breathing space outdoors: Walking - Choosing the right grade

What grade of walks will suit me?

Group walks work best if everyone is happy with the same walks, and walks at a similar pace. Generally the greater the distance and the higher the height, the fitter you need to be and the quicker the pace is likely to be. So which grade will be right for you? Gentle, Intermediate, or High Level?

This decision will partly depend on your fitness and stamina: How far can you walk, and how much 'up' and 'down' will you be comfortable with? It will also depend on the state of your joints, your pace in general, and your balance. Down hill can be testing particularly on knee joints, whilst rough paths can make life difficult for weak ankles.

Grade Descriptions

Gentle walks - natural history

These low level walks explore the local area with relatively easy gradients and some lovely views. Walks are on paths of all kinds - some may be rocky or muddy in places. This is the level of walking for those who can walk a few miles comfortably and have a basic level of fitness.

Time and distance: 4-6 hours or up to 6 miles; low level overall, walking up and down hills that are at most 350m in height with relatively gentle gradients.

Most gentle walks start and finish in Comrie. There is time to explore the natural history of the area looking at the geology, geography, flora, fauna and wildlife as well as considering the social history of the area.

Likely walks: Melville Monument and Maam Road; Deils Cauldron, Laggan Wood and Broom Hill; Earthquake walk and exploring around Comrie; By the Water of Ruchill.

Intermediate walks

Intermediate walks combine exciting views and interesting walking with more ‘up’ and greater distance than the gentle walks. The paths are rockier overall and sometimes steep or boggy for a while. This is suitable for people with a reasonable level of fitness, who like hills and don’t mind the effort involved in going up. Anyone with a reasonable level of fitness who doesn't mind hills will be fine.

Time and Distance: 5-7 hours or up to 8 miles; up to 750m max of ascent and descent. The gradients vary & the paths are rockier than on gentle walks.

Walks will involve short distances in a taxi to the start or finish.

Likely walks: Auchnafree Hill; Carn Chois; Meall na Seide; Beinn Dearg; Uamh Bheag; Creag Uchdag; high level passes and Drovers Tracks in the vicinity of Comrie.

High Level walks

High level walking offers the most exciting and dramatic views. The gradients will vary over the day, but will generally include longer, steep sections than intermediate walks. It involves more sustained effort and requires a good level of fitness - either walking or in some other sport.

Time and Distance: 6-9 hours or 7-12 miles, up to a max of 1000m of ascent and descent. Gradients steep for long sections, and paths rockier than in other grades.

Walks will involve travelling in a taxi to the start and/or finish.

Likely walks: Ben Chonzie; Stuc a Chroin; Ben Vorlich; Cruach Ardrain; Beinn Tulaichean; Ben More and Stob Binnein; Ben Halton and Beinn Dearg

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