Quick Guide to Ground Types

Easy

•  urban areas
• spare ground
• recreational areas and parks
• local woods
• lanes, tracks and paths in your own locality where there is no danger of getting lost
• nature trails and way marked paths

No qualification is required, but the leader should have completed the Out and About optional training module or gained equivalent experience.

Lowland

This covers lanes, tracks and paths, fields, woods or other non-remote lowland areas, where the ability to read a map and find a route may be necessary but weather conditions will not be extreme and the type of countryside will not present any great problems.

The leader should have Level 1 optional training or equivalent experience; qualification is encouraged, but not mandatory.

Open

Paths and linear features with reliable boundaries where one or more of the following apply:

• there are few features to assist in route-finding
• there is little protection from wind, rain or cold
• the height and nature of the country, or the degree of isolation, could present problems
• the area can be exited easily in a few hours.

Open country does not include upland areas typically more than 600 metres above sea level or without footpaths. Qualification at Level 2 is required.

Remote

Anywhere in the UK except steep slopes, rocky ground, scree, loose rock and exposed ridges. Qualification at Level 3 is required. See also the ‘Walking in winter’ rule below.

Extreme

Includes open country without footpaths that may include steep slopes, rocky ground, scree, loose rock and exposed ridges The required qualification is the Mountain Leader Award. The Mountain Leader Award is administered by the four Home Nation Training Boards.

Check the Guiding Manual for Ratios needed for all ground types but remember YOU MUST BE QUALIFIED TO GO INTO OPEN REMOTE AND EXTREME GROUND!