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Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Losing the right to wild camp on Dartmoor would have been unthinkable'
Jolyon Chesworth is fondly remembering the last time he wild camped on Dartmoor with his family. His children Max and Barney were running around, climbing rocks and swimming in pools. They were, he says, truly free. 'That sense of adventure and connection to the landscape is so important,' says Chesworth. 'The simple act of finding a place to sleep, having something to eat and just chatting together in almost unimaginable space… they absolutely love being on Dartmoor. 'So the potential loss of all these incredible benefits would have been unthinkable.' Yet such a loss was, until last week, something Chesworth and many families like his were preparing for. So they were overjoyed when the Supreme Court backed wild camping on Dartmoor, marking the end of a long argument about whether pitching a tent under the stars in the Devon national park was permissible and, possibly, the start of a wider debate about what public access might mean in other parts of the country. There is no general right to wild camp on most private land in England, but an exception was made for set areas of Dartmoor Commons in 1985. Over the decades, it's become a haven for Duke of Edinburgh's Award trips and the famous Ten Tors challenge. For Chesworth, wild camping in the area has offered 'an opportunity to connect to nature, and to people past, present and future who are doing the same thing'. Campaigners, meanwhile, say the battle raises a wider problem over access rights. The legal wrangle over the park began in 2022, when landowners Alexander and Diana Darwall challenged the right to wild camp on their 4,000-acre estate on Stall Moor. They noted the 'potential harm' caused by campers, including litter, fires and threats to their livestock. But the crux of their case hinged on whether a specific section of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 conferred on the public a right to camp there overnight. Campaigners were quick to take note. Lewis Winks, from the group Right to Roam, recalls a handful of activists gathering in a Devon pub shortly afterwards to plot their response. 'We called our campaign The Stars Are for Everyone, because as Devon locals we made use of these wild camping rights regularly – I took my daughter up on Stall Moor and she loved it,' he says. 'It seemed absolutely ludicrous that somebody should be able to snatch that away.' Winks adds there was widespread belief among campaigners that the Darwalls' case would collapse. 'There were many people… who just didn't think Dartmoor was going to be lost,' he says. But it was. In January 2023, a High Court ruling set out that the 1985 Act 'does not confer on the public any right to pitch tents or otherwise make camp overnight on Dartmoor Commons'. 'Any such camping requires the consent of the landowner,' the ruling stated. 'It was at this moment we really saw a lot of people stand up and say, 'this is a tragedy',' says Winks. 'Actually it had far-reaching effects beyond the Darwalls' estate. It meant a loss of wild camping rights across the whole of Dartmoor as they had existed.' A week after the High Court ruling in 2023, thousands of people met on Stall Moor to protest. Meanwhile the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) had to work quickly with other landowners to put in place agreements to license their land for use by wild campers. Basically, the DNPA had to pay the landowners to allow people to camp. 'It was fairly panicked,' says Winks. 'Long term it would have been unworkable as a system, too, because of all the individual licences. The issue for us was that permission couldn't be a replacement for rights.' Dr Kevin Bishop, chief executive of DNPA, remembers that time slightly differently. 'It was testament to some of the Commons owners that we managed to develop that system so quickly – and it was mainly so we could get Ten Tors to go ahead, which the majority of landowners wanted,' he says. 'There were some who thought that system would be fine going forward, but it was always clear to us that the Commons Act creates a right of access on foot and on horseback for the purpose of open-air recreation. We've always interpreted open-air recreation broadly, whereas the Darwalls didn't.' So the DNPA appealed, with the support of other campaign groups such as the Open Spaces Society (OSS) in 2023. Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the OSS, knows more about access on Dartmoor than most; in 1985 she was Anthony Steen MP's research assistant as he piloted the Dartmoor Commons Bill through Parliament. 'In every other legislation that grants access, you get a schedule of things that the access doesn't include, and camping is usually listed,' she says. 