Feel Good Walks
University of Edinburgh staff and students are invited to come along for a lunchtime Feel Good walk to help boost your mood.
Lace up your shoes and join us on one of our friendly Feel Good Walks.
The Active Lives team aim to make walking an enjoyable activity for staff and students at the University of Edinburgh. Our walks are an opportunity to improve general fitness, make new friends and enjoy some headspace in the fresh air. The walks aim to encourage less sitting and more walking, especially during the working day! We believe walking is the gateway to living a happier and healthier lifestyle.
Walk for physical wellbeing
Even 10 minutes of brisk walking between meetings or on our lunch break can do wonders for our wellbeing and can be an instant mood booster. Walking can strengthen muscles, manage a healthy weight, improve cardiovascular fitness and reduce your risk of suffering from a serious health condition. It’s important we feel fit, strong and healthy whilst carrying out daily tasks, and walking can help us do just that!
Walk for mental wellbeing
Walk Leaders will talk about the positive benefits walking can have on our mental and physical health, and will encourage open and positive conversations amongst the group.
Want some headspace? Let’s walk. Walking can boost feelings of self-esteem, improve mood and reduce anxiety and depression. Walking within local parks and along woodland trails can do wonders for clearing the head and in Edinburgh, we are fortunate to have an abundance of green space.
Walk for social wellbeing
Fancy a chat? Come on down to our organised walks where you’ll be joined by like-minded people all wanting to achieve the same thing – to sit less and walk more! Walking as part of a small group can make you feel connected, build friendships and create a sense of belonging. Our walks can help combat social isolation and loneliness.
Walk for the environment
Want to play your part in reducing traffic congestion and pollution? Leave the car at home and walk to work! Less traffic on our roads will create a safer environment for others to walk and cycle within our city and hopefully encourage more people to become physically active.
When and where are the Feel Good Walks
The walks can take around 30 to 45 minutes.
Click the button below for details on when and where they are taking place:
Book one of our Feel Good Walks
All sessions need to be pre-booked and you will need to have a MyEd account to book.
Other University Feel Good Walks
Our colleagues at Moray House also offer lunchtime Feel Good Walks that meet outside the Nursery School Building, Student Experience and Support Office (opposite Charteris Land) (Moray House).
View details of Moray House Feel Good Walks
Walks are led by Paths for All trained walk leaders and all routes are risk assessed. The walks are inclusive and adaptive, aiming to encourage less sitting and more walking! We believe walking is the gateway to living a happier and healthier lifestyle.
Helpful links
Let's Talk is a year-round campaign supported by the Students' Association and the University. It aims to create a safe space for conversations surrounding mental health and wellbeing.
Find out more about the Let's Talk campaign
Feedback from recent attendees:
After the walk I felt refreshed, relaxed and happy my head space was clearer, also I felt more focused after the walk.
I really enjoyed the walk. The walk leader was very upbeat, clear and checked in on how everyone was feeling regularly. Signed up to two more walks.
Enjoyed having moments to stop and even reflect on the environment, or even stops with a purpose or slightly interactive element.
The walk was really nice, it had a lovely pace to it and was great to get out and speak to others.
I really enjoyed joining the walks organised by the Active Lives team! It is a great opportunity to meet new people and make connections from the university staff and students while embracing the outdoor setting of The University of Edinburgh campuses. I recommend visiting Easter Bush campus for those who have not done it yet. It is a very pleasant place where you can connect with nature and meet with animals such as sheep and horses.