The year 1664 is imprinted in the minds of all Royal Marines. It is the date of the birth of the corps.

A spokesman for the marines said, ”The number 1664 has formed the basis of a challenge to mark the Marines’ 350th anniversary. However, one test across 1,664 kilometres or 1,034 miles, isn’t enough for the crack troops so they embarked on five challenges.

“They have skied 1664km, sail 1664km, cycled 1664km, canoed 193km (even the marines can’t make the English Channel 1664km wide) and finally, they are running 1664km.

“The skiing challenge began in Norway, 400km north of the Arctic Circle. The marines skied south to Stavanger, crossing some of the most inhospitable terrain in Europe.

“Averaging a marathon a day on ski’s, and carrying their full survival kit, they crossed the Finmark Plateaux and Ligen Alps in north Norway, and then traversed the Douvrefjell, Jotunheimen and Hardangervidda in south Norway before arriving in Stavanger. 

On their Global Challenge 1664 March, two marines are marching or running for 100 days through the country.

Marines units contribute their own runners on a relay basis. Before they arrive in Dartmouth they are running though Cornwall/Devon with 1 Assault Group.

Plymouth-based 30 Commando take over the programme beginning in Dartmouth and ending in Torquay.

In Dartmouth, the marines will complete six circuits of approximately four kilometres.

The course, starts at the Higher Ferry, along North and South Embankments, returning on Above Town, down into town, alongside the Boatfloat, past the Dartmouth Museum, up Clarence Hill and beyond, to come back to the North Embankment via College Way.

It is hoped the challenge will raise £500,000 for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.