Our Walk Gradings

Understanding our walking grades

Choosing the most suitable walks

Choosing the right walks, which are suited to your fitness and experience, will make a huge difference to the enjoyment of your holiday. If you are unsure, don’t forget that many of our Guided Walking holidays offer a choice of at least two walks each day, allowing you to alternate between easier or more challenging days, or build up your stamina as the holiday progresses.

   On these walks you’ll walk at a relaxed pace, often spending time at places of interest along the route. Walking experience isn’t necessary as distances are quite short and paths and gradients generally easy.

   Walks follow good paths and tracks but are generally longer. Walking experience isn’t necessary but some walks, particularly in mountain areas, may have sections over rough or steeper terrain.

   Walks follow well-defined paths, though often in hilly or upland areas, or along rugged coastal footpaths. These may be rough or steep in sections, and will require a reasonable level of fitness.

   In moorland areas you may cover long distances in remote countryside and the terrain will often be rough underfoot. In mountainous areas you will encounter some sustained ascents and descents and occasional sections of scree and some steep ground.

   A good level of fitness and stamina is required for these walks. They are likely to be in mountainous areas where you should expect rocky terrain and sustained ascents and descents. Walks visit high summits and ridges, where you’ll need a good head for heights, and may include some easy scrambling.

   Our most challenging holidays for which a high level of fitness and stamina are required. You will probably be an experienced mountain walker and will need to be comfortable with long, strenuous walks, difficult mountain terrain and scrambling.

Our Cycle Gradings

   Route totally on cycle paths with flat terrain and smooth surfaces. These toursare suitable for all, particularly families.

    Route on a mixture of cycle pathsand quiet roads. Terrain is mostly flat but there is the possibility of some smaller hills and possibly uneven surfaces. Normal, good physical condition sufficient.

   Route mainly on roads, encompassing some hills and possibly short,steep climbs. Cyclists should expect a mixture of terrainsto include sections on gravel and grasstracks. The majority of these tours use quiet roads but please refer to the individual holiday pages for more information. These tours are ideal for regular cyclists.