'So for it not to be listed in the Dartmoor Commons Act was an indication that it should be permitted. For us, it was as simple an argument as that.' The other reason the OSS and others were concerned was that the terminology used in the High Court ruling could have had ramifications way beyond wild camping. It might have led to a situation where open-air recreation on Dartmoor was restricted to activities undertaken while on foot or in the saddle. Bathing, sketching, rock climbing, even bird watching or fishing could have been seen as trespass. As Bishop puts it, at the extreme end of this interpretation, 'you couldn't even have stopped for a picnic'. The general consensus is that some of these interpretations were so farcical, they actually helped the appeal. And in July 2023, the Appeal Court ruled that the law 'confers on members of the public the right to rest or sleep on the Dartmoor Commons, whether by day or night and whether in a tent or otherwise… provided the bylaws are adhered to'. But, in turn, the Darwalls themselves immediately appealed to the Supreme Court, with the first hearings taking place in October 2024. In written submissions their legal representatives said the couple were 'not motivated by a desire to stop camping on Dartmoor'. Instead, they talked of campers not observing the 'leave no trace' rule and campfires leading to habitat destruction. Is there merit in at least some of these arguments? The last time Chesworth was wild camping on Dartmoor, he remembers being woken by fireworks at 3.30am. The next day, his boys picked up the revellers' rubbish on their way back home. 'With this sense of freedom and access comes responsibility and a need for stewardship,' he says. 'One of the reasons I like taking my children out there is that it teaches them that responsibility. It's like school, but more fun. 'What I would say though is that there's a big distinction between wild, backpack camping and fly camping, where people are bringing family tents and disposable barbecues and pitching up at the edge of a car park.' On local forums, there is much speculation that it is 'townies' who are going to Dartmoor with their crates of beer and fireworks and wrecking it. Right to Roam says it is aware that encouraging wider access to natural spaces does come with the potential for abuse. That's why the group developed the concept of 'Wild Service', where responsible access means respecting privacy, crops and nature while seeking to leave a positive trace and practising deep care for the natural world. The Darwalls, for their part, remain unconvinced that access translates to guardianship. The couple said they were 'disappointed' by the Supreme Court's judgment. 'Hollowing out the role of landowners and farmers will not improve the vitality of the Dartmoor Commons,' they said. 'Our aim from the outset was to protect and preserve Dartmoor, its flora and fauna.' Meanwhile, others are keen to see the outcome set a precedent for the rest of England. In opposition, Labour pledged to create a widespread right to roam policy if elected but U-turned after facing opposition from some landowners. The OSS and Right To Roam are now calling on officials to 'step up' and pass an act that can protect and extend public rights of access to nature across England. If wild camping is allowed on Dartmoor, then why not elsewhere, they argue. 'If Darwall vs Dartmoor is to be a truly landmark decision, the Government must act to ensure a right to sleep under the stars applies to all national parks and wild country,' says Ashbrook. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
28-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
‘Losing the right to wild camp on Dartmoor would have been unthinkable'
Jolyon Chesworth is fondly remembering the last time he wild camped on Dartmoor with his family. His children Max and Barney were running around, climbing rocks and swimming in pools. They were, he says, truly free. 'That sense of adventure and connection to the landscape is so important,' says Chesworth. 'The simple act of finding a place to sleep, having something to eat and just chatting together in almost unimaginable space… they absolutely love being on Dartmoor. 'So the potential loss of all these incredible benefits would have been unthinkable.' Yet such a loss was, until last week, something Chesworth and many families like his were preparing for. So they were overjoyed when the Supreme Court backed wild camping on Dartmoor, marking the end of a long argument about whether pitching a tent under the stars in the Devon national park was permissible and, possibly, the start of a wider debate about what public access might mean in other parts of the country. There is no general right to wild camp on most private land in England, but an exception was made for set areas of Dartmoor Commons in 1985. Over the decades, it's become a haven for Duke of Edinburgh's Award trips and the famous Ten Tors challenge. For Chesworth, wild camping in the area has offered 'an opportunity to connect to nature, and to people past, present and future who are doing the same thing'. Campaigners, meanwhile, say the battle raises a wider problem over access rights. The legal wrangle over the park began in 2022, when landowners Alexander and Diana Darwall challenged the right to wild camp on their 4,000-acre estate on Stall Moor. They noted the 'potential harm' caused by campers, including litter, fires and threats to their livestock. But the crux of their case hinged on whether a specific section of the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985 conferred on the public a right to camp there overnight. Campaigners were quick to take note. Lewis Winks, from the group Right to Roam, recalls a handful of activists gathering in a Devon pub shortly afterwards to plot their response. 'We called our campaign The Stars Are for Everyone, because as Devon locals we made use of these wild camping rights regularly – I took my daughter up on Stall Moor and she loved it,' he says. 'It seemed absolutely ludicrous that somebody should be able to snatch that away.' Winks adds there was widespread belief among campaigners that the Darwalls' case would collapse. 'There were many people… who just didn't think Dartmoor was going to be lost,' he says. But it was. In January 2023, a High Court ruling set out that the 1985 Act 'does not confer on the public any right to pitch tents or otherwise make camp overnight on Dartmoor Commons'. 