Join the team. Make a difference.

Becoming a hill party member.

If you’re a competent hill walker with good local knowledge, a love of Dartmoor and a strong desire to help people, we’d like to hear from you. Applicants must be at least 18 and should meet the following criteria:

• Live or work within a 30-minute drive of Tavistock, with access to transport for training and call-outs.
• Have the physical and mental fitness to cope with extended call-outs in challenging weather on Dartmoor.
• Work well as part of a team.
• Have a basic ability to navigate with a map and compass.
• Have good local knowledge, particularly of western Dartmoor.
• Ideally, bring other useful skills such as first aid, working at height or off-road driving.
• Commit to at least 18 training sessions each year, plus fundraising and other events.

Trainee training takes approximately a year. It covers navigation, first aid, communications, technical rope and water rescue, welfare, working with search dogs and other agencies, searching and vehicles. Once they have gained sufficient training and experience, trainees are invited to a Final Assessment to demonstrate their competence in the skills they’ve learned. Successful candidates become badged Hill Party Members (HPMs).

Recruitment for the 2027 intake.

We are now recruiting for our next intake of Trainee HPMs in 2027. Applications close on 31 October 2026. After the closing date, we’ll select candidates for a recruitment day based solely on the information in their application. Please take time to include as much relevant information as possible. Successful candidates at this stage will receive an invitation by email in early November 2026.

The recruitment day will take place on Saturday 21 November 2026, from 10:00 to 16:00. Successful candidates will start training in January 2027. The invitation email will include details of the day.