Estimate walking time including ascent using Naismith’s rule.
Ascent costs time independently of distance, which is why Naismith’s rule adds an hour for every 600 metres climbed. A hilly route can take half again as long as its distance suggests. Underestimating hill-walking time is the most common cause of finishing in darkness, which is why mountain rescue services promote the rule.
Walking Time
Naismith’s rule: one hour per 5 km plus one hour per 600 m of ascent
Naismith’s rule: one hour per 5 km plus one hour per 600 m of ascent Ascent costs time independently of distance, which is why Naismith’s rule adds an hour for every 600 metres climbed. A hilly route can take half again as long as its distance suggests.
Underestimating hill-walking time is the most common cause of finishing in darkness, which is why mountain rescue services promote the rule.
This calculator takes 5 inputs: Distance, Total ascent, Walking speed on the flat, Rest minutes per hour, Pack weight. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.