Guided Mountain Activities & Courses throughout the Lakes
Arrampica Vertical Adventures Arrampica Vertical Adventures Arrampica Vertical Adventures Arrampica Vertical Adventures Arrampica Vertical Adventures Arrampica Vertical Adventures Arrampica Vertical Adventures

What do our challenge levels mean?

Challenge Band LevelsOur challenge band levels represent the level of challenge a day's activity will involve, plus the degree of adventure and potential difficulty for both you - our customer - to encounter and your Vertical Adventures instructor/s to manage. As with any adventure, the more experienced you are, the more you can easily decide on that you wish to accomplish.

When you contact Vertical Adventures, be honest about your prior experiences and level of fitness, in this way, if you are unsure what adventure to undertake, we can guide you in your decision. Remember that Vertical Adventures only provide full day activities!

All our courses are banded from challenge level A to D, in order to give you an indication of what to expect before embarking on your adventure. A courses represent a more leisurely challenge, ranging up to D for those of you with more experience looking for a more intensive Vertical Adventure.

Here are some Quicklinks to take you directly the the webpage for each activity, or read on for full challenge information! 

Walks                Scrambles              Climbs

Challenge Level A

Walk
Fitness Required Fit enough to walk with a 5kilo day rucksack over rough terrain (grass and rock).
How Will Walking Be? This adventure and band are for enjoying a nice day out walking over the fells and enjoying great views (weather permitting). No prior experience is required.
Additional Safety Measures Bothy (windproof warming shelter), rope carried in case of unexpected need (i.e. weather produces unexpected river crossing).
Max Customers Per Instructor 5. If you would like to bring more participants, please book a second instructor.
Min Age 10years. We may consider younger depending on prior experience and also may consider babies carried in good quality rear-baby carriers if the carrying adult has relevant experience of walking with their child in the carrier.
What To Bring? Clothes appropriate to weather, lunch, snacks, water, waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, fleece, hat, gloves, rucksack large enough to place all contents inside and good quality walking boots. Don’t forget any medication and to inform Arrampica at time of booking and on the day of detail pertaining to the medication or any injury, fitness or concerns you may have.
Extra Considerations Sun-block, sunglasses, spare warm clothes, thermos of hot drink (don't forget to pre-warm thermos and pack well inside your rucksack to help keep your drinks nice and warm), camera, map, compass, GPS, walking poles.
Scramble
There are no full day band A scrambles. Please go to band C.
Climb
There are no full day band A climbs. Please go to band C.

Challenge Level B

Walk
Fitness Required Fit enough to walk with an 8 kilo day rucksack over rough terrain (grass and rock), and occasional loose terrain and steep rock steps.
How Will Walking Be? This adventure and band are for enjoying days out walking over the fells that offer more challenging walking. The band also comes into play when customers choose to combine their adventures, i.e. 2 peaks rather than one. This makes the task of completing the adventure in a day a little more strenuous, of course all this whilst enjoying great views (weather permitting). Some prior experience is advisable, but if you're generally fit, you should be able enough.
Additional Safety Measures Bothy (windproof warming shelter), rope carried in case of unexpected need (i.e. weather produces unanticipated river crossing).
Max Customers Per Instructor 4. If you would like to bring more participants, please book a second instructor.
Min Age 14 years. We may consider younger depending on prior experience.
What To Bring? Clothes appropriate to weather, lunch, snacks, water, waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, head torch with new batteries, fleece, hat, gloves, rucksack large enough to place all contents inside and good quality walking goots. We also suggest walking poles are a good idea, however not entirely necessary. Don't forget any medication and to inform Arrampica at time of booking and on the day of detail pertaining to any medication, injury or fitness concerns you may have.
Extra Considerations Sun-block, sunglasses, spare warm clothes, thermos of hot drink (don't forget to pre-warm thermos and pack well inside your rucksack to keep your drinks nice and warm), camera, map, compass, GPS.
Scramble
There are no full day band A scrambles. Please go to band C.
Climb
There are no full day band A climbs. Please go to band C.

