by denfinella » Tue May 31, 2022 8:46 am
I think the listed timings are quite consistent. We tend to be a bit faster than the estimates, but the ratio tends to be the same - about 0-20% quicker mostly depending on temporary factors (e.g. has it rained recently making bogs trickier, is it high summer when vegetation is high, is it very warm meaning we have to take more breaks and carry more water). Once you've done a few routes and worked out your own ratio, it's easy enough to apply this to other routes.
Different people definitely do walk at very different places. We've walked with certain family members and have ended up taking double our expected time. Whereas some people are able to keep to Naismith's Rule, which is much too fast for us.
Distance on its own doesn't dictate overall time. I think the most striking difference is between Munros in the Cuillin (with direct ascents and very rocky terrain) and Munros in the Cairngorms (with ling approach tracks and flat plateaux); you might average 1mph on some of the former, but 3mph on the latter.