If you have only walked on tarmac and in parks before, you will find that Jersey
gentle walks are very similar, although parts of them will be on rougher ground
and will get muddy after rain. You might be rambling through woods, or walking
beside a cliff path. You can be sure there will be no early starts, and there's
plenty of time after walking to stop at a tea shop, go exploring, or just sit
under a tree and read.
Gentle Walking holidays cover a wide range, keeping mostly to the footpaths and
green lanes but including paths with gentle gradients ascending to 100m. The
paths are mostly good - and the pace will be easy.
These walks allow us to reach more striking views and goals, and to get a little
more off the beaten track and see the real Jersey. Some combine walking with
other interests: history, photography and natural history.
3-5 hours, up to 5 miles, flat or up to 100m max with gentle gradients.
Intermediate Walks
Intermediate holidays offer walks on the rougher coastal and cliffs paths
selecting those that will give the most exciting views and the most interesting
walking. The effort involved is rewarding. There's the satisfaction of just
getting up there and the stunning views all around, or the general absence of
people, especially if we explore a little off-path. And often at the end of a
day, there'll be a wonderful view or a wonderful pub to visit to have a
refreshing drink.
You may already be familiar with these pleasures, or this might be your chance
to discover them without going on your own. The quality of the paths vary more
than with gentle walks, being rougher, steep in places, and occasionally boggy.
Our pace will be easy-going and any reasonably fit person will be fine.
4-6 hours, up to 8 miles, up to 250m max - the gradients vary, and the paths are
rougher overall.
Overseas Treks
A (Easy) B (Moderate) C (Strenuous) D (Tough) E (Very Tough)
Easy (A)
Experience is not necessary at this level: anyone who is in good health and fit
enough to enjoy a good weekend hill walk can manage an A grade. Usually, A grade
treks are short in duration and at lower altitudes; often they are optional,
giving a chance of a rest day. However, walking always involves some exertion:
trails are seldom flat, and you must still expect to have a reasonable amount of
ascent and descent. You would normally walk for 4 to 5 hours during the day.
Moderate (B)
Most people who enjoy a weekend in the hills or mountains at home are capable of
undertaking a trek at this level: you need to be in good health and reasonably
fit, and you will almost certainly be taking regular exercise. A trek could be
graded B either as a fairly easy medium-duration walk, or as a harder, shorter
walk. Some walking at higher altitude and the occasional longer or more
difficult day may be involved, but generally conditions underfoot will be fair.
A walking day would normally be between 5 to 8 hours long and no experience is
necessary.
Strenuous (C)
Kilimanjaro Climb (C/D Grade)
For any trek at this level, fitness is most important and you may have to
improve yours before departure. Most C grade treks are equivalent to extended
walking in mountainous terrain at home, but usually at significantly higher
altitudes; climate and remoteness can also play a part. Walking days are usually
between 6 to 8 hours although there may be some longer days for pass-crossing or
similar. Previous trekking experience is desirable but not essential if you are
confident of your physical condition.
Tough (D)
At this level we recommend previous experience of trekking, preferably at
altitude, and you need complete confidence in your physical condition and your
ability to trek for many days without a break and be able to cope with difficult
underfoot terrain such as scree, snow or difficult paths on steep mountainsides.
Extremes of altitude and weather may also be encountered, and on some treks it
may be necessary to use ice axe and crampons. Stamina is very important, as
walking days can be from 6 to 9 hours or even longer on pass-crossing days.
Very Tough (E)
To earn an E grade, a trek is likely to involve all the elements of a D grade
plus extra factors of significant difficulty - tricky river crossings, very high
or difficult passes, glaciers, or trekking peaks where basic climbing skills may
be required. Often some special equipment such as ice axe and crampons will be
needed and if so we require you to have experience of them. While normally
walking for 7 to 9 hours a day, you should be prepared for up to 11 hours, or on
some climbs even longer.
