Organised by Trust in the ParkOur team are walking to raise vital funds for our charities health walk programme 'Walk in the Park' which supports around 300 participants of all abilities living in rural areas, to overcome isolation, improve mental health and mobility confidence.
Glasgow Kiltwalk 2025 · 26 April 2025 to 27 April 2025 ·
Walk in the Park is recognised as one of the best examples of a successful health walk programme in Scotland utilising the beautiful and nurturing surroundings of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. We want to share our story with you.
Starting from just seven walkers in Callander, we are now proud to support over two hundred and eighty people across the National Park, with that number steadily rising. Walk in the Park also welcomes people living with dementia and their carers onto our walks with the majority of our routes suitable for most abilities.
We know we are making a difference and there is a need for our activities.
We offer six walks a week across the rural communities of Aberfoyle, Arrochar and Tarbet, Callander, Balloch, Killin and Drymen each lasting up to an hour long. Our walks are friendly, regular, and we encourage and welcome new walkers to join us and who feel they would benefit from being more active. Our walks are also an opportunity to meet new people in their area and explore places they might not have been before.
Come rain or shine, or sleet and wind our participants never cease to surprise us as they promptly turn up for their walks every week - for some this is often the highlight of their week!
As well as improving mobility confidence, making social connections, building meaningful relationships and improving physical and mental health are just some of the other benefits our participants experience.
Benefits to my mental wellbeing is a key reason for me for joining and continuing to join Walk in the Park. It enables me to focus away (by a change of place or activity) from other things that may be bothering or worrying me - in this time I forget about everything else. The people I have got to know and become friends with in the Walk in the Park' groups I join help me to do that by distraction and social chatter. - this is a really important difference from when I just go for a walk on my own. Walking outside gives me a general feeling of release as it is a break from life's clutter for my mind as I pay attention to other sights and sounds on my walks.’ - Walk in the Park participant.
Our participants can also enjoy the mental health and social benefits of our summer evening walks in addition to our regular walks. And if that wasn't enough, each year all of our groups assemble for our annual All Groups Walk which is a great opportunity to socialise, eat cake, and discover new and interesting routes.
A big shout out goes to our amazing volunteer walk leaders who make our walks across the National Park fun, accessible, safe and supported.
Our Walk Leaders are the most integral part of a health walk.
Our volunteers are crucial and investment in them through our training provides them with skills enabling them to support individuals with additional needs and engage greater and diverse number of participants. Training in Dementia Friendly walking, mental health, safety outdoors, and the use of CPR and defibrillators helps empower our volunteers to feel confident and valued as well as being beneficial in all aspects of their life.
This year our team (friends and family who have also been roped in) are donning their kilts and digging out their walking shoes to walk the Glasgow Kiltwalk on Sunday 27th April to raise funds so we can continue to support others through this fantastic health walk programme.
If you know anyone who would benefit from our health walk programme, or would like to find out more please get in touch by email to: info@trustinthepark.org or visit our website www.trustinthepark.org .
Thank you so much for your support!
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