Hike Grades

Daily Distance: Distance isn’t the deciding factor

Ascents: 800-1400m (2500 and 4500 ft)

Terrain: Very Hard

Hikes with high peaks, multiple ascents and difficult arêtes in some exposed areas. These are very strenuous and exciting hikes where participants should be experienced and fit, as they would require large amounts of strenuous climbs and scramble in order to enjoy these levels of hikes. 

‘Scrambling’ means that hands are needed for movement along a trail over rocky terrain. It is intermediate between walking and rock climbing. Scrambling does not always mean ‘vertigo-inducing’! 

Technical skills and equipment might be required such as the use of ropes, ice axe’s and use of crampons would be required.

Daily Distance: 15-25 km (10-15 miles)

Ascents: 500-1000m (1500 and 3000 ft)

Terrain: Moderate to Hard, stronger pace

If you already enjoy the mountain, moorland or hill walking, these hikes let you pick up the pace by climbing higher peaks and walking more challenging tracks. Your reward is a really exhilarating walking programme that might include some tracks close to adjacent to steep drops. Some light scree and rocky terrain might be involved with some short and low levels of scrambling.

The terrain is moderate to hard with normally 13-19 km (8-12 miles) daily, with ascents of 500-1000 m (1500 – 3000 ft). Walking times of around 7 hours plus a day.

Footwear recommended for our Energetic Hike is definitely walking boots with a moulded sole with a deep tread, good ankle support and waterproof uppers are essential for walks in the winter. Lightweight walking boots with a moulded rubber sole with a good tread and which provide ankle support might be adequate for some summer walks 

Daily Distance: 15-20 km (9-13 miles)

Ascents: 250-600m (800 and 2000 ft)

Terrain: Moderate, mainly paths

Slightly strenuous walking on easier to moderate slopes, tracks and paths, plus hills and easier mountains, which may be rough or wet underfoot at times. Typically, these hikes will be in areas of low-level mountains, moorland or undulating countryside.

The terrain is moderate will vary from peaks reaching 750m (2500ft) at certain mountain points with inclines between 250-600m (800ft and 2000ft) with daily walking rarely between 5-6 hours rarely exceeding 6 or 7 hours.

Footwear recommended for our Moderate hikes would be a lightweight walking boot with a moulded rubber sole with a good tread and which provide ankle support are strongly recommended for these hikes. If you are an experienced walker with strong ankles a good quality pair of trail shoes may well be suitable for some walks dependent upon the ground conditions.

Daily Distance: 10-15 km (6-9 miles)

Ascents: under 300m (under 1000 ft)

Terrain: Mainly paths

Our easier walking grades, where hikes are at a gentler pace, with only an average fitness required. You’ll enjoy days out on gentle slopes, distinct coastal and valley tracks and paths that are mostly defined paths, with no special difficulties.

The terrain is easy with walks from 10-15 km (5-8 miles), average 4-5 hours walking a day with some sightseeing and inclines generally under 1000ft (300m). This is not to say that the terrain is not wet or muddy!

Footwear recommended for our Relaxed Hikes would be good quality walking shoes or trail shoes with a thick, moulded rubber sole with a good tread and a low heel are likely to be all that is required for these hikes.

Daily Distance: 6-12 km (4-7 miles)

Ascents: under 300m (under 1000 ft)

Terrain: Good paths and gentle pace

Our easier walking grades, where hikes are at a gentler pace, with only an average fitness required. 

You’ll enjoy days out on good paths, minimal slopes and tracks that are most popular and well-used paths, with no special difficulties or significant gradients.

Footwear recommended for our Leisurely Hikes would be good quality walking shoes or trail shoes with a thick, moulded rubber sole with a good tread and a low heel are likely to be all that is required for these hikes.