The Healing Power of Nature 
Getting out in the open and focussing on the natural world can really make a huge difference to our wellbeing - whether that is revelling in a double rainbow between icy showers or gawking at awesome cloud formations, wading through the rustling leaves in autumn or swinging along a wet sand beach with arms flailing, joining a wild swimming group, leaning into the wind on a stormy day, following the geese battalions as they honk their way overhead or catching the first swallow of the summer, sitting in a chair gazing up through a birch tree in a summer garden or getting your hands into soil and growing your own edible flowers - just to name a few! This clip from the BBC Autumn Watch explains why nature makes us feel better - and has some lovely photography in it as a bonus. We hope you enjoy these shared experiences and would love to hear more about some of your own.
​Think Nature Health Walks
Do you enjoy walking with others - getting outdoors and connecting with nature? If so you might like to join one of the many Health Walks across the Highland area. There are over 40 walks held at different locations and they are safe, fun and free!
Our Health Walks:
  • are led by a trained volunteer on a risk assessed route
  • are less than an hour long
  • have a short warm up at the start, followed by a brisk walk and then a short cool down at the end
  • welcomes new walkers who would benefit from being more active
  • are a regular friendly group walk
  • are an opportunity to meet new people in your area and explore places you might not have been before
Health Walks are aimed at inactive people who would benefit most from doing more physical activity. This can include people who haven’t been active for a while and would like to start again, people recovering from ill health or who are managing a long-term condition and anyone who has been told by a health professional that they would benefit from being more active.
Health walkers can enjoy a whole range of benefits including increased fitness, improved mood and increased social interactions with local people and the local area. Walking requires no special equipment or expense and is the ideal way for most people to become more active.
Interested in taking part? Check out our Health Walk finder and discover a Health Walk near you. You’re guaranteed a warm welcome and a walk at a pace and length that suits you whatever your ability. 
Although walks are currently on hold for lockdown, during much of the Coronavirus period, Health Walks came under the organised sport (coaching) guidance and were able to meet with up to 30 participants. All Health Walk groups follow strict hygiene and physical distancing guidelines. Until Health Walks can get started again, you might like to try out these strength and balance exercises collated by Paths for All. They are designed to help folks keep active and reduce the risk of falls. You can click through to see YouTube videos of the exercises or download a printable reference sheet here.
For more information contact:
Charlotte Mackenzie, Health Walk Co-ordinator, Think Nature Health Walks.
Email: [email protected]
Charlotte's WOW factor walk - Traigh Iar beach, North Uist
I have written a few articles recently about my favourite local walks, all of which have inspired me, but I was trying to think of an occasion where I went on a walk that really had that ‘wow’ factor and made a big impression on me. So here is a description of that walk, along with some photos that I took.
​In a previous role I often had to visit the Outer Hebrides for work. I was very lucky to experience the beauty of the islands and visited Lewis, Harris, North and South Uist and also travelled down through Eriskay and onto Barra. I was in awe of the varying landscapes, from the rugged hills in Harris to the peat bogs and network of lochans on North Uist. As a coastal lover, I was stunned by the beauty of the spectacular beaches with radiant white fine sand and sparkling turquoise sea.
One very special walk I took was when staying at Grenitote in North Uist, I had a meeting in the morning and had the afternoon to myself, so I wandered around the tidal strand of Traigh Ear then crossed the machair, ablaze with a carpet of colourful wildflowers towards a large bank of sand dunes to the south. I could hear the waves on the other side of the dunes and couldn’t wait to see the view. I walked up the gentle slope to the top of the dunes and the sight I saw at the top actually took my breath away! My eyes couldn’t believe the beautiful sight that was in front of me. A large bay curved around each side of me, the tide was out and showed a great expanse of shimmering white sand. The bay itself glowed the most wonderful turquoise colour and the sky was so clear that I could see out as far as the islands of St. Kilda. I actually ran down the dunes onto the beach, took my shoes off and paddled in surprisingly warm water, then continued along the shoreline around the bay, watching the ringed plovers and sanderlings scuttling along ahead. I then found a spot to sit in the sun and felt myself totally relax and soak up the atmosphere.
When it was time to leave the beach and head back to the B&B, I stood on top of the sand dunes and looked back across the beach and the bay, not really wanting to leave the beautiful sight, and promised myself I’d be back. I’ve been back 3 times since and would love to go back next year and feel the magic all over again!
I think it’s amazing how a walk in a beautiful place can fill you with so many different emotions. I feel a sense of peace and happiness even just having a wander around the garden, listening to birdsong and exploring amongst the different plants that I see changing each season. Walking is such a tonic and I would highly recommend taking a regular walk for your physical and mental wellbeing. If you like walking with others, you might like to join one of our health walks. We have over 40 across the Highlands and they are fun, friendly and free. Please get in touch if you would like to find out more: