When walks are prepared, an estimate has to be made as to how long the walks would take. A table is included below which can be used to estimate and document the time of the planned Walks 1 – 4. It is not necessary to do this for Walk 5. As an example, using this table would give the following results:
- Walk 1 15 miles 1,500ft ascent & descent total time 6hrs 00mins
- Walk 2 12 miles 1,500ft ascent & descent total time 5hrs 50mins
- Walk 3 10 miles 1,200ft ascent & descent total time 6hrs 00mins
- Walk 4 8 miles 900ft ascent & descent total time 5hrs 27mins
As a rule of thumb, we have a target period of 6 hours for the walks and, again as a rule of thumb, we aim to have a social period of 1 hour 30 minutes at the end of walks. That total period of 7 hours and 30 minutes is dependent on that time being available between the walks being dropped off and the time the coach leaves for home. Leaving times are now given in the walks programme. Advice can be given on journey times to the first proposed drop-off.
Generally, the day starts at 8am and we leave the walks destination and set off for home at 6.30pm. However, please note that the programme includes days in winter when we will leave for home at 5.30pm. On those occasions, the destinations should require travel times less than I hour 30 minutes and walks should aim to finish by 4pm to avoid walking in the dark. For some walks in the middle of the year longer travel distances are permitted. On those occasions, the day starts at 7.30am and they are likely to leave for home earlier than 6.30pm due to the longer distances. The time available for walks is likely to be less than usual and account must be taken of this.
The guide to estimate walk times should be used with discretion. An additional allowance should be made where the walks include a lot of terrain that is especially difficult, e.g. open moors and in The Lakes. Walks that have numerous short and steep climbs and descents can be more arduous than walks of similar total ascent but where the gradients are gradual and shallower. Weather cannot be exactly forecast, but winter walks are generally more challenging than summer walks, not least as the ground can be very muddy.
People might refer to Naismith’s Rule, 3mph plus 30minutes for 1,000ft, but that would only be relevant for walks 1 and 2.
Allowances for Estimation of Walk Times
| Walk | Walk pace miles/hour | Allowance for ascent mins/300ft | Allowance for descent mins/300ft | Allowance for breaks mins | Total time |
| 1 | 3.25 | 10 | 5 | 30 | |
| 2 | 2.75 | 11 | 5 | 30 | |
| 3 | 2.5 | 12 | 6 | 30 | |
| 4 | 2 | 13 | 6 | 30 |
Calculations for:- Date:-
Walk 1 miles ft ft lunch total
Walk 2 miles ft ft lunch total
Walk 3 miles ft ft lunch total
Walk 4 miles ft ft lunch total
