WITH miles upon miles of wilderness, the peaceful sound of nature and some of the freshest air on the planet, Scotland’s Cairngorms National Park is the ultimate escape from a busy, stressful life.
Today is World Mental Health Day, when the World Federation for Mental Health asks us to see mental health in the same way as physical health.
Spending time outdoors is just one of the many ways to do that and Visit Cairngorms has shared some of the reasons why the UK’s biggest national park is the perfect spot to take some time out.
Mindfulness comes as standard
MENTAL health experts regularly encourage the practise of mindfulness. By focusing your attention on the present moment, it helps rest a busy brain and can result in a reduction in stress as well as overall happiness.
Whether you practice mindfulness daily or want to give it a try, the Cairngorms is the perfect location to be in the moment. Because of its vast woodland spaces and overall low volume of road traffic, the area is naturally quiet which gives your mind the chance to slow down.
There are also many relaxing activities to keep you in the moment. The Dell of Abernethy, near Aviemore, offers a number of retreat-style events to help you switch off. The Soundscape Meditation Walk, for example, runs from September to December and uses carefully chosen music to connect you to the landscape.
Getting in touch with nature
THE Cairngorms is home to one-quarter of Britain’s threatened species and with nine national nature reserves across the park there really isn’t a better place to connect with nature.
According to mental health charity Mind, spending time in nature can help with anxiety and depression. Research into ecotherapy – a type of treatment which involves activities outside with nature – has shown it can help with mild to moderate depression, so it’s clear there is a link between the great outdoors and mental wellbeing.
From wildcats, capercaillie, red squirrels, ospreys, pine martens, rutting deer or even a golden eagle, spending a day observing some of these magnificent species can help distract from day to day worries and instead focus on the wonder of the natural environment.
And it’s not just about wildlife, the Cairngorms National Park is also home to the Caledonian Forest, a vast primeval wilderness of Scots pine, birch, rowan, aspen and juniper trees. As well as being one of the most important habitats for biodiversity conservation in Scotland, it’s also the perfect location to soak up the natural light, fresh air and escape.
Near the forest is the Rothiemurchus Centre, where visitors can get involved in a huge range of activities including walks, pony and quad bike treks, tree top adventures, deer feeding, fishing, segways, river tubing, paddle boarding and many more.
Exercising in the fresh air
IT’S common knowledge that physical activity can improve mental health. It helps encourage better sleep, it releases feelgood hormones and helps manage stress. What’s more, being active in the fresh air gives you a double whammy of goodness.
In recent years, the Cairngorms which has an abundance of lochs and rivers, has become a paradise for wild swimmers and cold water enthusiasts. Within a few miles of each other there are sandy beaches with mountain views, castles to swim around and incredible mountain lochs where the water is sapphire blue and the quality of water is exceptional.
And according to Alice Goodridge, who runs Wild Swimming in the Cairngorms, it’s essentially like a reset button for the mind. She said: “Essentially it makes you focus. There is nothing else you can do when you get in that water. You have to concentrate on getting in and breathing. You can be really busy and stressed and then get in the water and all of that stuff just melts away.
“You are surrounded by nature and have this unique, water-level view of the world which gives you a different perspective and lets you just be. In this day and age, when you have so many distractions, that is a rare pleasure.”
For safe swimming, always go with others and remember to enter cold water gradually to avoid experiencing cold shock. And have some clothing ready to warm up.
There are also miles and miles of walking trails that weave through the stunning environment of the Cairngorms and plenty of winter biking trails, with cosy cafe stops included.
The Cairngorms National Park is a haven of the natural world where the stresses of everyday life melt away. The picturesque glass facets of the lochs reflecting the tranquil forests into the sky provide the perfect opportunity to recharge and breathe, feeling a calm that is uniquely priceless.
