Hundreds of teenagers will be heading for Dartmoor this weekend for one of Britain’s biggest outdoor youth adventure expeditions.

Teams from schools, colleges, youth groups and Armed Forces cadet units will be tackling the Ten Tors, completing routes of 35, 45 or 55 miles across some of the toughest terrain in the region.

The teams are entirely self-sufficient during their hikes, relying on their navigation skills and carrying all their food, water and overnight camping equipment. They will set off early on Saturday morning, May 9, from Okehampton Camp ,and must navigate to checkpoints along their chosen route, arriving back at the camp on Sunday, May 10 to cross the official finish line.

A total of 2,400 young people will be taking part in the main Ten Tors challenge, with an additional 400 tackling the 15-mile Jubilee Challenge for those who have special physical or educational needs, which includes many in wheelchairs. Alternatively, the Granite Challenge offers a hike of at least 11 miles and an overnight camp for young adults with special needs and/or disabilities who would find the Jubilee Challenge too arduous.

South Dartmoor Community College is among the many local schools that are putting forward teams for the event.

The school’s Ten Tors Team Manager, Katie Upton, said: “Ten Tors continues to provide participants with a challenge unlike any other, where the dedication to the training is as important as the event itself.

“Our participants have learnt skills far beyond map reading and taking care of blisters - they’ve worked with communities and individuals from other teams, built confidence in overcoming tricky situations, and learnt how to be independent.

“What is pulled off year in, year out by the organisers, the manager and the participants is nothing short of life-changing for these young people.”

Planning and preparation for the Ten Tors involves months of training designed by the Team Managers to make sure their students are fit enough to walk up to 40 miles in one day across the moorland, that they are proficient at navigating, and that - crucially - they have bonded well as a team, giving them the right group mindset to face the stamina-testing exercise together.

Organising the Ten Tors is also a major exercise every year for the Army, which works with Devon and Cornwall Police, the Met Office, the British Red Cross and the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Group to ensure the safety and well-being of those taking part. The Army holds briefings for the Team Managers from the various schools and youth organisations on their responsibilities towards the young participants, bearing in mind the harsh extremes of the Dartmoor climate and the difficult terrain.

The various groups involved also work closely with the Dartmoor National Park Authority, landowners and commoners to minimise the environmental impact of all the training exercises and the event itself. As part of this process the young people taking part are encouraged to develop respect and appreciation for the landscape, wildlife and cultural heritage of the ancient moorland.