Pathway to Recovery

Congratulations to the Caterans who completed a long distance walk last month to raise awareness about mental health and recovery.

The eight-strong group takes its name from the Cateran Trail, the 64 mile circular trek that they completed over five days, while taking in some of the best scenery in the Perthshire and Angus glens. The trail itself is named after the roaming cattle thieves who favoured the area from the Middle Ages to the 17th century.

The Strathmore-based walking group was set up by people with experience of mental health problems as a way of supporting their recovery. To begin with, the group organised day-long walks, to give people a chance to engage in physical activity in the company of others. The walks proved popular and a long distance walk was the next natural step. Member Ruth Maclean is enthusiastic about the benefits: “walking gives you an immediate lift – all those endorphins make you feel so much better – inside and out”

Ruth said: “We all got a great sense of achievement from completing the trail. Over the five days we got to know each other really well - there was a wonderful feeling of camaraderie and empathy between us, and lots of banter and encouragement.”

The walk was made possible by a grant from Awards for All, and the group will use the walking poles and kits purchased with the grant for future adventures in the Scottish countryside.