One of the trickiest parts of planning a long-distance adventure is working out how far you can go each day. At Big Trail Adventures, we use a set of pace categories to help you choose the right itinerary for you — from a steady, scenic stroll to a full-on multi-day trail run.

These categories are based on the Jones Ross formula, a well-regarded approach featured in the Vertebrate Publishing book Big Trail Adventures. It gives us a reliable way to estimate how long a route might take depending on your pace — whether you're hiking, fastpacking or running.

Below you’ll find the four pace categories we use — Explorer, Hiker, Fastpacker, and Trail Runner — along with a short description of each. If you're unsure which one to pick, it's always better to err on the side of caution. Choosing the right pace means more time to enjoy the trail, the views, and the adventure.

Explorer

Explorers value the flexibility to stop regularly to take in the views or refuel. This is the safe category you should choose if you want to have an enjoyable, pressure-free trip and avoid worrying about getting behind schedule.

Hiker

Hiker is the category to choose if you’re a fit walker, who has a lot of experience of doing long distance trails already.  Pick this one if you don’t want to hang around too much and enjoy keeping up a good pace all day long.

Fastpacker

Fastpacker is the first of our faster categories, built for those who want to get from A to B each day quickly. You may run some of the flat, non technical sections, and will generally be focussed on efficiency.  Choose this one if you plan on travelling fast and light, making minimal stops and completing the trail in the shortest time possible.

Trail runner

Trail runner is for the experienced runner, aimed at those who have a lot of experience of long distance running. The timings will assume you run the flats and descents and power hike the ascents as a minimum. You should only choose this one if you want to run as much as possible and stop as little as possible. Fastpacker could be a better option if you want to mix hiking and running and have a more achievable itinerary.