Walking is really good for your mind and it is a really easy way of exercising. I enjoy walking with other people, and by myself, but mainly by myself- I think it's a great time to think deeply and unwind. It allows you to become comfortable being alone- whilst exploring what's around you. I recently moved to Inverness which is so beautiful, if you're able to visit I recommend it. The forests are unreal, Loch Ness is incredible and honestly I don't think you could live here and not still be amazed by it's beauty every single day. Living in the highlands allows you to feel relaxed, but also pushes you to do things differently and not do the everyday things which people would do within cities. It's less of a routine which I really like, it is a nice change. If you are looking for some places to walk when in Inverness, in the city itself - there isn't too many places as it is a fairly small town, but I liked to visit Ness Islands, which is a small forest walk just down from the castle in the centre. There are also some parks you can visit, but if you are wanting to go on a longer walk I would recommend going outside of the city centre itself. Culloden is a great place to visit if you want to see the history from the Battle of Culloden, Loch Ness is great if you are wanting to visit the Loch itself but this isn't the best place to go if you want to walk. I was staying right beside the Great Glen Way, just outside of Drumnadrochit, which is an excellent place to walk. The walk actually starts at Fort William and goes all the way to Inverness, it is a total of 125km (78 miles) - so if you are not wanting to walk that far you can just walk part of the way. A walk I liked to do was from Glenmoriston to Drumnadrochit, past Glenurquart Castle. Fort Augustus also has options for walking outside the town itself, and places such as Dingwall and Beauly.  

Now that I am back staying in Glasgow (for the time being) - I like to go on walks as much as I can. One of my favourite places to visit is MugDock Country Park, which is right on my doorstep. I have been going here since i was little so it has always had a special place in my heart, I have definitely a lot of memories from walking here, visiting the castle etc. Another place I like to visit is Aberfoyle, where you can walk through the forests - maybe try not to get lost like I did recently - or you can visit Loch Ard, or the many waterfalls hidden within the forest. It is easy to find a path to walk on, we are very lucky in Scotland to be so close to the countryside, but I personally like to go off-grid, off the beaten track - as you may say. I think you can learn a lot from using your own inituitive, finding your own way to go and even getting a bit lost - you will get a great story from it, and you will have experienced your own little adventure.

One thing I have always been conscious of, especially when I lived in Drumnadrochit, Inverness, is if I am walking alone, it can be daunting to walk by yourself when there is no one else around, or if you are not near any houses or towns etc. in case you need help. I have found that if you are walking by yourself it is better to stay on the main path or to make sure to know when it is going to get dark. I know personally that I was scared when i was walking by myself a lot, even with my little companion (my dog). But I think it is a great way of gaining confidence in yourself, and the best way to face your fears is by tackling them head on. You may come across a person or two every so often, but i guarantee you are a lot safer in the countryside than you are in the city walking about alone. You have to keep your wits about you, but I definitely enjoyed walking alone and gaining more trust within myself. I have never been stranded on my own or been in a dangerous situation, but I love the idea of going off on an adventure by myself and learning some survival techniques.

Being in nature is the best way to clear your mind from stress and anxiety. Take time to surround yourself with nature, take your shoes off for awhile and feel the ground on your feet, or sand at a beach. Take yourself away from the chaos of normal life -  where you can find yourself or simply observe what is around you. I don't like taking a lot of photos when I'm walking, they say the more photos you take, the less likely you are to remember the experience. But when I do take photos, I like them to have meaning. I have added a few photos of my walks through the forest below. I like taking photos of people, and just now, I don't have the chance to be around many other humans - so, I decided to take a few of myself instead. The floaty dress I was wearing also inspired me. 

I went on a walk with my sister yesterday which was lovely. We chatted with some cows and walked through the forest. I like walking by myself because I feel like I can think deeply, I have always preferred my own company but I do also love walking with the people that I love the most. There are no distractions. Mugdock is one of my favourite places to walk. I've mentioned it before, but it can't hurt to bring it up again! There is a lot of hidden treasures to be found in Mugdock Country Park. I have been going there my whole life and I still find new things every time I go! 

I felt a connection to a tree yesterday as it caught my eye, there was a carving of initials on it, and sometimes I feel drawn to trees when I walk by them. I want to feel them, it may sound strange - but I simply have a deep connection to nature and I feel physically happy when I am amongst trees or climbing hills, speaking to animals etc. I read recently that it is good for your body to physically hug a tree, because it increases the levels of oxytocin in your body, which allows you to feel calm. It can also affect our serotonin and dopamine levels - in a positive way. So, there are natural healing properties from tree hugging. Yesterday, I hugged a tree. It's not the first time, I have to admit. Hugging trees, or touching things when I'm walking about makes me feel centred and allows me to understand where I am. 

Sometimes I feel like I'm not really in a situation, it feels like I'm somewhere else. I feel like I am looking into a situation, specifically when I am amongst a group of people. This has occured more recently because of things I have personally experienced. But being in nature, with all the sounds around me, makes me realise where I am and it makes me feel happy. Even if it is just for a quick walk.

For me, I feel different after I walk through a forest or if I am surrounded by any kind of nature, it makes me feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. I think, in the modern world we live in, we need to take time to ourselves, and to be away from technology! We are becoming ill, destroying our minds by constantly checking social media, taking supplements to replace food, we are not taking care of ourselves! We seem to believe that we can replace things we lack with things which do not deal with the core root of our problems. We do not take the time to look at ourselves, our habits, our lifestyles. We think attending a few weight-watchers classes and doing 10 minute workouts will change our whole beings. When really - it isn't that simple. We need to take time away from our phones, eat real food, go outside, use herbal medicines. Before it is too late.

I recommend going for a forest walk or just being amongst nature at least once a week. I think it is good to ground yourself. Be connected with nature and not your Wifi for a change. Make walking the new norm, speak to those you meet, take a path you've never gone down before. We need to remember that there once was a time where mobile phones didn't exist, there was a time when people simply lived amongst the woods, and how it may be just what we need.