Grading Instructions for Walks Leaders
The following walk grades should be based on The Ramblers' National Grades, click here for details, modified to suit Bury Ramblers' Local Grades.
A walk should be graded initially according to its length. If, however, the total ascent exceeds the limit for that grade then the walk should have its grading increased.
EASY: 5 miles or less on easy paths with good surfaces and will be generally suitable for pushchairs, (and have a total ascent not exceeding 300ft (100m)).
LEISURELY: 8 miles or less. These walks may include unsurfaced footpaths, which may have some steep and muddy sections, (and have a total ascent not exceeding 750ft (230m)).
MODERATE: 9-12 miles. These walks may include some steep footpaths, which may be rocky and muddy. They will be at a brisk pace and walkers will need a good level of fitness and experience of walking in the countryside, (and have a total ascent not exceeding 1400ft (430m)).
MODERATE/STRENUOUS: 13-15 miles. These walks will be at a brisk pace and may include hills and rough terrain where the paths are rocky and muddy. They are recommended only for experienced country walkers with an above average level of fitness, (and have a total ascent not exceeding 2000ft (610m)).
STRENUOUS: 16 miles and above. These walks will be at a brisk pace and will include hills and rough terrain where the paths are rocky and muddy. They are recommended only for experienced country walkers with an above average level of fitness, (and have a total ascent exceeding 2000ft (610m)).
As an example of how to determine a grading, take a 10 mile walk which has a total ascent of 1600ft. Its length places it in the ‘moderate’ grade but, because the total ascent exceeds 1400ft, its grading should be moved up to ‘moderate/strenuous’.
If awkward or rough terrain will be encountered on your walk, please make a note of it in the walk description.
The grades on the programme will appear as Stren, Mod/Stren, Mod, Leisurely and Easy. I hope that the procedure I have outlined is clear. However, if you do not have a reasonable estimate of the total ascent for the walk that you submit, then grade the walk solely on the distance. It is necessary, though, that the distance you supply is accurate. If it needs to be changed as a result of carrying out a ‘reccie’, please let me know as soon as possible. The definition of a ‘Welcome Walk’ remains unchanged, ie. a leisurely walk of around 5 or 6 miles.
I would like all walk leaders to provide a short description of each walk they submit, for inclusion on the Bury Ramblers website. If the route is known at the time when the walk is submitted, you can give details on the submit walk form in the ‘Walk Description’ box but, in any event, it needs to be made available to me at least one weeks before the date when the walk takes place, In order me to input it onto the website.
In addition, it is necessary that dog-owners know in advance of a walk if, for some reason, it is not suitable for dogs. Please indicate in the ‘Walk Description’ box‘ Walk Unsuitable for Dogs’ if that is the case. This information will then be included with the walk details on the website.
I remind leaders that the meeting for Sunday Walks (excluding Welcome Walks) at Bury Interchange car park has been suspended.
In future there will be no advertised meet-up point for car sharing. Only walk start-point and start-time will be published. However, the Facebook page could be used or the walk leader contacted to assist those looking for lifts to be put in contact with those offering lifts.