What do our walking grades mean?
PROPOSED COPY:
We have walking itineraries to suit every ability, from leisurely ambles to leg stretching challenges. Our grades work on a sliding scale from Gentle through to Challenging.
Each holiday grade is calculated using distance and ascent as the dominant determining factors. Grades are then adjusted where necessary to account for terrain. Below, you’ll find an overview of our grades that gives guidance on the typical max distance and ascent you might encounter on your walk and the pace you should be able to walk at over flat ground.
For those that struggle with descent more than ascent, when descent is greater than the ascent on a walk, it will be detailed in the itinerary notes.
All walk details can be found on our website. Please read through the itinerary details fully to ensure you find the right holiday for you. If you’re in any doubt about which grade suits you, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
We’d like to know if the proposed new grading scale feels easy to understand and if it effectively communicates the experience of each grade.
We’d appreciate it if you could share your thoughts with us by Sunday, 17 November at: emails@hfholidays.co.uk
Gentle walking options
These holidays focus on active sightseeing that includes short walks with regular stops at places of interest. No outdoor walking experience is needed but expect to be on your feet throughout the day.
Distance: Up to 3 miles/5km
Ascent: Minimal
Pace: A very gentle walking pace of around 1.5 miles/3km per hour
Generally level, well maintained paths, no stiles and little elevation gain
Full or half day walks with plenty of stops to take photographs and visit places of interest. No outdoor walking experience is needed but you can expect to be on your feet throughout the day. You’ll need to be reasonably fit & agile.
Distance: Up 6 ½ miles/10km
Ascent: Up to 250m (810ft)
Pace: A gentle walking pace of around 2 miles/3.5km per hour
Generally level, countryside walking. Routes may be off-path with gentle gradients.
Moderate walking options
Full day walks with regular stops. Outdoor walking experience beneficial and you’ll need to be fit and agile.
Distance: Up to 7½ miles/12km
Ascent: Up to 400m (1,300ft)
Pace: A gentle walking pace of around 2 miles/3.5km per hour
Generally level, countryside walking. Routes may be off-path with gentle gradients.
Full day walks with regular stops. Outdoor walking experience necessary and you’ll need to be fit and agile.
Distance: Up to 9½ miles/15km
Ascent: Up to 500m (1,620ft)
Pace: A gentle walking pace of around 2 miles/3.5km per hour
Routes may be off-path and can include some short-but-steep ascents and descents throughout the day.
Demanding walking options
Full day walks with regular stops. Outdoor walking experience necessary and you’ll need to be fit and agile.
Distance: Up to 11½ miles/18km
Ascent: Up to 600m (1,950ft)
Pace: A moderate walking pace of 2.5 miles/4km per hour
Routes may be off-path and can include short-but-steep ascents and descents throughout the day.
Full day walks with regular stops. Outdoor walking experience necessary and you’ll need to be fit and agile.
Distance: Up to 13 miles/21km
Ascent: Up to 700m (2,270ft)
Pace: A moderate pace of 2.5 miles/4km per hour
Routes may be off-path and can include steep and sustained ascents and descents throughout the day.
Full day walks with fewer stops. Outdoor walking experience necessary and you’ll need to be fit and agile.
Distance: Up to 15 miles/24km
Ascent: Up to 850m (2,750ft)
Pace: A moderate pace of 2.5 miles/4km per hour
Routes may be off-path and can include steep and sustained ascents and descents throughout the day.
Strenuous walking options
Full day walks with few stops. Outdoor walking experience essential. For fit & agile walkers with previous multi-day hill-walking experience.
Distance: Up to 17 miles/27km
Ascent: Up to 1000m (3240ft)
Pace: A consistent pace of 3 miles/5km per hour
Routes may be off-path and can include steep and sustained ascents and descents throughout the day. May include short sections of easy scrambling (using your hands, as well as feet, for balance on rocks).
Full day walks with very few stops. Outdoor walking experience essential. For very fit & agile walkers with previous multi-day hill-walking experience.
Distance: Up to 19 miles/30km
Ascent: Up to 1150m (3730ft)
Pace: A consistent pace of 3 miles/5km per hour
Routes may be off-path including steep and sustained ascents and descents throughout the day. May include sustained sections of grade 1 scrambling (using your hands, as well as feet, for balance on rocks), and may also include exposed ridges meaning you’ll need a good head for heights.
Challenging walking options
Full day and full on, challenging walks, with very few stops. Outdoor walking experience essential. For very fit & agile walkers with previous multi-day mountain-walking experience.
Distance: Over 19 miles/30km
Ascent: Over 1150m (3730ft)
Pace: A consistently challenging pace of 3.5 miles/5.5km per hour
Routes may be off-path including steep and sustained ascents and descents throughout the day. May include sustained sections of grade 1 scrambling (using your hands, as well as feet, for balance on rocks) and involve exposed ridges meaning you’ll need a good head for heights.