Scouts from Falmouth, Truro, Devoran and Newquay will be striding out across the moors next week, regardless of the weather. Dartmoor, renowned for its treacherous terrain and extreme, unpredictable weather, will, once again be the venue for Ten Tors, a gruelling, annual expedition, involving 2,400 young people from across the country, on the May 12-13, and the local youngsters will be there.

In teams of six, 14- and 15-year olds will walk a 35-mile route, 16 and 17-years olds a 45-mile route and 18/20-year olds, a 55-mile route. Over two days, each team will visit the ten tors they have been allocated, carrying all they need to survive the hostile environment, camping overnight on the moor.

For several years, scouts from Devoran, Falmouth, Truro and Newquay have joined together to train for the Ten Tors Expedition.

"We have now formed a specialist Explorer Scout Unit -the Ten Tors Explorers, to facilitate the administration of the group and to broaden the opportunity for youngster to take part in Ten Tors," said John Parham, one of the organisers and a team leader along with brian Morgan and James Turner.

"Now, for the first time, young people not already in Scouts, can join this unit to do Ten Tors, They are under no obligation to stay in Scouts, but afterwards, if they like it, they may decide to join one of the Scout Troops or Explorer Scout Units that take part."

The Unit is currently made up of 25 Scouts and Explorer Scouts from Devoran, Falmouth, Truro, Lanner and Newquay. For six months, they have worked together, following an intensive training programme, including team-building, physical and mental fitness, navigation, route planning, camping skills, emergency procedures, survival skills and first aid.

In January, they started practical training on Bodmin Moor, and have progressed through a series of two- day training hikes every other weekend on Dartmoor, camping out on the moor.

All the young people, some of whom were only 13 when they started training, have worked hard and shown great commitment, and already have experienced the full range of climatic conditions - sunshine, cold, snow, strong winds and driving rain.

"We have three 35-mile teams entered by Devoran, 8/9th Falmouth and 18th Truro Scouts," said John.

Team equipment, including tents and cookers, is provided by the participating Scout Groups, transport by the leaders and adult helpers and running costs by the participant, who pay for the privilege' of joining the training hikes, often in appalling weather!

Penrose Outdoors of Truro have supported the group again this year by sponsorship along with Skinners Brewery, A&P Falmouth, Outback Trading Helston and Devoran Church.