Grading Information

ANY QUESTIONS? – CONTACT USIf you have any questions regarding the Grading Scheme or suggested fitness levels for our Walking Tours and Outdoor Courses please contact us using the methods below.
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GRADE 1FOR: Novices, armchair walkers, intermittent exercisers. TERRAIN: Flattish or mildly undulating, uncomplicated. Mostly paths. DAILY DISTANCE: 5-8 miles (8-13km) AVERAGE DAILY ASCENT: Less than 1000ft (300m) WALKING FOR: 4-6 hours (plus stops) |
GRADE 2FOR: Fit novices, anyone with a reasonably active lifestyle. TERRAIN: Undulating perhaps lumpy with some off path rough walking. AVERAGE DAILY DISTANCE: 8-12 miles (13-20km) AVERAGE DAILY ASCENT: One or two ascents of up to 1500ft (450m) WALKING FOR: 5-7 hours (plus stops) |
GRADE 3FOR: Fit novices, regular vigorous exercisers, regular hill walkers / hikers.Good fitness and stamina required TERRAIN: Longish varied paths or rough unpathed hillsides. AVERAGE DAILY DISTANCE: 8-14 miles (13-22km) AVERAGE DAILY ASCENT: Up to 2500ft (770m) WALKING FOR: 6-8 hours (plus stops) |
GRADE 4FOR: More suited to regular hill walkers / hikers with recent regular experience of rough terrain. Good fitness and stamina necessary. Adventurous and fit novices could be fine – please ask. TERRAIN: With a mix of pathed and off path ground which may be rough. AVERAGE DAILY DISTANCE: 8-14 miles (13-22km) AVERAGE DAILY ASCENT: Up to 4000ft (1250m) WALKING FOR: 6-9 hours (plus stops) |
GRADE 5FOR: Must be regular hill walkers / hikers. Must be fit and experienced enough to enjoy long days with significant ascent and descent. TERRAIN: Much is rough and steep even when on paths AVERAGE DAILY DISTANCE: 8-16 miles (13-26km) AVERAGE DAILY ASCENT: Up to 5000ft (1500m) WALKING FOR: 6-10 hours (plus stops) |
GRADE 6FOR: Must be regular hill walkers/hikers. Must be fit and experienced enough to enjoy long days with significant ascent and descent. Must be capable of moving relatively fluently on steep, rough, exposed ground. Must have a good head for heights and be comfortable with scrambling. TERRAIN: A lot of rough, steep, exposed ground and complicated unpathed mountains terrain. AVERAGE DAILY DISTANCE: 8-14 miles (13-22km) AVERAGE DAILY ASCENT: Up to 4500ft (1375m) WALKING FOR: >6-10 hours (plus stops) |
Grading Information
- In Scotland, the term walking means any travelling on foot which does not include running or roped climbing and doesn’t use hands for keeping one attached to the ground.
Equivalent terms outside Scotland are hiking, tramping, trekking, etc. Where the use of hands is required to maintain balance we use the term “scrambling”.
In Scotland, the term walking means any travelling on foot which does not include running or roped climbing and doesn’t use hands for keeping one attached to the ground.
Equivalent terms outside Scotland are hiking, tramping, trekking, etc. Where the use of hands is required to maintain balance we use the term “scrambling”.
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