Walking Grades

You will find a wide range of walks from the shortest rambles to challenging mountain ascents. Choosing the right walks, which are suited to your fitness and experience, will make a huge difference to the enjoyment of your holiday. We recommend that you consider this carefully before booking. If you are unsure about which walks to choose, don’t forget that all our Classic Walking holidays offer a choice of at least two walks each day, allowing you to alternate between easier or more difficult days or build up your stamina as the holiday progresses.

Many factors, such as the total distance, ascent, descent, terrain and weather, can all impact on how ‘easy’ or ‘hard’ a walk may be. There is no magic formula, indeed we often find that these affect guests in different ways. However, based on our experience, we’ve used the following symbols as a guide to walks of similar difficulty.

	On these walks you’ll usually be out for most of the day, walking at a relaxed pace or 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, however these may be rough or steep in sections, and will require a reasonable level of fitness. You may be walking in hilly or upland areas, along rugged coastline or following lower-level routes in mountainous areas.
	A reasonable level of fitness and some stamina is required for these walks. 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.
	These are our most difficult 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.