Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th October 2025
NEW obstacle to be unveiled for the 2025 10th Anniversary Edition!
Hever Castle; the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, represents challenge, heritage, success, and military excellence. Fortified with crenellations, a moat and portcullis, the 400 year old defensive structure and a British icon, creates the perfect backdrop for The Commando Series.
Each recruit will be faced with a 3km, 6km or 12km challenge that mixes endurance and obstacle racing. Scroll to view all Commando obstacles
3km course (age 7+): 10 obstacles
6km coure (age 8+): 26 obstacles
12km course (age 16+): 51 obstacles (2 laps of the 6km excluding final obstacle in first lap)
Each obstacle has three levels depending on the type of participant and Commando instructor treating you in the way you choose.
You want more? Find about the option to carry a further 21lbs with you to test your limit on the 6km or 12km course here
1. Estuarine Emersion
What?
20m long mud run with a rope scramble for exit.
Why?
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.
How?
Just keep pumping those legs and mind your head on the low bridge!
2. Tunnel Rats
What?
10m long winding tunnels crafted out of wriggly tin and earth (with escape hatch built in).
Why?
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 these things in the dead of night when the enemies defences are at their weakest.
How?
Use your hands and knees and crawl quickly!
3. Smarty Tubes
What?
8m long and 2' or 3' wide drainage pipes sunk into the ground. The trickier ones are semi-immersed in water.
Why?
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.
How?
Navigate even the tightest and dirtiest of these as quickly and efficiently as possible.
4. The Mole
What?
Balance on a ship's gangway before launching yourself into the cargo net & climbing yourself to the top of The Mole. Descend and neutralise the enemy.
Why?
Commando raids are never the same. This raid was a success due to its daring nature, speed of attack, skill of the combatants and their determination to succeed.
How?
Move quickly across the two-part obstacle. Keep your profile low at the top of The Mole.
5. Over-stretched
What?
Pick up a stretcher between 5 of you (one laying on the stretcher) and make your way around the prescribed course.
Why?
In battle a wounded comrade is never left behind.
How?
Each take a handle, measure your effort as this is truly tiring and watch your step as you manoeuvre the stretcher around a mini obstacle course.
6. The Pyramids
What?
A series of every growing pyramids made out of round bailed hay
Why?
In 1956, The Egyptian Army tried to annex the Suez Canal, one of the most strategically important trade routes in the world. 45 Commando were the point force and made the first ever helicopter assault on the city of Pont Said. This commando obstacles is a memorial to the enduring bravery and spirit.
How?
Use your strength to haul yourself over the piled hay bales as quickly as you can.
7. The Wires
What?
A 40m long wooded clearing dissected with metres and metres of elastic cord.
Why?
The enemy will use a number of devices to hinder your progress and obscure your view. Real Commandos let nothing phase them and you will need to be agile.
How?
Trust your instincts as you make your way up this tricky glade.
8. Slippery Slope
What?
30m long steep muddy slope with large ropes hanging down to assist progress.
Why?
Targets for Commando raids are often well-defended and sit on commanding positions on top of hills.
How?
Follow the route pre-laid for you by a suitably steely mountain leader and use the ropes left out for you to move uphill quickly.
9. Monkey Bars
What?
5m long ladders of varying step width suspended above a muddy pool and built in a Second World War bomb crater.
Why?
Commandos on raids often have to support their body weight on pre-set scaling ladders with a considerable drop below!
How?
Utilise the balance beams and rings for you to use instead!
10. The Scramble
What?
10m high scramble net.
Why?
Modern-day Commandos 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, which is what we're replicating here.
How?
Treat these with respect, always grab above a knot and pick yourself a channel to climb up through.
11. Doom Drop
What?
30m slippery slide with a steep entry and long run-off.
Why?
Commandos often have to adapt and overcome obstacles at speed and whilst under fire.
How?
Trust your instincts and go for it!
12. Leap of Faith
What?
This long dark drop is built in to the ground – you need to trust that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Why?
