Learn · Reference
How walks are graded
The three grades
-
Easy
Short walks on clear paths with little climbing. Good for a first outing, children and short winter days. Trainers will do in dry weather.
- Walks
- 264
- Typical length
- 4.7 km
- Typical climb
- 120 m
-
Moderate
A proper walk: a few hours, a real climb, and paths that may be rough, steep or boggy in places. Boots, waterproofs and a map.
- Walks
- 487
- Typical length
- 7.2 km
- Typical climb
- 450 m
-
Hard
Long mountain days with a lot of ascent, often with pathless ground, steep slopes or some scrambling. You need to be fit, equipped and able to navigate in cloud.
- Walks
- 630
- Typical length
- 16.9 km
- Typical climb
- 1,050 m
Typical figures are the averages of the walks on TRXO today.
The bog factor
How wet the ground usually is, from one to five. The walk's page adds the rain of the last seven days.
- Dry underfoot on made paths
- The odd damp patch
- Wet in places: expect muddy boots
- Boggy for long stretches: gaiters help
- Very wet, pathless bog: slow going
Times
The time range on each walk is for walking it at a steady pace with short stops. The planner on the walk's page works out your own time from a start and a pace, using Naismith's rule, and checks it against sunset. Try the sum yourself with the time calculator.
What a grade doesn't tell you
- The weather on the day. Wind, cloud and rain can make a Moderate walk hard. Check the summit forecast on the walk's page.
- Snow and ice. Grades describe a walk without snow. See Winter walking: what changes.
- Your own day. A grade is the same for everyone; fitness, company and what you're carrying aren't.
Routes are mapped from path data and checked against the sources described in How we make our routes. Use the grade to choose, and the map to walk.