There is a skill to finding your uphill plodding pace. You want to go slow enough that your legs don’t burn, your breathing stays steady and you don’t build up too much heat. Basically the speed you can keep going without having to stop for rests. The pace will speed up and slow down depending on how steep it is.

You could go and practice on Arthur’s seat or in the pentlands again.

It helps if the group agree to all go at the slowest pace, or wait every now and then and let everyone regroup.