Royal Marines need to adapt to all conditions and finding their way in the dark and unfamiliar situations is up there. They have to trust their instincts.
How?
Sit down, lie back, shuffle forward using your heels and shoulder blades, stay straight and don’t look down.
13. Catacombs of Doom
What?
A 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.
Why?
Commandos have to adapt to their terrain and missions in the past have used cave systems as a means of covert approach.
How?
Feel the walls as you make your way through this tunnel system.
14. Swing for your Life
What?
A 10m rope swing across and old marl pit that is now full of water!
Why?
Commandos take pride in their upper body strength and this obstacle will test your arm and grip strength as well as your co-ordination.
How?
Wipe your hands, get a good grip and reach high on the rope. When you swing, make sure you don’t grip the rope with your legs and get your release timing right!
15. Walk the Plank
What?
A series of interconnected 8m see-saws.
Why?
ABC: Athleticism, Balance and Co-ordination are the mainstays of a good Commando.
How?
Just take one plank at a time and be careful not to fall off! Hold on to the rope for balance as you jump between planks.
16. Peter's Pool
What?
Large 30m-wide clay pit once used for brick making and now filled with chest deep muddy water.
Why?
Modern-day Commandos love a bit of water. Often a covert approach will involve a long and 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.
How?
Just follow the rope and trust the Commando in front of you!
17. Creepy-Crawly
What?
A 12m low scramble net supported on scaffold poles over a muddy section of ground.
Why?
The 'Commando Crawl' is a technique practised by modern day soldiers to ensure fast movement over rough ground but without exposing the person to enemy fire.
How?
Keep your backside down and use your elbows and the inside of your knees.
18. River Cross
What?
A crossing of the River Eden using suspended and tensioned ropes.
Why?
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.
How?
Listen to your instructor and he'll explain the techniques required. If you don't, wet you soon will be!
19. Raiders of the Lost Commando
What?
Pull yourself and your team across this wide stretch of the river in the eponymous Rigid Raider assault craft.
Why?
Rigid Raider boats are the traditional beach assault vessel of the Royal Marines.
How?
Long wide tugging motions with your arms. Keep your back straight! Use that core!
20. The Frogger
What?
A 15m crossing of the River Eden using inflatable tyres.
Why?
Adapt, overcome and have a bit of fun. Renowned for their sense of humour in adversity, Commandos will often adapt equipment and other bits of kit left around to suit their purposes.
How?
Use the tractor tyres as inner tubes to cross the Eden.
21. The Blocker
What?
A 6’ dramatic obstruction of piled up logs.
Why?
The enemy will often try and slow your progress down with man made obstacles. Beware of the booby traps though.
How?
Either with a leap and a gate vault or as a team.
22. The Chasm
What?
A 20m crossing of another clay marlpit filled with water.
Why?
Designed to simulate a large chasm, canyon or dangerous river crossing.
How?
Cross using the Tyrollean Traverse or, like the real deal, the suspended Commando Crawl along a high rope.
23. Wobbly Bridge
What?
20m long pontoon style bridge with a twist.
Why?
Commandos will often have to navigate a makeshift bridge as they quickly cross rivers and larger streams.
How?
Stay low and don't hang around. Trust your balance!
24. Sheep Dip
What?
A 2m long and wide submerged drainage pipe.
Why?
Sometimes in a Commando's life the only way is the hard way.
How?
Just hold your breath and let our instructors do the work!
25. Gate Vault
What?
Five 2m high gates need to be maneuvered in the tight confines of a small copse (wood).
Why?
There are often obstacles in the way of Commando operations and you can’t let a small gate slow you down!
How?
Clamber up the gate using the crossbars as footholds. When your mid-rift reaches the top bar lean over and grab a rail in line with your feet on the other side and then, using that core again, swing your lower body over the gate to land 2-footed on the other side.
26. The Wall
What?
A 12ft high wall with trail rope and footholds.
Why?
Often the last and hardest part of any raid is the scaling of the ramparts or walls.
How?
Use the trail rope and footholds to assist your progress. You've just got to get to the top!
