Highland residents are being urged to take a stroll round the Cairngorm National Park to help benefit their health and wellbeing.
Members of the Cairngorm National Park Authority are celebrating and promoting the best short local walks across the area this week in an effort to encourage as many people to get out there and enjoy a walk with friends, colleagues or neighbours or on one of their ranger-guided walks.
The campaign – which will run until Sunday – has been brought forward as part of Wee Walks Week which was launched by the authority four years ago through its Active Cairngorms Campaign.
The idea behind the initiative is to help people in discovering the health benefits of being active daily with hopes of those who take part will feel the restorative benefits that come with walking and making it part of your regular routine.
Throughout the week, a series of guided walks will be hosted by the authority to help pique the interest of individuals, including the Abernethy Woodland Wander on Wednesday taking a gander through the Caledonian pine forest to tranquil lochs and the Gaelic Heritage Walk in Kingussie on Friday with storyteller Ryan Dziadowiec up Glen Gynack.
Studies show that walking is an effective form of exercise, with just 30 minutes a day being enough to make a significant difference to a person’s health. It reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer, and type two diabetes as well as keeping the musculoskeletal system healthy. It also promotes mental wellbeing and can help tackle issues around social isolation.