Walk at your own pace
YHA has teamed up with Ordnance Survey to produce a series of guides for self-guided walking routes which start and end at YHA hostels.
These guides provide an overview of and useful information about each route, plus a link to the route map on the OS Maps app (subscription needed).
Follow our routes on the OS app
Difficulty grades
Each route is graded to provide walkers with a clear and easy to understand assessment of the effort and skill required to undertake a particular walk and to compare one walk to another.
Each route is graded easy, moderate, challenging or severe. These can be very wide categories, so we have also graded each route numerically from 9 to 90 – the higher the grade, the harder the route. The grade is based on distance, overall ascent and terrain, plus how easy the route is to navigate, if it can be cut the short (if needed), any hazards along the way, how exposed to the elements you will be, and the impact poor weather could have on the walk.
Easy (0-20)
Straightforward for most, taking about an hour or two. If there’s some ascent, the distance will be short. If it’s flat, the route will be longer.
Moderate (20 to 50)
Longer than easier walks, requiring a morning or afternoon. More ascent, more uneven terrain and may require more navigation skills.
Challenging (50 to 70)
For walkers with more experience and higher levels of fitness, these routes are either long, challenging to walk or involve an ascent.
Severe (70+)
The hardest of all and best suited to experienced walkers. They are long or high, but probably both. Likely to be in remote mountainous areas.
Distance, ascent and timings
Our walk guides show the distance covered and ascent during the walk plus a time range to allow. Slow walkers are estimated to walk at 2mph, intermediate at 3mph and fast at 3.5mph. The timings include an extra 10 minutes per 300m of ascent and allow 10 minutes in each hour for navigating and taking breaks. Of course, some people will walk faster and stop less and others may be some slower and stop more.
For walks that are likely to take slower walkers more than 10 hours, the time range provided is for intermediate and faster walkers. Slow walkers are cautioned that this is a long route. It is not recommended that slow walkers embark on a route that requires over 10 hours.
Easy and low moderate routes
Routes graded under 35 (easy routes and low moderate) have the gradient profile, a map and description of the underfoot conditions and a summary of the navigational requirements.
There are helpful icons marked on the map which show the locations of food (shops, restaurants or takeaways), pubs, toilets and seats. Other icons provide accessibility information, such as whether the route is pushchair accessible, wheelchair accessible, touch-free or if it includes any stiles. There is also a summary of the Countryside Code, while routes graded over 35 provide basic information of how to manage emergencies while out walking.
Choose the right walk for you
You can download maps and route guides for walks from many of our hostels — picking your difficulty level from easy to more challenging. All our self-guided walks start and end at a YHA hostel. What could be more convenient!
Navigation and mapping
Our walk guides include the location of the hostel start and end point using an OS grid reference and What3Words, plus the 1:25,000 paper map(s) for the entire walk.
An outline of the route is shown on the map. There is also a QR code which provides a link to the route on the OS Maps app and gpx file.
To help walkers set off in the right direction and find their way around the walk, a summary of each route is provided.
To assist with route selection and planning, you’ll also find a description of the hazards and facilities, accessibility information and points of interest.
Top tips for walking
On the back of the walk guide, you’ll find a checklist of things to consider before you go and a kit list of the things you might need.
Some routes are around cities or close to the hostel – others are long and remote. Choose your kit based on the route, weather forecast, time of year and abilities of the group.
Develop your walking skills
From picking the right walk to packing the perfect kit, here’s how to prepare for YHA’s Festival of Walking.
Follow the Countryside Code
Check out our guide for visiting the countryside during YHA's Festival of Walking.