Moorland Walking
Here at Uffculme School we pride ourselves on extensive walking programme. We believe that these opportunities allow the students to not only develop new skills, meet new friends but they also allow them to experience the breath-taking countryside that we live in. All students have the opportunity to take part in a range of Moorland Walking activities across Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor.
Year 7 Exmoor Challenge
The Exmoor Challenge, organised by the Exmoor Rotary Club, starts from Dulverton Middle School and follows a 16-mile course through beautiful Exmoor countryside. To be selected for the event our students take part in a theory & safety session and two training walks of increasing endurance. This challenge is always a great deal of fun and wonderfully attended by the Year 7’s – often with 100 students training.
Our first walk is local and takes place during the school day and into the early evening. We follow this with a seaside amble to Lynton & Lynmouth – a little hill training to ensure the students can cope with the Moors!
As this is an “entry” level walk we have minimum kit requirements. More details about kit requirement and how to enter are provided in a letter to the students in January each year. The Exmoor Challenge event takes place in May each year.
Year 9 Three Moors Challenge
Three Counties, Three Moors, Two Highest Points and a Mountain. For Year 9 pupils the school has devised the Three Moors Challenge which gives the participants experience of walking on Exmoor, Bodmin Moor and Dartmoor. The aim is to reach the highest summits in each of these moors on three separate walks, averaging approximately 20 km over difficult terrain on each walk.
As the terrain is more demanding and the weather more unpredictable students are required to have the correct footwear and waterproofs. All details about full kit can be found here.
Pupils who succeed in conquering all three peaks will receive the Three Moors Challenge badge. The experience helps prepare the students for the Ten Tors training in Years 10 and 11, should they wish to continue.
The event is launched each year to students at the end of Year 8 in preparation for the start in the Autumn term of Year 9.
Years 10 & 11 Ten Tors Challenge
The most challenging of all the Moorland walks, the Ten Tors Challenge consists of a a two day challenging 35 mile (Year 10) or 45 mile (Year 11) walk across Dartmoor. There is also the Jubilee Challenge of between 7 and 15 miles, for walkers in Years 10 & 11 who find walking and team work more challenging (this is only open to invited pupils).
The training for Ten Tors is extensive and incorporates after school theory and safety sessions. Students should be prepared to attend evenings and weekends to prepare for the event in May.
The environmental conditions are extremely variable and it is an event that really tests the mental and physical toughness of participants. That said we believe that every student who has taken part has truly loved it. Students sometimes don’t realise what they are truly capable of until they are at the point where they think they couldn’t achieve anymore, and then they do. At which point they simply burst with pride. That’s what Ten Tors & the Jubilee Challenge are in a nutshell – but with a rather heavy rucksack on and up a rather steep Tor or two!
The event is launched each year to students at the end of Year 9 & 10 in preparation for the start in the Autumn term of Year 10 & 11.
If you have any questions please contact the Moorland Adventure Training Team at a-team@uffculmeschool.bep.ac