a pdf of the obstacles

1 ESTUARINE EMERSION
20m long mud run with a rope scramble for exit.
Royal Marines, modern day commandos with a motto of
“By Sea, By Land” love an estuary and we have our very
own at Hever Castle. Just keep pumping those legs and
mind your head on the low bridge!
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2 TUNNEL RATS
10M long winding tunnels crafted
out of wriggly tin and earth.
10M
Commandos spend a lot of time on their bellies! Tunnel systems are
often part of an established defence network and Commandos make
it their mission to attack in the dead of night when enemy defences
are at their weakest. Use your hands and knees and crawl fast!
ESCAPE HATCHES
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3 SMARTY TUBES
8m long and 2’ or 3’ wide drainage pipes sunk
into the ground. The more difficult ones are
semi-immersed in water.
These drainage pipes are often used as road culverts. Road culverts make
excellent hiding places for roadside explosive devices placed to disrupt
enemy movement around the battlefield. It is important to be able to
navigate even the tightest and dirtiest of these quickly and efficiently.
8M
WET SIDE
Getting progressivley deeper
TRACK
DRY SIDE
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4 THE WIRES
40m long wooded glade dissected with metres
and metres of elastic cord.
The enemy will use a number of devices to hinder your progress and
obscure your view. Real Commandos let nothing faze them. You will need
to be agile and be able to trust your instincts as you make your way up
this tricky glade.
40M
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5 SLIPPERY SLOPE
30m long steep muddy slope with large ropes
hanging down to assist progress.
Targets for Commando raids are often well defended and more often than
not sit in commanding positions on top of hills. With the route pre-laid for
you by a suitably steely mountain leader all you need to do is move uphill
quickly using the ropes left out for you.
30M
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6 MONKEY BARS
5m long ladders of varying step width suspended
above a muddy pool and built in an old Second
World War V2 bomb crater.
Commandos on raids often have to support their body weight on pre-set
scaling ladders and often there will be a considerable drop below! Fear not
you weaker few as there are balance beams and rings for you to use instead!
LADDERS (KIDS)
LADDERS (ADULTS)
BALANCE
BEAM
MUD
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7 THE SCRAMBLE
8m high scramble net.
Modern day Commandos often conduct operations from small boats and
often have to board much bigger ships. Often the steep sides of these
ships will be scaled using scramble nets and it is this, minus the rolling
deck in heavy seas, that we have replicated.
8M
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8 DOOM DROP
Commandos often have to adapt and overcome obstacles at speed
and whilst under fire. Trust your instincts and go for this!
30m slippery slide with a steep entry
and long run off.
30M
RUN OFF
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9 CATACOMBS
OF DOOM
30m long cave system originally tunnelled out by
Lord Astor’s workers on the estate at the same time
as they were digging the lake.
Commandos have to adapt to their terrain and some of the missions
in the past have used cave systems as a means of covert approach.
Feel the walls as you make your way through this tunnel system and
watch out for the creepy crawlies.
ENTRANCE
EXIT
ALTERNATIVE ROUTE
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10 PETER’S POOL
Large 30m wide clay marlpit once used for brick
making and now filled with chest-deep muddy water.
Modern day Commandos love a bit of water. Often a covert approach will
involve a long silent patrol up a river or stream where the scouts will have
laid a rope to assist with navigation and deeper sections of the water.
Just follow the rope and trust the Commando in front of you!
30M
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11 CREEPY CRAWLY
A 12m low scramble net supported on scaffold
poles over a muddy section of ground.
The “Commando crawl” is a technique practised by modern day soldiers
and it enables fast movement over rough ground but without exposing the
person to enemy fire. Keep your backside down and use your elbows and the
inside of your knees.
12M
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12 RIVER CROSS
A crossing of the River Eden using suspended
and tensioned ropes.
Commando raids are often staggering in their speed of execution.
A well drilled patrol can cross a fast flowing river in a matter of seconds.
Listen to your instructor here and he will explain the techniques required.
Prepare to get wet!
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13 THE CHASM
Designed to simulate a large chasm, canyon or dangerous river crossing
we have set up more obstacle crossing techniques. This time you can cross
using the Tyrollean Traverse or, like the real deal, the suspended Commando
Crawl. The obstacle replicates what the Royal Marines call “the tank” at
Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.
A 20m crossing of another clay marlpit filled
with water.
20M
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14 THE BLOCKER
A 6’ dramatic obstruction of piled up logs.
The enemy will often try and slow your progress down
with man made obstacles. Beware of the booby traps
though. Play with a leap and a gate vault or as a team.
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15 THE FROGGER
A 15m crossing of the River Eden using inflatable tyres.
Adapt, overcome and have a bit of fun. Commandos, renowned for their
sense of humour in adversity, will often cleverly adapt equipment and other
bits of kit left around to suit their purposes. In this instance we have used
tractor tyre inner tubes.
15M
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16 WOBBLY BRIDGE
20m long pontoon style bridge with a twist.
Commandos will often have to navigate a makeshift
bridge as they quickly cross rivers and larger streams.
Stay low and don’t hang around. Trust your balance.
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17 SHEEP DIP
A 2m long and 2’ wide submerged drainage pipe.
Sometimes in a Commandos life the only way is the hard way.
Not everyone’s idea of fun, just hold your breath and let our instructors
do the work!
2M
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18 THE WALL
A 12’ high wall with trail rope and footholds.
Often the last and hardest part of any raid - the scaling of the ramparts
or walls. This 12’ wall with suitable trail rope and footholds to assist your
progress would have been scaled by one of your mountain leaders in
advance. You’ve just got to get to the top!
12FT
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ROUTE MAP
13
15
14
12
16
11
17
1
BRIEFING
AREA
START
KEY
1. Estuarine Emersion
2. Tunnel Rats
3. Smarty Tubes
4. The Wires
5. Slippery Slope
6. Monkey Bars
7. The Scramble
8. Doom Drop
9. Catacombs of Death
10. Peter’s Pool
11. Creepy Crawly
12. River Cross
13. The Chasm
14. The Blocker
15. The Frogger
16. Wobbly Bridge
17. Sheep Dip
18. The Wall
18
WARM UP
AREA
EVENT
VILLAGE
10
2
CAR PARK
9
8
3
7
5
6
4
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