How a 15-minute stroll could transform lockdown
IT might not be a thought everyone would relish, but one lockdown concession for Scots is that they can exercise freely outdoors more than once a day providing they remain with people from the same household or alone.
But while most people concede taking regular exercise can bring a range of health benefits, they might need a little inspiration to get moving.
To help, Ramblers Scotland has developed Medal Routes which lists more than 700 walks in Scotland, ranging in length from 15 minutes to an hour, which are available for every local authority area. Whether it be taking in the Ardnadam Heritage Trail in Argyll and Bute to setting off on walk round Ayr’s Belleisle Park there a number of routes you can follow close to your home.
Danny Carden, Ramblers Scotland communications manager, said: “It’s encouraging to see so many people exploring their local areas on foot during lockdown, something we’re celebrating through our #RoamSweetHome campaign.
“We are also offering 700 free, downloadable Medal Routes maps – including routes in every part of Scotland – to give people new ideas for short, fun walks direct from their front doors.
“Medal Routes are simple 15, 30 or 60-minute circular routes and mostly within urban areas, making them perfect for people who are trying to stay healthy and active during this challenging time for the nation.”
Lucy Wallace, president of Ramblers Scotland, wildlife guide and outdoor instructor, has been enjoying walks during lockdown close to her home on the Isle of Arran.
Wallace, who has been writing a series of Lockdown Diaries as part of the #RoamSweetHome campaign which gives advice on how you can stay active at home, said: “I’m really not used to staying put for long, but gradually I’m adjusting to, and even quite liking, an entirely new pace of life. I’m enjoying the #RoamSweetHome hashtag that Ramblers has created, and all the creative ways that people are keeping active. It really is a time to celebrate our home patches, to get to know them and discover their hidden depths.
“Even here in Lamlash on Arran the mountains are miles away, and definitely out of reach for now, but it’s reassuring to know that they are still there, watching over us from afar.
“Perhaps it’s the endless days of sunshine, or maybe I am finally paying attention, but this year nature seems to be enjoying herself even more than usual. The buds are more juicy, the blossoms more plump than any spring that I can remember. It is as if my perception of time has slowed and subtle changes have a clarity that I have not noticed before.”
Meanwhile, policy manager Helen Todd has written a new blog about how she coped when a health crisis forced her into a form of social isolation a decade ago, and how she maintained her physical and mental wellbeing when her access to the hills suddenly came to a halt.
In it, she says: “We can make sure that we stay connected, stay healthy, support others and enjoy the pleasures which are still available to us – whether that’s baking bread or just watching the incremental signs of spring during our daily walk.
“Being as active as possible is incredibly important. Keeping fit means you retain a level of resilience which helps you to respond to life’s challenges and boosts your own immune system – something which is more important now than ever.”
Studies have shown how all walking is beneficial, but for the greatest benefits to heart, lungs and blood pressure, brisk
It’s encouraging to see so many people exploring their local areas on foot during lockdown, something we’re celebrating through #RoamSweetHome