comers and covers around twenty-three miles across the southern Moor, from Buckfast Abbey to Tavistock College. The walk is organised by the Friends of Tavistock and District Youth Network, with support from sections of the Dartmoor Rescue Group.
Exeter School’s younger pupils don’t take on this challenge alone. They’re accompanied throughout by members of staff or experienced Sixth Form pupils, ensuring the walk remains both safe and supportive for those new to the moor.
The Ten Tors Expedition
Where the Abbots’ Way Walk is accompanied, the Ten Tors Expedition is a different test altogether. Administered by the Army, this expedition starts and finishes at Okehampton Camp and is completed entirely unaccompanied by teams of six.
Depending on age, teams cover one of three distances over two days:
- 35 miles
- 45 miles
- 55 miles
Before pupils are “let loose onto the moors,” they receive thorough preparation in the skills needed to complete the expedition safely, including:
- Map and compass work
- Safety procedures
- Teamwork
- Camp craft
- Country code
- First aid
Places are highly sought after. Teams are selected on merit, and it’s common for more than thirty pupils to compete for a single place on the 35-mile team.
Preparing for the Challenge
Training for Ten Tors takes place over a series of weekends throughout the spring term. This structured preparation gives pupils the confidence and competence they need before heading onto Dartmoor.
The training period culminates in Exeter School’s own 1633 Challenge – an internal event run along similar lines to Ten Tors itself. The 1633 Challenge gives every pupil who has undertaken the training the chance to demonstrate their abilities, and each participant receives a certificate upon completion.
From the accompanied miles of the Abbots’ Way Walk to the unaccompanied rigours of Ten Tors, these expeditions reflect Exeter School’s belief in the value of real challenge. Pupils don’t just learn about resilience and teamwork — out on the open moor, they live it.
