Coorie on walking! Inverness parent and toddler groups still out and about.

An Inverness mum is asking others to “coorie in” on outdoor walks.

Laurna Hislop (35) has been organising safe and socially-distanced walks for the last five years – and in current times they have become vitally important.

Miss Hislop says the walks are a way for parents and their children to meet up in a socially-distanced way, and therefore reap the benefits of actual physical interaction.

She said: “I have been running Coorie in With Love, my walking group, for the last five years and it has been a wonderful way to get out to meet other parents. The younger ones all go into slings so we can really get out walking, and the older ones can walk with us.

“It has been tough during the lockdown for parents, and it is great that groups like this one can continue to support parents now that there are other restrictions on indoor meetings.

“Mums, dads, babies and children really need to be with each other. Whether that is to talk about being a new parent or just to have someone else to speak to it doesn’t matter – we just need time together.”

Miss Hislop, who lives in the city centre, takes her own children Caitlin (7) and Alexander, who is 20 months, on the walks when she can. She said: “Each week we identify the place we will meet, restricted to 10 parents at a time, and then we walk together. If anyone needs a sling I can hire them one. The other great benefit, aside from improved mental health, is that we are teaching our children that being outside and in the open is important.”

The group has a minimal charge and is on Facebook.

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