Fitness & Terrain Difficulty Ratings
Each route or event has two ratings that describe it’s fitness & terrain difficulty. These ratings are described below. Please read this information carefully. Before attending an event, you’ll need confirm that you’ve have read and understood the physical requirements and that you are comfortable with the route terrain.
If you, or any member of your group struggle physically or find the terrain uncomfortable on the day, I may have to abandon the summit or switch to an alternative route. This is for your own safety and that of the group.
If you have any questions about a routes physical or terrain difficulty, please contact me before booking.
Fitness Difficulty Rating
Physical ratings have three levels; green (easiest), amber & red. The two factors that affect the physical rating are distance (how many kilometres of walking over ground) and ascent (how many meters of walking uphill). Please bear in mind that you’re also carrying a 3-5kg rucksack with food, water & clothing etc.
All Munro’s in Scotland are at least 915m (3000ft) so none are “easy”. Going uphill is the toughest part so the ascent figure is important. Some routes start at a high altitude, usually a ski centre car park, to reduce the ascent.
The easiest routes take at least 4-5 hours so it’s a long day’s walking if you’re not used to it.
Green fitness rating
Green routes will generally be a single Munro summit with no more than 12km of distance and less than 1200m of ascent. As a minimum fitness level, you need to be comfortable walking for 4-5 hours with a 4-5kg rucksack. At least 2 hours of the walk being uphill.
Examples of green rated routes are: Ben Lawers & Beinn Ghlas (11.4km + 942m) & Ben Lomond (12km + 1035m).
Amber fitness rating
Amber routes may involve a few Munro summits with no more than 18km of distance and less than 1500m of ascent. As a minimum fitness level, you need to be comfortable walking for 5-7 hours with a 4-5kg rucksack. At least 3 hours of the walk being uphill.
Examples of amber rated routes are: Ben Nevis via the mountain path (14km + 1335m) & The Three Sisters (12km + 1460m).
Red fitness rating
Red routes will involve multiple Munro summits and usually over 18km of walking and as much as 2000m of ascent. As a minimum fitness level, you need to be comfortable walking for 7+ hours with a 5-6kg rucksack. At least 4 hours of the walk being uphill.
Examples of red rated routes are: The Ring of Steall (18km + 1820m) & Cairngorm 4000’s (27km + 1845m).
Terrain Difficulty Rating
Terrain ratings follow the same: green (easiest), amber & red levels but is an indicator of terrain/technical difficulty i.e. is it path all the way, very steep/loose ground and/or exposed arete walking.
To book a route with an amber or red terrain rating, you need prove an appropriate level of mountain experience & competence. This may be as simple as providing your mountain experience, or you may need to have previously been on a shorter walk with me so that I know your ability level.
This is for your own safety. Not everyone is comfortable on exposed terrain and can get crag fast (stuck scared).
Green terrain rating
Green routes will generally have a path all the way, however, no mountains paths are tarmacked so there will be uneven / rocky ground and hazards like burns (streams) to step over & walk through.
Amber terrain rating
Amber routes may have a degree of no path, steep ground, scree (loose rocks) and/or mild scrambling (using your hands).
Red terrain rating
Red routes will have a range of terrains (steep ground, scree & scrambling) but the main differentiator is a high level of exposure i.e. arete walking (very narrow ridge with steep drops). There is a higher degree of danger on Red routes that require some prior experience to mitigate the risks.