'Any such camping requires the consent of the landowner,' the ruling stated. 'It was at this moment we really saw a lot of people stand up and say, 'this is a tragedy',' says Winks. 'Actually it had far-reaching effects beyond the Darwalls' estate. It meant a loss of wild camping rights across the whole of Dartmoor as they had existed.' A week after the High Court ruling in 2023, thousands of people met on Stall Moor to protest. Meanwhile the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) had to work quickly with other landowners to put in place agreements to license their land for use by wild campers. Basically, the DNPA had to pay the landowners to allow people to camp. 'It was fairly panicked,' says Winks. 'Long term it would have been unworkable as a system, too, because of all the individual licences. The issue for us was that permission couldn't be a replacement for rights.' Dr Kevin Bishop, chief executive of DNPA, remembers that time slightly differently. 'It was testament to some of the Commons owners that we managed to develop that system so quickly – and it was mainly so we could get Ten Tors to go ahead, which the majority of landowners wanted,' he says. 'There were some who thought that system would be fine going forward, but it was always clear to us that the Commons Act creates a right of access on foot and on horseback for the purpose of open-air recreation. We've always interpreted open-air recreation broadly, whereas the Darwalls didn't.' So the DNPA appealed, with the support of other campaign groups such as the Open Spaces Society (OSS) in 2023. Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the OSS, knows more about access on Dartmoor than most; in 1985 she was Anthony Steen MP's research assistant as he piloted the Dartmoor Commons Bill through Parliament. 'In every other legislation that grants access, you get a schedule of things that the access doesn't include, and camping is usually listed,' she says. 'So for it not to be listed in the Dartmoor Commons Act was an indication that it should be permitted. For us, it was as simple an argument as that.' The other reason the OSS and others were concerned was that the terminology used in the High Court ruling could have had ramifications way beyond wild camping. It might have led to a situation where open-air recreation on Dartmoor was restricted to activities undertaken while on foot or in the saddle. Bathing, sketching, rock climbing, even bird watching or fishing could have been seen as trespass. As Bishop puts it, at the extreme end of this interpretation, 'you couldn't even have stopped for a picnic'. The general consensus is that some of these interpretations were so farcical, they actually helped the appeal. And in July 2023, the Appeal Court ruled that the law 'confers on members of the public the right to rest or sleep on the Dartmoor Commons, whether by day or night and whether in a tent or otherwise… provided the bylaws are adhered to'. But, in turn, the Darwalls themselves immediately appealed to the Supreme Court, with the first hearings taking place in October 2024. In written submissions their legal representatives said the couple were 'not motivated by a desire to stop camping on Dartmoor'. Instead, they talked of campers not observing the 'leave no trace' rule and campfires leading to habitat destruction. Is there merit in at least some of these arguments? The last time Chesworth was wild camping on Dartmoor, he remembers being woken by fireworks at 3.30am. The next day, his boys picked up the revellers' rubbish on their way back home. 'With this sense of freedom and access comes responsibility and a need for stewardship,' he says. 'One of the reasons I like taking my children out there is that it teaches them that responsibility. It's like school, but more fun. 'What I would say though is that there's a big distinction between wild, backpack camping and fly camping, where people are bringing family tents and disposable barbecues and pitching up at the edge of a car park.' On local forums, there is much speculation that it is 'townies' who are going to Dartmoor with their crates of beer and fireworks and wrecking it. Right to Roam says it is aware that encouraging wider access to natural spaces does come with the potential for abuse. That's why the group developed the concept of 'Wild Service', where responsible access means respecting privacy, crops and nature while seeking to leave a positive trace and practising deep care for the natural world. The Darwalls, for their part, remain unconvinced that access translates to guardianship. The couple said they were 'disappointed' by the Supreme Court's judgment. 'Hollowing out the role of landowners and farmers will not improve the vitality of the Dartmoor Commons,' they said. 'Our aim from the outset was to protect and preserve Dartmoor, its flora and fauna.' Meanwhile, others are keen to see the outcome set a precedent for the rest of England. In opposition, Labour pledged to create a widespread right to roam policy if elected but U-turned after facing opposition from some landowners. The OSS and Right To Roam are now calling on officials to 'step up' and pass an act that can protect and extend public rights of access to nature across England. If wild camping is allowed on Dartmoor, then why not elsewhere, they argue. 'If Darwall vs Dartmoor is to be a truly landmark decision, the Government must act to ensure a right to sleep under the stars applies to all national parks and wild country,' says Ashbrook.