Challenge Level C

Walk
Fitness Required Fit enough to walk with an 8 kilo day rucksack over rough terrain (grass and rock), and frequent loose and steep terrain and steep rock steps. Band C walks cover considerable distances.
How Will Walking Be? This adventure and band are for enjoying a very full day out walking over the fells, that offers more challenging walking and terrain. The band also comes into play when customers choose to combine their adventures, i.e. 2, 3 or more peaks in a day making the task of completing the adventure in a day far more strenuous, of course all this whilst enjoying great views (weather permitting). Hill walking experience is required. As the distances can be very lengthy, on Band C routes we enter into far more remote mountain areas where ground covered may be continuously challenging.
Additional Safety Measures Bothy (windproof warming shelter), rope carried in case of unexpected need (e.g. weather produces unanticipated river crossing).
Max Customers Per Instructor 3. If you would like to bring more participants, please book a second instructor.
Min Age 14 years. We may consider younger depending on prior experience.
What To Bring? Clothes appropriate to weather, lunch, snacks, water, waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, head torch with new batteries, fleece, hat, gloves, rucksack large enough to place all contents inside and good quality walking boots. We also strongly suggest that you bring walking poles - however, these are not entirely necessary. Don't forget any medication and to inform Arrampica at time of booking and on the day of detail pertaining to any medication, injury, fitness or concerns you may have.
Extra Considerations Sun-block, sunglasses, spare warm clothes, thermos of hot drink (don't forget to pre-warm thermos and pack well inside your rucksack to help keep your drinks nice and warm), camera, map, compass, GPS.
Scramble
Fitness Required Fit enough to walk with an 8 kilo rucksack over rough terrain (grass and rock), occasional loose terrain and steep rock steps. Band C Scrambles do not, however, cover great walking distances to reach them.
How Will Scrambling Be? This adventure and band are for enjoying arriving at a summit or top with a sense of achievement that is normally the preserve of a mountaineer. The scrambling can be within most peoples' ability as the grade can be increased or decreased as appropriate; however, you will need a good head for heights as at times the exposure may be amazing.
Additional Safety Measures Bothy (windproof warming shelter), rope and harness are used on scrambling terrain, as are helmets and (where considered necessary) climbing shoes.
Max Customers Per Instructor 3. If you would like to bring more participants, please book a second instructor.
Min Age 10 years. Depending on scramble chosen, this minimum age may be increased as appropriate.
What To Bring? Clothes appropriate to weather, lunch, snacks, water, waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, fleece, hat, gloves, rucksack large enough to place all contents inside and good quality walking boots. We also strongly suggest that you bring walking poles - however, these are not entirely necessary. Don't forget any medication and to inform Arrampica at time of booking and on the day of detail pertaining to any medication, injury, fitness or concerns you may have.
Extra Considerations Sun-block, sunglasses, spare warm clothes, thermos of hot drink (don't forget to pre-warm thermos and pack well inside your rucksack to help keep your drinks nice and warm), camera, map, compass, GPS.
Climb
Fitness Required Fit enough to walk with an 8 kilo day rucksack over rough terrain (grass and rock), occasional loose terrain and steep rock steps. No prior climbing experience is required, however if you do have prior experience we will increase the difficulty and grade as you wish.
How Will Climbing Be? This adventure and band are for enjoying arriving at a summit or top with a sense of achievement that is normally the preserve of the climber / mountaineer. The climbing should be within most peoples' ability as the instructor can vary the itinerary and grade of difficulty accordingly - however, you will need a good head for heights as at times the exposure will be amazing and you will after all be rock climbing!
Additional Safety Measures Bothy (windproof warming shelter), ropes and harness are used on climbing terrain as are helmets and climbing shoes.
Max Customers Per Instructor 3. If you would like to bring more participants, please book a second instructor.
Min Age 12 years. Depending on climb chosen, this minimum age may be increased as appropriate.
What To Bring? Clothes appropriate to weather, lunch, snacks, water, waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, fleece, hat, gloves, rucksack large enough to place all contents inside and good quality walking boots. We also strongly suggest that you bring walking poles, however they are not entirely necessary. Don't forget any medication and to inform Arrampica at time of booking and on the day of detail pertaining to any medication, injury, fitness concern or general concern you may have.
Extra Consideration Sun-block, sunglasses, spare warm clothes, thermos of hot drink (don't forget to pre-warm thermos and pack well inside your rucksack to keep your drinks nice and warm), camera, map, compass, GPS.

