Countryside Rangers Support Highland Carers - Walks

31st March 2022

High Life Highland is working with a charity that supports carers to help them improve their health and wellbeing.

Over a million people in Scotland care for someone else and in 2018 it was estimated around 32,000 people in Highland provide unpaid care.

High Life Highland's Countryside Rangers are working with Highland charity Connecting Carers to provide a series of short walks for carers across the region.

Doctor Linda Birnie, training officer with the Dingwall-based charity said: "Improving our connection with nature brings a whole host of health and wellbeing benefits - reducing stress, improving sleep and boosting your immune system to name just a few.

"Many more people have started an unpaid caring role during the Covid pandemic, juggling caring responsibilities whilst holding down a job.

“Most significantly eight out of 10 carers say their health is worse because of caring responsibilities.

“We are delighted to have been enabled by the Carer Respite Support and Development Fund run by the Carers Trust, so these walks can be provided in locations across Highland. Why not join us and see what it can do for you?"

Connecting Carers is a charity which supports unpaid carers throughout Highland to access the help, information and support they need to enable them, and the people they care for, to have a better everyday life.

Countryside Ranger Paul Castle said: “We recently had a lovely leisurely walk in the sunshine at Thurso shore with a group of local carers.

“We looked at some of the birds found by the shore including gulls, wigeon ducks, oystercatchers and turnstone.

“We were also lucky enough to watch common seals while we walked and talked. I'm really looking forward to our next walk at Thurso riverside in May."

Booking for these walks is essential.

For further information, and to book, contact Linda Birnie at: [email protected]

The dates planned for future walks are:

Date Tuesday 19th April

Time 11am - 12pm.

Lairg Pine Woods

The walk is through the pine woodland, it is on level ground on good paths and goes around by the loch - we should see some interesting plants and birds. If the centre is open we can finish with coffee and biscuits!

Date Thursday 21st April

Time 11am – 12.30pm

Culloden History Walk

Meet at Culloden Woods car park off Tower Road, Culloden for a history walk around the woods with the High Life Highland Ranger.

Date Tuesday 26th April

Time 1pm – 2pm

Loch Morlich Beach Walk

An easy circular walk through some pinewood and along the golden beach of Loch Morlich - a lovely spot!

Date Wednesday 27th April

Time 1pm - 2pm

Dingwall Ferry Point Loop

A walk down by the shore to look for a variety of birds and the site of the old castle. There is also a lot of Viking history in Dingwall, which was a result of the nature of the bay.

Date Thursday 5th May

Time 1pm – 2pm

Thurso riverside

Enjoy a guided looped walk around Thurso riverside paths and discover the delights of this wildlife packed route with help from the Countryside Ranger. Lots of lovely plants, birds and other wildlife and some local history to enjoy along this simple route by the river.

Date Tuesday 10th May

Time 1.30pm – 2.30pm

Riverside Walk, Aviemore

A circular easy walk with lovely views of the River Spey. The birds will be in full spring song – a glorious time of the year!

Date Thursday 12th May

Time 1pm - 2pm

Invergordon Woodland Loop

A walk past the historic site of Invergordon castle now covered by trees and wildlife.

Date Tuesday 17th May

Time 10am – 11am

Ullapool half hill

This short walk is all on path and steep enough in a couple of places to get a good view and the heart rate up. This is very achievable despite the word ‘hill’. We will focus on the landscape, wildlife and history of Ullapool during the walk.

Following the walk we can go through the village ending up at the public toilets and/or go for a cup of tea somewhere.

(Please note if this walk is not accessible to some people, we will have an alternative low-level walk on paths by Ullapool River.)

Date Thursday 19th May

Time 11am – 12.30pm

Tree-mendous Walk

Meet at entrance to the Botanic Gardens, Inverness for walk with the High Life Highland Ranger around the Ness Islands looking at some of the amazing trees specimens to be found there.

Walks are subject to change and conditions apply.