The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Huge boost for wild camping as Brits CAN use one of UK's best-loved national parks in blow for millionaire nimbys
I HAVE wild camped on Dartmoor more times than I can count and the fact that this right was even debated in court seemed ludicrous to me. Back in 2021, the battle for the right to wild camp on Advertisement 7 Wild camping access on Dartmoor was threatened thanks to local landowners Credit: Alamy 7 But now the Supreme Court has ruled it is allowed Credit: Daniel Davy/Dartmoor Wild Camping Action Group Following back-and-forth debates in courts , the Supreme Court has ruled that wild camping IS allowed in one of the UK's most-loved national parks. I am not surprised with the decision and I welcome it with open arms. As do the campaigners, that for the past four years have been fighting for something that should not have been questioned in the first place. Landowners (and millionaires) Alexander and Diana Darwall started the battle, claiming that people should not be able to camp without permission from landowners. Advertisement Read more on National Parks The Darwalls created the argument as part of their 4,000-acre estate on Stall Moor near Cornwood, spilt into Dartmoor National Park. As a result, the tradition of And in January 2023, the High Court ruled that the Darwalls were allowed to remove campers from their site. Their legal team claimed that the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985, which allows access for "open-air recreation", did not include overnight camping. Advertisement Most read in News Travel Outrage at the decision obviously arose and debates garnered national attention over the future of wild camping. Then in July 2023, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court ruling in July 2023, restoring the right to wild camp. UK's Premier Scottish Caravan Site: Camping & Glamping Gold Standard But the NIMBY's didn't stop there, as the Darwalls appealed to the Supreme Court - whose judges unanimously rejected their appeal yesterday. Most weekends as a teenager, I would camp on the moors as part of training for Ten Tors - an annual teenagers , hosted by the army . Advertisement I would be walking from the early hours of the morning, sometimes until midnight - carrying at least 10kg on my back and often fighting the harshest of conditions. By the time it came to setting up Myself and my team would pitch our two small tents, in the dark, with nothing but torches. To date, the three events (35, 45 and 55 miles) that I participated in over three years were the biggest challenges of my life - mentally and physically. Advertisement For thousands of teenagers who participate each year, I can guarantee the same. 7 I used to hike and camp on Dartmoor as a teenager Credit: Cyann Fielding If yesterday's decision swung the other way, I am unsure of the impact this would have on the event and the training thousands undertake each year. All I know is it would not have been a positive impact. Advertisement Wild camping is nothing like camping at a Often you are exposed to the elements - but you get to truly be in the wild, surrounded by rolling hills and tors, flourishing rivers and streams and the only pitch black sky with bright stars I have seen in my life. Yesterday's ruling essentially means that people are legally allowed to camp in set areas of Dartmoor - they just need to follow a code of conduct. This includes leaving "no trace", the park authority has said. Advertisement Tents and 7 Campaigners have been fighting for the right to wild camp for years Credit: Alamy Following the decision, social media and forums have also been flooded with comments from the public. One person commented: "A good ruling based on the common understanding of the words 'open-air recreation'. Advertisement "Absolutely mad that it had to go all the way to the Supreme Court to rule on something so blindingly obvious." Another added: "Thanks to whoever updated the Wikipedia entry of Alexander Darwall, whose nimby campaign to ban wild camping on Dartmoor has just been upheld in the courts." Darwall's Wikipedia page was updated to include "enemy of the people", but has since been removed. When I watched the court hearing back in October, the argument boiled down to one sentence of the archaic Dartmoor Commons Act 1985. Advertisement Section 10(1) of the Act states: "[T]he public shall have a right of access to the commons on foot and on horseback for the purpose of open-air recreation." 7 Campaign groups are now fighting for the right to wild camp across the UK Credit: AFP The court had to decide whether this section gave "the public a right to pitch tents or otherwise make camp overnight on the Dartmoor Commons". The Supreme Court ruling said: "Within Dartmoor National Park, there are areas of moorland which are privately owned but on which other locals have the right to put their livestock. Advertisement "The clear wording of section 10(1) shows that it confers a right of public access which includes wild camping." Commenting on the ruling, Dartmoor Preservation Association CEO, Tom Usher , said: "This is an historic victory for public access, the DPA are very proud to have played a central role in campaigning to keep backpack camping on Dartmoor as a right. "This has been