Walk the North Coast 500 this Autumn!

Are you ready to walk a virtual route around the North Coast 500 this Autumn? NHS Western Isles and HITRANS have created this partnership step count challenge, using the Big Team Challenge App, to help you do just that. The challenge gives you free access to the 478-mile virtual route around the North Highlands, tracking progress along a virtual route including 9 milestones; The Black Isle, Dornoch, John O’Groats, Durness, Assynt, Ullapool, Gairloch, Applecross and Inverness. NHS Western Isles has been successful using the Big Team App back in 2017, when 300 participants took part in a challenge to walk the Outer Hebrides. Participants stated that they found the challenge helped them reach individual goals such as taking part in more everyday walking, other local physical activity events and some participants progressed to jogging and running. Many said they felt benefits to their health from the additional physical activity such as maintaining a healthy weight and managing stress.

While the residents of the Outer Hebrides are known for their resilience, the 2024 summer weather has been disappointing for many, so NHS Western Isles and HITRANS hope this challenge will give people an extra incentive to keep walking and enjoying the financial, environmental and health benefits of active travel this Autumn.

HITRANS have supported this initiative by funding prize incentives, including Shop Local Na H-Eileanan an Iar Gift Cards from £50 – £150 along the way. Prizes will be split into ability categories to ensure incentives for all abilities. Vikki Trelfer, Active Travel Officer with HITRANS, noted that “walking and cycling for everyday journeys is a great way to boost your step count, whether it’s going to & from work, nipping to the shops, or visiting granny!”

Colum Durkan, NHS Western Isles Director of Public Health, said “Although the weather can be difficult sometimes, getting out and about can make a big difference to our mental and physical health and wellbeing. This year’s Step Challenge will reward people at all levels for their effort and we look forward to seeing people take part from all island areas!”

Registered participants will be given a code to access The Big Team Challenge web and app system; logging steps and distance along a virtual route of the North Coast 500. Registration closes at midnight on Friday 6th September. The 12-week challenge starts on Monday 9th September from the first virtual point of the Black Isle, following the coast up to John O’Groats, finishing back at Inverness. The challenge is free and open to residents of the Outer Hebrides aged 16 years and over.  Walking is a great way to improve your fitness and general health and wellbeing.  

Participants enter as an individual, but are welcome to walk alongside friends, family or colleagues. Recent evidence suggests that as little 3500 steps per day could ensure some health benefits, with that rising to maximum benefit from 12500 steps plus. This project will focus participants on looking at what their current daily step count is, and building on that, in the understanding that many of us with sedentary, desk-based jobs may struggle to achieve even the minimum 3500 recommended on a typical day. This aligns with the physical activity guidelines “Sit less, Move More”.

An activity-to-steps conversion chart will be provided; allowing participants to add activities other than walking to their steps total, and the app will give users access to their progress along the route, no of steps per day, current totals, and current winners in each island area.

Laura Macleod, NHS Western Isles Health Improvement Practitioner, said “Previous step-count challenges saw over 48,000 miles of steps logged by walkers across the Outer Hebrides; that equates to walking around the world twice! This was an incredible effort, and we hope new and old walkers will be encouraged to join in this year as walking for just 30 minutes a day can bring benefits to our health."

To register visit: https://forms.office.com/e/3LFX4JYYav  or e-mail: laura.macleod2@nhs.scot 

For further information on the challenge: –

Email: laura.macleod2@nhs.scot

Telephone: Lewis & Harris – 01851 762 023  Uist & Barra – 01870 602 588