It’s Wee Walks Week and the Cairngorms National Park Authority want to see as many people as possible taking the time to go for a short stroll daily in the Park, but not just this week – every week of the year to benefit your health and wellbeing.

From the 9^th – 15^th September the Cairngorms National Park is celebrating and promoting the best short local walks with the aim being to encourage as many people to get out there and enjoy a walk with friends, colleagues or neighbours, join a Ranger-guided walk or try out one of the Park’s many health walks.

Studies show that walking is an effective form of exercise – just 30 minutes a day is 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. Just as importantly it also promotes mental wellbeing and can help tackle issues around social isolation.

Initiated four years ago by the Park Authority through its Active Cairngorms campaign, the idea behind Wee Walks Week is to help people discover the health benefits of being active daily. Wee Walks Week isn’t a walking festival with organised, ‘led walks’ – it’s much more informal than that and the CNPA hopes that people who take part will feel the restorative benefits that come with walking and make it a regular part of their daily or weekly routine.

The Cairngorms National Park is the UK’s biggest and investment in local path networks over the last 15 years has thoroughly enhanced what is on offer. If you are looking for inspiration on where to go for a walk this week, and every week, check out the community path leaflets online. For more information about Wee Walks Week go here. You don’t need anything to take part, just pick a walk and go, but the CNPA would love to hear about your walk – where did you go and what did you enjoy about it? To share this information please fill in this short online survey https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CWLFF7N and you could be in with a chance of winning a Columbia jacket. Please also feel free to share your Wee Walks Week photos on social media using #WeeWalks