Walking in Scotland
Ramblers in Scotland are urging politicians to put their best foot forward and leave their seats of power for a brisk walk around the Perthshire countryside.
Delegates to the Scottish National Party’s annual conference will be offered the chance to join walks led by the Perth group of the Ramblers’ Association on Sunday. The move is aimed at getting Scotland to take up walking in the run up to the country hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2014.
The SNP’s depute leader Nicola Sturgeon will join Ramblers for a short walk along the River Tay. Three routes are being offered: bronze, silver and gold, lasting 15, 30 and 60 minutes respectively.
The Ramblers’ Association Scotland and Perth and Kinross Council have produced maps detailing the walks.
Ms Sturgeon said: “As we work toward the Commonwealth Games in 2014 I hope to see all Scots increasing their exercise levels and improving our nation’s health.
“Walking is one of the easiest and most accessible ways to keep fit, whether it’s walking to work, a lunchtime stroll or a Sunday walk in the country.
“This is an excellent initiative from Ramblers Scotland and shows that walking is an activity we can all take part in, wherever we live. By 2014 Scots will be going for gold as the Commonwealth Games leaves a lasting legacy for a healthier Scotland.”
Alison Mitchell, Ramblers Scotland convener, said: “Walking is fun, free and accessible to almost everyone. Only 30 minutes of brisk walking a day, five days a week will keep you healthy.
“Ramblers Scotland has been developing proposals to promote walking as a key legacy for the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. All the evidence points to walking being the key to getting people more active – something that previous games have largely failed to do.
“Our ideas include the development of a network of bronze, silver and gold walking routes around communities across Scotland. All routes would be flat and easy, with bronze routes taking 15 minutes, silver routes 30 minutes and gold routes 60 minutes.”
Dundee MSP Shona Robison said: “Walking is something almost everyone can do, it’s free, it’s an enjoyable activity with many benefits for the individual, improving general fitness and health, helping with weight control, promoting longevity and good mental health.
“But walking can also be a sociable activity and organised walking initiatives can make more impact by getting more people involved. I’m delighted to support Ramblers Scotland’s plan ‘Walk the Path to 2014’, which contains lots of useful research on activities and projects tried in the run up to previous Commonwealth Games.
“I was particularly interested in the Irish ‘Girls Outside’ project which worked with teenage girls and to read of the value of using appropriate role models in initiatives aimed at young people. I understand that more research will be required on specific strategies to reach teenage girls.
“It makes sense to use the Scottish Government’s Homecoming Scotland initiative in 2009, the lead up to the London Olympics in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 as catalysts to promote walking activity and make Scotland healthier, safer and stronger.”
The silver-route walk will be followed by a fringe meeting at 12.30pm in the Royal George hotel, Perth, chaired by Michael Matheson MSP, with Ms Robison and Alison Turnbull or Ramblers Scotland speaking.
