Trip Difficulty Guide
To help you choose the right adventure, we grade all our trips on a difficulty scale from 1 (easiest) to 5 (most challenging). The descriptions below explain what each grade typically involves, so you can match a trip to your experience, fitness, and the kind of challenge you’re looking for.
All our treks are given a difficulty rating from 1 to 5. The grade defines the overall difficulty of a trip, but you may find some days/sections harder or easier than this average grade. Further detailed descriptions of each day can be found in the respective itineraries.
- Grade 1/5
The easiest of our long-distance treks and can be enjoyed by all walkers. The walking will mostly be on well-defined low-level paths. Treks of this grade will have relatively low daily mileage and elevation, in comparison to our other treks. - Grade 2/5
A trek mostly walked on good paths and a good introduction to long-distance walking. At this grade daily distances will become longer. There will be some hillier days and occasional rougher sections of trail to negotiate. - Grade 3/5
A good, challenging trek for the average walker. The terrain will include hills and rougher paths, and there will be some challenging longer days. It should be achievable for a person of good general fitness and determination. - Grade 4/5
A more challenging trek usually due to longer days, lots of hills and/or pathless sections over rough ground. Treks of this grade will include more remote days/stages. - Grade 5/5
This is the grading reserved for our most challenging treks, and only recommended for the experienced and fit walker. A trek of this grade will be hilly/mountainous, and consistently cover long distances over pathless rough terrain. Routes of this grade will include committing days through very remote areas.
All our hillwalking and mountaineering holidays are given a difficulty rating from 1 to 5. This is chosen to reflect the grade of the most difficult day on the trip. Further detailed descriptions of each day can be found in the respective itineraries.
- Grade 1/5
A mix of low level walking and small hills on well-defined paths. - Grade 2/5
Slightly longer walks with more moderate hills. Paths and trails are generally good but may be rough, rocky, or boggy in places. - Grade 3/5
Moderate hill walks that are a challenge for a person of average fitness. Terrain may be steep and rough, rocky, or boggy in places. This grade includes the most straightforward and popular Munros such as Ben Lomond and Ben Nevis via the main Mountain Path. - Grade 4/5
Harder hill walks that include longer days and pathless sections. There may be scree and minor scrambling. This includes the bulk of the Munros. Previous hillwalking experience is recommended, and good hill fitness is needed for enjoyment. - Grade 5/5
Undeniably tough by hillwalking standards and can reasonably be described as mountaineering in places. These trips can include mountain days which are long, strenuous, and/or contain trickier scrambling. Previous hillwalking and mountain scrambling experience and/or very good fitness levels are prerequisites. This grade includes the hardest or most strenuous Munros such as those found in the Cuillin.