Easy Walking Grade
Walkabout takes great care to design walks and programmes that are suitable for its clients. Final decisions about the precise walking route are only taken when we have met the group and done an introductory walk to get to know one another. We also of course have to take the weather and underfoot conditions into account before deciding on the walks for the day. The details of walking grades and fitness set out here are intended to give clients an idea of whats involved and what they can expect on different grade walks.
The Easy walking grade:
You should choose the Easy grade walks (certainly to start with) if that’s what you feel is appropriate for you and if you feel comfortable with the easy grade as described below.
The Easy grade is particularly suitable for people who’ve not done much walking or who maybe consider themselves to be of below average fitness and don’t do much exercise. Regardless of lack of fitness and lack of experience lots of people want to sample a walking holiday for the exercise, the company and as a way of seeing and enjoying the area where the holiday is located.
Our Easy walks are comparatively short and taken at a comfortable pace (always able to chat) with as many rests as required by the party. The walks will be on good well defined paths or tracks over gentle upland areas, through wooded countryside or on coastal paths. They are on easy terrain with no sections we would consider to be rough or rugged and the route will not involve any prolonged or really steep uphill walking. Time spent walking will be about 3hours. In our experience most people on easy walks do not want to walk for more than a maximum of up to 7miles.
Visiting places of interest.
As the walking time only takes up half the day there will be plenty of time to visit places of interest along the way – or - after the walk is completed. You will of course have the company of a guide/leader who is well informed about the area where you are walking. The guide will particularly suggest places of interest to stop off at or to visit that are unique to the area. . It will be the group’s decision whether they carry a packed lunch or stop off at a nice café or local pub for lunch.
Fitness.
You are fit enough to do our easy walks if you are comfortable doing normal everyday walking in the course of shopping, going round the park or doing gentle weekend country walks with friends. Of course we hope you will discover the delights of walking with us and will want to move on to tackling moderate or harder walks. With that in mind please be assured all our walks will help you improve aerobic fitness; all round bodily strength and endurance while also helping you to tone up and lose some weight. Easier slower walks are slightly more effective for losing weight than the moderate to hard walks which are better for improving aerobic fitness and powers of endurance.
Examples of Easy Walks and easy programmes are available on request email info@walkaboutholidays.com or ring/text 07734038266
Moderate walking grade
Your profile
You consider yourself to be of average fitness and undertake some form of activity a couple of times a week or on some weekends. You like to walk at a steady pace but aren't really interested in pushing along too hard and like to chat as you walk with the occasional rest stop as required.
Moderate walks
Moderate walks range from a minimum of 8 miles to a maximum 12 miles over the hills, with some steady climbing involved, achieving one or two summits. Time spent walking between 4 and 6 hours. The option will be available for these groups to include an Adventure Walk in their programme if required.
Examples of Moderate Walks and moderate programmes are available on request email info@walkaboutholidays.com or ring/text 07734038266
Hard walking grade
Your profileYou fit into one or more of the following categories:
a. You like to do some walking at weekends and on holidays. You maybe also work out in the gym, jog or do other activities fairly regularly.
b. You may be or have been an active sports person and fancy taking on the mountains.
c. Alternatively, you may be an experienced mountain walker who fancies some company and appreciates having everything organised.
Hard walks
Hard walks involve mountain days with a minimum of 10 miles to a maximum of 15 miles over steep, sometimes rough, terrain, to achieve a number of summits. Time spent walking will be between 5 and 7 hours. You will enjoy the exhilaration of walking at a good pace (maybe even a little jogging?) with not much breath left for talking and not many stops in the day. There will be the option to include some Adventure walk activity and/or Challenge walk as all or part of the days walks.
Examples of Hard Walks and Hard Walking programmes are available on request email info@walkaboutholidays.com or ring/text 07734038266