achieved through the work of many people and we salute the courage of the Dr Kevin Bishop, chief executive of Dartmoor National Park Authority, added: "We are delighted and relieved with the Supreme Court's ruling. Advertisement "This is a landmark judgment not just for Dartmoor National Park but for people who have long campaigned for access rights. "The judgment reaffirms our long-held belief for the public's right to 7 Locals are now celebrating the ruling Credit: Alamy Daniel Davy, founder of Dartmoor Wild Camping Action Group, said: "So yesterday was an emotional one. Advertisement "We are so lucky to have the right to wild camp in Devon and the myriad of benefits it's brings, and it's about time that everyone had access to these wild spaces and experiences that shape so many lives. "We are going to take this fight to other national parks so that everyone in the country can experience what we are so lucky too on Dartmoor. "This could be the pebble that creates the splash, which turns into a wave that is access reform across the country." The group will be hosting a gathering on Monday at Haytor on Dartmoor to celebrate the ruling. Advertisement Dartmoor on horseback is also the perfect way to enjoy the vast Devon moorland. Plus, the best 'almost wild' holiday campsites in the UK for families this summer. 7 The ruling seems like common sense Credit: Cyann Fielding
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Huge boost for wild camping as Brits CAN use one of UK's best-loved national parks in blow for millionaire nimbys
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) I HAVE wild camped on Dartmoor more times than I can count and the fact that this right was even debated in court seemed ludicrous to me. Back in 2021, the battle for the right to wild camp on Dartmoor ensued. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Wild camping access on Dartmoor was threatened thanks to local landowners Credit: Alamy 7 But now the Supreme Court has ruled it is allowed Credit: Daniel Davy/Dartmoor Wild Camping Action Group Following back-and-forth debates incourts, the Supreme Court has ruled that wild camping IS allowed in one of the UK's most-loved national parks. I am not surprised with the decision and I welcome it with open arms. As do the campaigners, that for the past four years have been fighting for something that should not have been questioned in the first place. Landowners (and millionaires) Alexander and Diana Darwall started the battle, claiming that people should not be able to camp without permission from landowners. The Darwalls created the argument as part of their 4,000-acre estate on Stall Moor near Cornwood, spilt into Dartmoor National Park. As a result, the tradition of wild camping was in jeopardy. And in January 2023, the High Court ruled that the Darwalls were allowed to remove campers from their site. Their legal team claimed that the Dartmoor Commons Act 1985, which allows access for "open-air recreation", did not include overnight camping. Outrage at the decision obviously arose and debates garnered national attention over the future of wild camping. Then in July 2023, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court ruling in July 2023, restoring the right to wild camp. UK's Premier Scottish Caravan Site: Camping & Glamping Gold Standard But the NIMBY's didn't stop there, as the Darwalls appealed to the Supreme Court - whose judges unanimously rejected their appeal yesterday. Most weekends as a teenager, I would camp on the moors as part of training for Ten Tors - an annual hiking event for teenagers, hosted by the army. I would be walking from the early hours of the morning, sometimes until midnight - carrying at least 10kg on my back and often fighting the harshest of conditions. By the time it came to setting up camp in the dark, being able to pitch up my tent near enough anywhere, did not even cross my mind. Myself and my team would pitch our two small tents, in the dark, with nothing but torches. To date, the three events (35, 45 and 55 miles) that I participated in over three years were the biggest challenges of my life - mentally and physically. For thousands of teenagers who participate each year, I can guarantee the same. 7 I used to hike and camp on Dartmoor as a teenager Credit: Cyann Fielding If yesterday's decision swung the other way, I am unsure of the impact this would have on the event and the training thousands undertake each year. All I know is it would not have been a positive impact. Wild camping is nothing like camping at a camp site. Often you are exposed to the elements - but you get to truly be in the wild, surrounded by rolling hills and tors, flourishing rivers and streams and the only pitch black sky with bright stars I have seen in my life. Yesterday's ruling essentially means that people are legally allowed to camp in set areas of Dartmoor - they just need to follow a code of conduct. This includes leaving "no trace", the park authority has said. Tents and camping equipment must also fit in a carriable backpack, with no more than six people allowed to camp together. 