Grading and difficulty of the tours
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Moderate hiking on a narrow trail
(Lake District Valleys)
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Grading and difficulty
To these one must add the varying levels of fitness and experience that the walker him/herself possesses. In spite of this complexity we try to operate a simple grading system to enable customers to select a tour that suits their level of fitness, energy and experience. None of our hikes is as easy as 'a walk in the park' and none of them is a mountaineering expedition! 'Easy' grade walks are intended for those in good general health who periodically spend a day or a weekend out walking, or take some other fairly regular form of exercise, but may not have been on a walking tour before. Distances average 8 to 10 miles (4 to 5 hours) per day over fairly gentle terrain although there may be the odd longer or more tiring day. Little experience of navigation is required, but some basic map reading ability, or at least aptitude, is desirable. 'Moderate' grade walks are best enjoyed by those who take regular exercise and can cope with days averaging about 12 miles (6 hours) over level or hilly terrain, again with the occasional longer or harder day. Navigation/map reading skills are as for 'Easy' grade, but the greater distance covered makes accurate map reading more important. 'Demanding' grade
walks are for experienced hikers only. If distance was the criterion they
would include days of 16 miles (8 hours, occasionally more) on paths or
tracks over steep or rough ground. However as is made clear below, our
Demanding grade walks are not for the most part classified on the basis
of distances covered but on other criteria, such as gradients, amount
of ascent and descent per day, and the nature of the surface. Cotswold Villages Distances short to moderate (11 miles on Day 3, but this can be shortened). Surfaces usually grassy or earthy, occasionally muddy. Rarely stony. Gradients low to moderate, steeper on Days 6 and 7. Routefinding more difficult than on our other 'easy' tours on account of abundance of 'field paths'. Dorset Coast Path and Dorset Ridgeway Days short (up to 14km/9 miles). Routefinding mostly easy, especially on coast path and ridgeway. Surfaces firm earthy or grassy, can be slippery (slick) in wet. Gradients frequently steep or very steep. Repeated ascents and descents make some days tiring. Pembrokeshire Coast: Skomer & St. David's Days to 17km/11 miles. Well waymarked coast path. Trails less steep than Dorset coast. Heritage Coast of Devon and Dorset Days to 17km/11miles. Well waymarked coast path. Steep ascents and descents. On most days walks can be shortened by using buses. Lake District Valleys Days short (up to 8 miles) but can readily be extended. Surfaces rough and stony, which some may find difficult. Gradients moderate. Paths well-used and routefinding generally easy, although there are no absolutely no signposts or waymarks on open (unfenced) ground which comprises most of the area. On the 7-night tour there are 2 days with options ranging from easy to demanding. Far North-west of Scotland Basic days short (up to 12km/7 miles) and on clear well-maintained paths. Some steep gradients and rough surfaces. Some walks can be extended to increase the grade to moderate or even demanding. 'Moderate' grade Seven Sisters and Weald of Kent On the easy side of moderate grade. On South Downs Way (Days 2 and 3) and on Saxon Shore Way (Day 5) days to 20km/12 miles with steep ascents and descents. In the Weald (Days 6 and 7) careful routefinding is needed on field paths. All days can be shortened by using public transport. North Pembrokeshire Coast As on other coastal walks (eg Dorset and Cornwall) repeated short but steep ascents and descents make this walk much more tiring than you might expect from the distances. Longest day 14 miles, but can be shortened to 11 miles without spoiling the walk. Surfaces grassy or earthy, rocky on detours to minor summits. Very little asphalt except through town of Fishguard and on minor roads around St Davids. Cornwall Coast: Lands End & St Ives As on other coastal walks (eg Dorset and Pembrokeshire) repeated short but steep ascents and descents make this walk much more tiring than you might expect from the distances and maximum altitude (less than 300m/1000 feet). Many walkers find days 2 (10 miles) and 3 (12 miles) tiring; but Day 3 can readily be shortened. Routefinding usually easy on the coast, but on our inland variations close attention to the map and route notes are needed. Surfaces firm, often grassy. Can be slippery in wet. Some sections suffer from overgrown and spiny vegetation (gorse), so long trousers are advised on those days (notably Days 2 & 4). Shropshire Hills Distances up to 12 miles (on Day 5), but generally days not found too long by most walkers. Unfrequented nature of these hills and patchy waymarking means you do have to have your routefinding skills up to scratch! Gradients occasionally steep, notably on Caer Caradoc walk and Lightspout valley (both Day 2 options). Surfaces grassy or earthy, very stony on Stiperstones ridge (Day 4). Some asphalt sections on roads with little traffic. Cornwall: Tintagel Coast and Bodmin Moor On coastal sections (Days 2, 3, 6, 7 of 7-night tour, whole of 4-night tour) there are some long steep ascents and descents. Coast path is well waymarked. All coastal days can be shortened by using local buses. On the higher parts of Bodmin Moor (Days 4 and 5 of the 7-night tour) there is little waymaking and some pathless sections where basic compass skill is desirable and in bad weather essential, but easier low-level alternative routes are available on these days in case of bad weather or your preference. We do not accept single travellers on this tour. Top of page 'Demanding' grade: None of these walks are classified in this group on the basis of
the daily distances alone, which are moderate. You need routefinding
skills appropriate to mountainous terrain subject to low cloud
and resultant minimal visibility. |
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