Monklands residents are being encouraged to put their best foot forward for next month’s annual North Lanarkshire walking festival.
It runs from August 5-11 – with the date having been moved compared to previous events in the hope of “kinder weather” – with the walks being led by ramblers groups and access forum members and representatives of the council’s access team.
The programme includes events at Chapelhall woodland, Drumpellier country park, Brownsburn nature reserve and Lilly loch in Caldercruix; plus the regular scheduled health walks which run in Airdrie, Coatbridge, Glenboig and Moodiesburn.
It will also feature an expedition from Moffat Mills to Coatbridge, a distillery walk in Muirhead and a 20-mile cycle from Coatbridge to Hillend loch.
Airdrie resident Jim Cassidy, who chairs the North Lanarkshire outdoor access forum, said: “It’s a real community event – our walk leaders have a real interest in the local environment and are so enthusiastic.
“Our priority is to get people out and for them to enjoy themselves and to inspire them to go walking again and again; it’s a great way to spend time with the family, see wildlife and learn about nature.
“The programme aims to appeal to all ages and abilities, from tots and teens right through to more mature walkers – there’s something for everyone.”
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With the area’s walking festival now having been running for several years, organisers say it has not only encouraged local residents to use North Lanarkshire’s green spaces, but has also brought in visitors from further afield.
Jim added: “North Lanarkshire has a wide variety of areas to walk in, from canal and riverside walks to parks, moorland and hillside; the walking festival encourages people to get out and use what’s on their doorstep.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to introduce the area to people who wouldn’t otherwise think of visiting, and I’m always immensely proud when visitors remark on how lucky we are to have such an amazing landscape on our doorstep.
“The physical health benefits of walking are well documented but many people aren’t aware that it has mental health benefits too, a massive issue which affects many people across North Lanarkshire and the whole of Scotland.”
He added: “Last year’s awful weather was a real test, so we’ve moved the festival to early August where we should have some kinder weather.”
The full walking festival programme can be seen at www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=32704 – pre-booking is essential for some of the walks and places can be reserved by calling the access team on 01236 632838.