7 Campaigners have been fighting for the right to wild camp for years Credit: Alamy Following the decision, social media and forums have also been flooded with comments from the public. One person commented: "A good ruling based on the common understanding of the words 'open-air recreation'. "Absolutely mad that it had to go all the way to the Supreme Court to rule on something so blindingly obvious." Another added: "Thanks to whoever updated the Wikipedia entry of Alexander Darwall, whose nimby campaign to ban wild camping on Dartmoor has just been upheld in the courts." Darwall's Wikipedia page was updated to include "enemy of the people", but has since been removed. When I watched the court hearing back in October, the argument boiled down to one sentence of the archaic Dartmoor Commons Act 1985. Section 10(1) of the Act states: "[T]he public shall have a right of access to the commons on foot and on horseback for the purpose of open-air recreation." 7 Campaign groups are now fighting for the right to wild camp across the UK Credit: AFP The court had to decide whether this section gave "the public a right to pitch tents or otherwise make camp overnight on the Dartmoor Commons". The Supreme Court ruling said: "Within Dartmoor National Park, there are areas of moorland which are privately owned but on which other locals have the right to put their livestock. "The clear wording of section 10(1) shows that it confers a right of public access which includes wild camping." Commenting on the ruling, Dartmoor Preservation Association CEO, Tom Usher, said: "This is an historic victory for public access, the DPA are very proud to have played a central role in campaigning to keep backpack camping on Dartmoor as a right. "This has been achieved through the work of many people and we salute the courage of the National Park Authority in fighting this case to the end." Dr Kevin Bishop, chief executive of Dartmoor National Park Authority, added: "We are delighted and relieved with the Supreme Court's ruling. "This is a landmark judgment not just for Dartmoor National Park but for people who have long campaigned for access rights. "The judgment reaffirms our long-held belief for the public's right to backpack camp on certain commons and, importantly, our role in regulating and managing that access." 7 Locals are now celebrating the ruling Credit: Alamy Daniel Davy, founder of Dartmoor Wild Camping Action Group, said: "So yesterday was an emotional one. "We are so lucky to have the right to wild camp in Devon and the myriad of benefits it's brings, and it's about time that everyone had access to these wild spaces and experiences that shape so many lives. "We are going to take this fight to other national parks so that everyone in the country can experience what we are so lucky too on Dartmoor. "This could be the pebble that creates the splash, which turns into a wave that is access reform across the country." The group will be hosting a gathering on Monday at Haytor on Dartmoor to celebrate the ruling. Dartmoor on horseback is also the perfect way to enjoy the vast Devon moorland. Plus, the best 'almost wild' holiday campsites in the UK for families this summer.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Proud families cheer on Jubilee Challenge teams
Family and friends said they felt proud of their loved ones as they watched them cross the finish line of the Jubilee Challenge on Saturday. Organisers said the Jubilee Challenge, part of the Ten Tors weekend, was designed for young people with a range of physical, neurological or educational needs to take on four different routes across Dartmoor. Participants who took on the walk ranging between 7.5m (12km) and 15m (24km) were met by family, friends and supporters at the finish line. Mum Kirsty Hudson said it was her 13-year-old son Ben's first time taking on the one-day challenge, adding the family were "proud" of him. "Our son has special needs and goes to a special school and life has been quite challenging for him because he has found academic work quite hard," she said. "Something like this, it just gives the children the opportunity to be really successful. "We wanted to cheer on everyone who came through because we know things can be a bit harder for them compared to everyone else." Army Headquarters South West, which organises the event, said the Jubilee-Plus Challenge, launched last year, was aimed at young adults with special educational needs and disabilities who were capable of an overnight stay, but may find the entire Ten Tors challenge "inaccessible". She said it was also Ben's first time camping with his team who were representing Orchard Manor School in Dawlish. Representing Mayfield School and College in Torquay, Matty Hooper, said his team, along with his dad Mike Hooper, walked eight miles. Matty said he felt "very proud" for completing the challenge. Mr Hooper said: "I'm not feeling too bad, a little achy but it was good, we enjoyed it." "We did about five to six weeks of training." Matty, who completed the challenge in 2024, said the biggest challenge this year was avoiding water on the walk due to the "slippery stones". However this had not put him off and he said they will be back again next year. Organisers said about 400 people entered the Jubilee Challenge each year. By 17:00, the final participants had crossed the line. Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Teams set off to tackle 'immensely tough' Ten Tors Ten Tors: Rules, routes and safety measures Ten Tors
