Grading and difficulty of the tours
The
Discerning Traveller home and index page
About
self-led hiking and walking tours
Moderate hiking on a narrow trail
(Lake District Valleys)
To enlarge click on picture
For
more pictures of Paths
and Trails click
here.
|
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 Surfaces usually grassy or earthy, in places muddy after rain. Rarely stony. Gradients low to moderate, steeper between Chipping Campden and Winchcombe (last 2 days of C8). Routefinding more difficult than on our other 'easy' tours on account of abundance of 'field paths' and sometimes confusing waymarks. Pembrokeshire Coast: Skomer & St. David's Days to 17km/11 miles. Well waymarked coast path. Trails less steep than Dorset coast. Jurassic 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. 'Moderate' grade Dorset Coast Path and Purbeck 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. 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 and Ludlow 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: Polperro & Fowey Routefinding easy, mostly well waymarked and signposted. Steep gradients on coast path. Care needed at some narrow sections. 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. |
| Top of page Home and index page - including list of tours About our self-led walking and hiking tours and how they work |
