Seven beautiful walks around Inverness to be enjoyed from your own home
Essential travel only restrictions doesn't need to stop you getting out to enjoy yourself this Easter weekend thanks to the founder of Clarity Walk.
Founder Matt Wallace might have had to end all the groups he ran with face-to-face contact during the coronavirus lockdown, but that has not stopped him sharing some wonderful walks around the country.
Community Interest Company Clarity Walks was set up to offer tech-free shared walks for people of all abilities to help them become confident at being out on a walk.
Mr Wallace ( 28) said he was adapting his business to continue to share the tranquillity of his walks so that people could enjoy them from their own home.
He said: "We have to adapt to what we have got now, and for me that means taking my business that was 80 per cent off line to 100 per cent online.
The videos follow well-loved paths in and around Inverness and include a walk on the Dalneigh Canal, along the Ness Islands, Whin Park and Reelig Glen.
The walks do not feature Mr Wallace himself, as he explained: "They are simply a video of what I see when I am on the walk.
"There is no talking or any kind of narrative. I am simply walking through the countryside and I am inviting people to watch along."
Part of Mr Wallace's business was running training courses for school pupils. His phone-free workshops gave pupils the skills to putting down their mobile phones, an initiative he said was still at the forefront of his thinking.
"Now, more than ever, people need to seriously think about having some tech-free time in their days.
"People's use of mobile phones and computers is on the rise, and I want to help people to reduce their screen time to help aid their mental health.
He continued: "I am running a five-day Phone Freedom course that helps people to understand the way in which they are using their technology and finding ways to reduce it.
"A second course has just started with 15 people. From the first sessions we saw great results where people reduced their screen time in half. That makes more time for doing things that you really enjoy."
While the Clarity Walks are in abayance at the moment, Mr Wallace said the group of people who took part in them were still regularly meeting up online.
He continued: "The Facebook group are still sharing information about their daily walks and posting up photos of what they are doing.
"We built up a good community of people who liked to get out together for a walk. So, it is nice to see that people are still out walking and keeping in touch with each other.
"People are learning to work to the new way of living with social distancing, but that said there will also be a period of readjustment when the lockdown is lifted."
More information from Mr Wallace can be found on his website https://www.claritywalk.co.uk/ or through the groups Facebook page - Clarity Walk.
