Walking isn’t only good for our physical, social and mental health. It’s also good for our communities, the environment and the economy.
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Nature walks boost our mental health by creating feelings of calm, peace, and wonder. They can also reduce stress and anxiety, improve our mood and boost our happiness.
When we spend time in nature, we develop greater awareness and appreciation for our environment. We can build a meaningful relationship with nature by exploring the five pathways to nature connection which includes:
Exploring nature in this way also helps us to find, explore and enjoy a personal connection to the natural world.
Nature is everywhere! You can find it in your back garden, a local park or by venturing to a woodland, beach or trail. Often nature trails have helpful signage to guide you and keep you informed about the plants, geography and wildlife around you.
Look for opportunities to get involved, such as litter picking or learning about local wildlife and ecosystems. Here are some perfect places to connect with nature:
Many local woodlands have well-maintained paths and trails, suitable for walkers and wheelchair users. Trees help us to relax and settle into a rhythm with nature. Breathe in the scent of pine needles, listen to wind blowing through leaves, or feel the rough sensation of tree bark beneath your fingers.
Make nature art with fallen leaves and sticks or write a poem. You can also try forest bathing (a slow, mindful walk among trees) or a walking meditation.
Community parks often offer handy routes for walking and wheeling close to home. You can visit for dedicated time in nature or use them on your daily journey to work or school. Parks often offer benches for resting, toilets and water fountains making them accessible for everyone.
Botanical gardens provide perfect opportunities to connect with nature in well-maintained settings. These spaces generally offer accessible paths, resting areas, and amenities like cafés or visitor centres. They’re often easily reached by public transport.
Gardens offer a chance to learn more about trees, plants and flowers from all over the world. They often have pleasant, low-level, accessible and well-maintained paths to enjoy.
These paths are often relatively flat with inspiring views. You’ll find shoreline trails along the banks of rivers, lochs and the seaside. In urban areas, you can often enjoy nature walks along the edge of ponds, reservoirs and rivers. Coastal areas often feature accessible waterfront promenades perfect for relaxing strolls by the sea. Find out more about where to walk.
Try these simple activities to enhance your experience in nature when you’re walking. You don’t need to travel far. Nature awaits just outside your door.
Activity: notice nature
Take a moment to pause during your next nature walk and connect with your senses. What can you see, hear, smell or touch?
Pause during your walk and connect with your surroundings through your senses:
Activity: Micro-volunteering
Micro-volunteering involves spending a few minutes helping your community and natural spaces. These small efforts inspire others, encourage path use, and support local wildlife.
The beauty of micro-volunteering is its simplicity, as quick tasks require no special equipment or training.
Try these easy micro-volunteering activities:
Activity: Citizen science
Citizen science involves collecting valuable data. Anyone can take part, regardless of age and experience. Your observations help build important databases, create wildlife atlases, and protect special natural areas.
Taking part in wildlife surveys is also a great way to find out more about Scotland’s wildlife. Citizen science projects include everything from surveys of bugs, birds and mammals to tracking sightings of hedgehogs.
Organisations like NatureScot and The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) offer citizen science opportunities.
Activity: Love your natural spaces
Together, we can look after our valuable nature spaces. Caring for nature can help reduce biodiversity loss, caused by climate change.
Show kindness: Place bowls of water for birds or wildlife in your garden, take part in a litter pick or do some simple micro-volunteering tasks during walks.
Report issues: have you noticed broken path sections, big puddles or muddy areas on your walk? Report problems to your Local Authority helpline, contact centre or Access Officer.
