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Activity levels for self-guided walking holidays based on distance, ascent and terrain allow you to choose the right level of walking holiday. Trusted by walkers since 1985, our UK-based experienced route specialists have created a simple rating system of Levels 1-4 to assess all our self-guided walking holidays, from Leisurely, Moderate, Demanding to Challenging.
However, no grading is universally accurate as “one size does not fit all”. What's challenging for one person can be leisurely for someone else. This is what makes grading the activity levels so tricky and why every year we head out to personally test and experience our routes. So, while it's not possible to always be precise about how easy or difficult an activity will be, our activity ratings have been carefully created to give you a practical guide as to what you can expect so you can enjoy your active holiday...
If you're not sure which activity level will be best for you, just give us a call on 01606 720199 and we will be more than happy to help.
Find your ideal self-guided walking holiday
Level 1 - Leisurely | |
| Who's it for? | Ideal for first time walking holidays, occasional weekend walkers, or those wanting a relaxed pace with plenty of time to explore |
| Typical daily distance | Up to 15km |
| Typical ascent | Up to 400m |
| Walking time (per day) | 2-4 hours |
| Terrain & roads | Mostly well defined paths, tracks and quiet lanes; rarely flat but generally gentle underfoot |
| Navigation | Simple navigation using our app or route notes |
| Exposure & scrambling | No head for heights required; no scrambling |
| Good to know | Perfect for coastal walks, vineyard trails and lake side routes where enjoyment outweighs physical challenge |
Level 2 - Moderate | |
| Who's it for? | Suited to walkers in good health looking for longer days and more variety |
| Typical daily distance | Around 10-20km |
| Typical ascent | Up to 700m |
| Walking time (per day) | 3-5 hours |
| Terrain & roads | Well defined paths mixed with rougher or uneven sections; some steeper climbs and descents |
| Navigation | Confident use of app or map required |
| Exposure & scrambling | Occasional uneven ground; some routes may require a head for heights (clearly stated where relevant) |
| Good to know | A great step up for confident walkers who enjoy a sense of achievement without it feeling strenuous |
Level 3 - Demanding | |
| Who's it for? | For experienced, fit walkers comfortable with full days on the trail |
| Typical daily distance | Around 12-25km+ |
| Typical ascent | Up to 1,000m |
| Walking time (per day) | 5-7 hours |
| Terrain & roads | More remote terrain; paths may be indistinct in places with rocky or rugged sections |
| Navigation | Confident navigation skills essential |
| Exposure & scrambling | Some scrambling likely; a reasonable head for heights often required |
| Good to know | Expect longer, more challenging days with fewer rest options and a stronger focus on fitness |
Level 4 - Challenging | |
| Who's it for? | Best for very fit, confident walkers seeking a true challenge |
| Typical daily distance | Longer distances depending on terrain |
| Typical ascent | Up to 1,200m |
| Walking time (per day) | 6-8 hours |
| Terrain & roads | Mountainous or high altitude terrain; long ascents/descents, rough and exposed sections |
| Navigation | Strong navigation skills required at all times |
| Exposure & scrambling | Scrambling and exposed sections likely; good head for heights essential |
| Good to know | Climate, altitude and remoteness can add to the difficulty; trekking experience is helpful but not always essential |
Plus trips (e.g. Level 1+) include short sections that are slightly more challenging than the overall grading.
Dual level routes offer a choice of walks at two different levels on some days, so you can adapt how you’re feeling.
Times, distances and ascents are guidelines, not guarantees – terrain, weather and location all play a part in how demanding a walk feels.
All our trips are graded by experienced route specialists and reviewed annually. Customer feedback and post trip reviews are also used to refine our cycling activity grading.
Our expert activity level assessment explained. When assigning an activity level to a self-guided hike we use our experience to consider factors such as ascent, gradient, distance, as well as the nature of the terrain and even the destination itself.
We use the + symbol on a few holidays; this is just letting you know that some small sections of the route will be slightly more challenging than the overall grading (for example, a steeper section of climb or some rougher terrain) , but the holiday still broadly fits its main grade.
You'll also notice that on some of our holidays there are more than one Activity Level. This is done on purpose and indicates where there are a choice of routes at either level shown and you are free to choose between routes on a day-by-day basis depending on fitness, weather and personal preference.
Use the handy guide table to gauge your preferred activity level and then use the carousel to see the pre-filtered results for self-guided walking holidays that match.
It varies, depending on the activity level chosen. The handy table gives an indication of the approximate distances and ascents you can expect. For example, a level 2 self-guided walking holiday can be between 10-20km a day with up to 700m ascent. This information is on each individual trip page, so please familiarise yourself with this information for your chosen holiday.
The rougher the terrain, the slower the pace and as such the longer the walk, similarly with altitude change. Both of these factors can also put extra effort on the muscles and lungs, so the harder we assess a route to be, the higher it’s activity level grading.
No. Our level 1 self-guided walking holidays are perfect for people wanting to experience their first self-guided walking holiday. The navigation is easy to follow and the routes are generally on well-trodden and established paths. Our navigation app even alerts you if you have gone off route.
To learn more about our Navigation App please click here
For the higher activity levels it is likely that you will need a head for heights. For Level 2 self-guided walkings holidays we explicitly highlight if you will need a head for heights. For Level 3 and 4 hikes it is safe to assume you will at some point.
Scrambling is best described as a form of adventurous hiking that requires the use of hands for balance or upward progress on steep, rocky terrain, requiring a steady head for heights and good movement skills. It is not rock climbing and no ropes are needed, and only forms short sections of the identified walks.
This is personal preference. If you walk with them at home, then we recommend you bring them. Also we find that if you are planning to walk more than usual then they can really help, especially on latter days of your holiday. For the harder activity level holidays we do recommend you bring them due to the uneven nature of the terrain.
You get lots of support from Headwater on a self-guided walking holiday. From useful terrain, elevation and distance information about each trip on the website. Our knowledgeable and helpful UK-based sales consultants can also help you find the perfect holiday to match your preferred activity level. On holiday, your trips often starts with a briefing, and you will be equipped with simple to use, straightforward navigation. In case you need it, we also provide local emergency contact details plus we have a manned 24/7 emergency helpline.
Yes – absolutely we can help. Please just give one our friendly UK-based sales team a call on 01606 720199 who will be more than happy to discuss your requirements, answer your questions and make suitable suggestions. This personal approach is why customers have been trusting us with their active walking holidays since 1985.
Yes, lots of our walking holidays are suitable for people travelling solo and we also offer some valuable tips for solo walkers in our customer documentation. However, there are a few trips we deem unsuitable, for example where the routes take you to more remote locations.
To view our short-list of recommended walking trips for solo’s click here
