Army

British Army's biggest ever 10-day Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026 captured in pictures

6th October 2026 at 1:57pm

Soldiers from 186 Parachutist Regiment Folgore Italy runs through Cellini Village Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026 Breacon Beacons 051026 CREDIT MOD — Soldiers from 186 Parachutist Regiment Folgore Italy run through Cellini Village under smoke and simulated artillery fire (Picture: MOD)

The Band of The Brigade of Gurkhas given orders Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026 Breacon Beacons 051026 CREDIT MOD — Corporal Kapil Man Ghising (Center) from The Band of The Brigade of Gurkhas delivers orders (Picture: MOD)

8 Training Battalion Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers simulate battlefield casualty drills Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026 Breacon Beacons 051026 CREDIT MOD — A soldier from 8 Training Battalion Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers during battlefield casualty drills (Picture: MOD)

Kosovan Security Force patrol Exercise Cambrian Patrol Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026 Breacon Beacons 051026 CREDIT MOD — Soldiers from the Kosovan Security Force patrol through the fog in the Brecon Beacons (Picture: MOD)

2 Multi Role Medical Regiment prepare river crossing stand Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026 Breacon Beacons 051026 CREDIT MOD — Lieutenant Patrick Barwick from 22 Multi Role Medical Regiment provides cover during a river crossing (Picture: MOD)

Landscape shot of Brecon Beacons, Wales Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026 051026 CREDIT MOD — Landscape shot of the Brecon Beacons during this year’s biggest ever Exercise Cambrian Patrol (Picture: MOD)

22 Multi Role Medical Regiment crossing River Towy Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026 Breacon Beacons 051026 CREDIT MOD — Corporal Jade Williams from 22 Multi Role Medical Regiment swims her way across the River Towy (Picture: MOD)

Bornholm Regiment Denmark river crossing scenario Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026 Breacon Beacons 051026 CREDIT MOD — Soldiers from the Bornholm Regiment in Denmark complete a river crossing of the River Towy (Picture: MOD)

US Westpoint Military Academy Black & Gold team Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026 Breacon Beacons 051026 CREDIT MOD — US soldiers from Westpoint Military Academy Black & Gold team in defensive positions (Picture: MOD)

The Australian Defence Force Exercise Cambrian Patrol 2026 Breacon Beacons 051026 CREDIT MOD — Soldiers from The Australian Defence Force make their way through the terrain to the next objective (Picture: MOD)

Soldiers from across the world have put themselves to the test by participating in the British Army's Exercise Cambrian Patrol – widely respected as Nato's toughest patrolling test.

A total of 140 patrols have entered the competition, including 75 Regular Army, 15 Reserve and 13 University Officer Training Corps patrols, alongside 35 international teams.

Taking place in the Brecon Beacons, the exercise is the ultimate test of military fieldcraft, navigation, tactics, leadership skills and teamwork.

Patrols of eight soldiers faced a simulated mission, covering up to 40 miles over roughly 48 hours while tackling a series of realistic scenarios designed to push them to their mental and physical limits.

Cambrian Patrol first began in 1959 and was known as the Cambrian March, a Territorial Army Competition which tested reservists' map-reading skills and fitness.