At The Edge Mountaineering Course Difficulty Rating

Understanding My Course Difficulty Ratings

I use two simple ratings to help you choose the right course or guided day for your experience, fitness, and confidence level.

All activities fall into three categories (click the headings to go to their difficulty guide):

Hill & Mountain Skills
Guided walks, navigation courses, and mountain days where fitness and terrain are the main challenges.

Scrambling & Mountaineering
Hands-on mountain terrain involving exposure, movement on rock, and sometimes ropework.

Rock Climbing
Indoor to outdoor climbing, sport and trad leading, multipitch routes, and technical rope skills.

Each course shows two ratings:

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• Physical Difficulty — how demanding the day is on your fitness and endurance

• Technical Difficulty — the level of skills, movement, and rope systems involved

Ratings are shown using filled and empty circles:

 

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Physical Difficulty Scale

●○○○○ — Very Easy

Short days with minimal ascent on good paths. Suitable for complete beginners and those new to hillwalking.

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●●○○○ — Easy

Gentle hill days with manageable distances and plenty of rest stops. No significant fitness required beyond basic walking ability.

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●●●○○ — Moderate

A full day in the hills with steady ascent and uneven terrain. Suitable for most people with reasonable fitness who enjoy walking.

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●●●●○ — Challenging

Longer mountain days with significant ascent and sustained effort. A good level of fitness is recommended.

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●●●●● — Very Challenging

Big mountain days, long distances, or demanding conditions. Participants should be very fit and experienced.

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Technical Difficulty Scale

●○○○○ — No Technical Skills Required

Walking on paths or simple terrain with no specialist skills needed.

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●●○○○ — Basic Skills

Some off-path terrain, simple movement skills, or introductory navigation techniques.

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●●●○○ — Moderate Technical Skills

Hands-on terrain, exposure, or more complex navigation requiring focus and instruction.

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●●●●○ — Advanced Skills

Exposure, ropework, or complex terrain requiring confidence and prior experience.

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●●●●● — Highly Technical

Specialist mountaineering or climbing skills with significant technical demands.

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Why I Use Two Ratings

Many courses can be physically easy but technically challenging — or vice versa.

For example:

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• Navigation courses are often low physical but high technical

• Scrambling courses are often moderate physical and moderate technical

• Climbing & Mountaineering courses can be high in both

This system helps you choose the right experience for your goals.

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If you’re unsure which level is right for you, just get in touch — I'm always happy to help you choose the best option for your goals and experience.