Challenge Level D

Walk
Fitness Required You will need to be very used to walking long distances over very rough and varied terrain with a good size 8+ kilo rucksack.
How Will Walking Be? Up and down, over mountain top and down into valley ready to do it again and again. Amazing views, covering long distances over captivating and at times challenging walking terrain. If you've ever looked at a view and wondered if it would be possible to do it all in a day, you will be some way in realising how challenging this day will be.
Additional Safety Measures Bothy (windproof warming shelter), rope carried in case of unexpected need (i.e. weather produces unanticipated river crossing).
Max Customers Per Instructor 2. If you'd like to bring more participants, please book a second instructor.
Min Age 15 years. As with any adult, we will need to ensure under 18s have appropriate fitness and experience to undertake a band D walk.
What To Bring? Clothes appropriate to weather, lunch, snacks, water, waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, head torch with new batteries, fleece, hat, gloves, rucksack large enough to place all contents inside and good quality walking boots. We also strongly suggest that walking poles are brought - however, these are not entirely necessary. Don't forget any medication and to inform Arrampica at time of booking and on the day of detail pertaining to any medication, injury, fitness concerns or general concerns you may have.
Extra Consideration Sun-block, sunglasses, spare warm clothes, thermos of hot drink (don't forget to pre-warm thermos and pack well inside your rucksack to help keep your drinks nice and warm), camera, map, compass, GPS.
Scramble
Fitness Required Fit enough to walk with a 10 kilo day rucksack over rough terrain (grass and rock), loose terrain and steep rock steps. D Scrambles can cover considerable distancse both in terms of approach and quantity of scramble terrain covered.
How Will Scrambling Be? This adventure and band are for enjoying arriving at a summit or top with a sense of total achievement that is normally the preserve of the experienced mountaineer or climber. The scrambling can be within most peoples' ability as the grades can be varied; however, you will need a good head for heights as at times the exposure will be amazing, plus the scrambling will be prolonged and at times quite or very difficult. On these routes, you will be climbing with your rucksack and all its contents.
Additional Safety Measures Bothy (windproof warming shelter), rope and harness are used on scrambling terrain, as are helmets and (where considered necessary) climbing shoes.
Max Customers Per Instructor 2. If you would like to bring more participants, please book a second instructor.
Min Age 15 years. Depending on scramble chosen, this minimum age may be increased or decreased as appropriate.
What To Bring? Clothes appropriate to weather, lunch, snacks, water, waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, head torch with new batteries, fleece, hat, gloves, rucksack large enough to place all contents inside and good quality walking boots. We also strongly suggest that you bring walking poles - however, these are not entirely necessary. Don't forget any medication, and to inform Arrampia at time of booking and on the day of detail pertaining to any medication, injury, fitness concerns or general concerns you may have.
Extra Considerations Sun-block, sunglasses, spare warm clothes, thermos of hot drink (don't forget to pre-warm thermos and pack well inside your rucksack to help keep your drinks nice and warm), camera, map, compass, GPS.
Climb
Fitness Required You will need to be both physically fit and mentally able to cope with being 'out there'. Walk-ins and climbs are generally long, there tends to be quite a bit of equipment to carry between all members of the team and you will need to have some prior climbing experience. On these routes, you will need to be climbing with your rucksack and all its contacts.
How Will Climbing Be? These adventures mark the most challenging and top-end of those we offer. The routes are generally regarded as famous with awesome moves, location, exposure and length. Generally, as long as you can cope with a view dropping away beneath you with nothing but air and a little rock surrounding you, all should be okay. You're unlikely to ever forget this day! Routes can be technically demanding - but, equally, if the grade of the challenge is just too high, your instructor can adjust the route accordingly. However, this again will involve abseiling and exposure on a grand scale.
Additional Safety Measures Bothy (windproof warming shelter), ropes and harness are used on climbing terrain, as are helmets and climbing shoes.
Max Customers Per Instructor 2. If you would like to bring more participants, please book a second instructor.
Min Age 16 years. Depending on climbs chosen, this minimum age may be increased or decreased as appropriate.
What To Bring? Clothes appropriate to weather, lunch, snacks, water, waterproof jacket, waterproof trousers, fleece, hat, gloves, rucksack large enough to place all contents inside and good quality walking boots. Don't forget any medication and to inform Arrampica at time of booking and on the day of detail pertaining to any medication, injury, fitness concerns or general concerns you may have.
Extra Consideration Sun-block, sunglasses, spare warm clothes, small thermos of hot drink (don't forget to pre-warm thermos and pack well inside your rucksack to help keep your drinks nice and warm), camera, map, compass, GPS.