What is Peak Assault?

Peak Assault is a navigation competition for teams of young people in an upland area of England or Wales. The location is traditionally kept a secret, but in the past the event has taken place in many upland areas including: The Peak District, The Lake District, North Wales, Dartmoor, Exmoor, South Wales (Black Mountains and Bannau Brycheiniog). Peak Assault has been taking place almost every year since 1968 and attracts more than 250 people in over 30 teams.

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The event takes place over a weekend in mid-October and is based on Orienteering to find the location of checkpoint clips, which requires precise map reading. Checkpoint positions, worth different values, will be given to each team, as they start, in the form of 8 figure grid references. There could be up to 27 checkpoints to plot on Saturday and 10 more on Sunday, so a key skill for team members is rapid and accurate map marking. Knowledge of Naismith’s Rule and route planning are also important.

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This event counts for 2 nights away and 2 hikes away for each Explorer Scout participating.

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Leaders

• We recommend entering teams as soon as booking opens - At this stage we don't need to know team members’ personal information. You can then organise team members and ask them to make phased payments or fundraise. Then in September you can finalise the teams.

• Check your team’s group and individual kit now while there is time to source cheaper items / borrow it / buy it second hand.

• Invite the HPA Kit specialist along to a meeting to find out what's good and what's not (see kit list below).

• Consider coming with your district or join in with another to provide support to your young people and reducing the kit you need to bring.

• Include the key skills in your programme - give your team the best chance by improving their navigation and route planning skills over the summer

• The costs shown in the General Information document are the current ones. They may be subject to change in the current financial climate. The organisers will do all they can to avoid any increase. If this regrettably has to happen Units/Teams will be informed.

• Don't be afraid to ask - if you, your young people or their parents have any questions, queries or concerns let us know by contacting us - hpa@hertfordshirescouts.org.uk.

 

Who can enter Peak Assault and how many people are in a team?

Peak Assault is open to anyone over the age of 14. There are four categories team that can be entered.

• Explorer Scout Teams: Consisting of 4 - 7 members who must be between 14 and 18 (2 or more must be over 16).

• Explorer Scout Training Teams: Consisting of 3 - 6 members between 14 and 18, plus 1 or 2 Adult Leader(s) walking with them. (Up to 2 members can be between 13 and 14 to encourage links to Scout Troops)

• Scout Network Teams: Consisting of 4 - 7 members who must all be between 18 and 25 and members of a Scout Network.

• Senior Teams: Consisting of 4 - 7 members who are over 18 and with some or all members over 25. i.e. teams who are not eligible for the Network competition.

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Visitor Teams

Visiting teams are welcome in any of the classes provided they fulfil the relevant criteria. Visitor Teams are a) teams from Scouting outside Hertfordshire or b) Other organisations (e.g. Girl Guiding, Cadets from Hertfordshire or elsewhere). All members of a Visitor Team must be members of the visiting organisation. Visiting Teams should satisfy their own organisations activity and safeguarding requirements and prepare accordingly. (c.f. Scout Association POR: 9 Activities, 2a.6. Safeguarding Policy etc.)

Full information including entry fees can be found in the General Information Document.

Further documents to help with explaining the event and how it runs are also available from the links on this page.

For any further questions, please contact hpa@hertfordshirescouts.org.uk.

 

Kit List

 The Kit List can be found here. Any queries on kit requirements, please contact Richard Hayward, hpakit@hertfordshirescouts.org.uk

Please watch the videos for advice on key items (Waterproofs, Boots and Sleeping Bags).

 

Booking

The booking portal will open shortly, and this will be announced. It will be an online process. Full instructions will be provided. Units are encouraged to start planning their entry now.

Closing Date for bookings will be Saturday 19th September 2026.

 

Health Forms

Health forms will be requested closer to the event; you will receive an email from the Registrar when this is required. The email will contain a link to an online form which you will be asked to share with all your team members and supporters for them to complete.