My enthusiasm for walking knows no bounds
What for me started as a way of exercising when my children were small has become my full-time job and I absolutely love it! I am the founder and enthusiastic leader of Gillian’s Walks.
My parents were keen hill walkers and introduced me to the joys of walking at an early age. I was only eight when I got to the top of Ben Nevis! My sister and I were encouraged to spend time outdoors. I have never lost my enthusiasm for being out in the countryside, enjoying wild places and all that nature has to offer.
My story begins in January 2016 when I thought up the ‘100 walk challenge’. I was close to the end of an extended maternity leave period and was starting to think about returning to work. I began ‘dipping my toes’ into conservation work by volunteering with the Scottish Wildlife Trust Ayrshire I also volunteered as a Health Walk Leader for Sustrans.
My ‘100 walk challenge’ was to go for 100 walks with my baby in a buggy. I wrote blogs about my walks, ‘just for me’ but hoping that my son, when he was older, would appreciate reading about these outings. I regularly posted my blogs and accompanying photographs on my Facebook page. This created a lot of interest among my friends and family. My husband suggested I set up a Facebook page with a logo dedicated to Gillian’s Walks The brand was born!
Turning 40 in 2021 felt like a pivotal point in my life. The Gillian’s Walks website was being visited by tens of thousands of people each month and the Facebook page had reached over 10k followers, all using the walking route information I had put together. I had ideas for creating an income from all of that but I didn’t have the time to do anything about it between work and family life.
I was accumulating experience as a walk leader through my volunteer roles and also undertook Lowland Leader training and outdoor First Aid training. With this preparation, I felt I was ready to start earning an income from guided walks. I left my job to ‘give it a go’ and, as they say, the rest is history. I have no regrets whatsoever. I am living my dream – active and outdoors almost all the time!
The core business of Gillian’s Walks is to promote Ayrshire as a walking destination through my online resource of over 200 walking routes; through providing a Professional Guide service to both local people and tourists; and though promoting Ayrshire’s walking groups and clubs
When I started my business, I did some research into the barriers people face when going out walking, and specifically, when trying out new routes. The top answer was ‘fear of getting lost’. I knew that using navigation apps on my mobile had given me the confidence to explore without that fear, so I designed my Introduction to Digital Navigation Course, which gives people the confidence to follow my routes, or to explore their own routes, secure in the knowledge that they will not get lost.
My digital maps give precise directions on each route. I have researched them, know them thoroughly, and in addition to directions, I provide notes about points of interest along the way.
Many people are happy to follow self-guide instructions, however, web-based instructions are not for everyone, so I also offer Professionally Guided Walks on which know you are in the safe hands of an experienced and trained outdoor Guide.
I have also trained as a Nordic Walking Instructor. I run monthly classes teaching the technique and have a regular Group Nordic Walk in Kilmarnock. In Nordic walking, poles are used to propel yourself forward, using a technique similar to cross country skiing. It’s great form of exercise, a real cardiovascular workout using 90% of the core muscles including the upper body. This means it’s easy on the knees, hips and ankles. A bit like using a cross trainer in the gym, but it all happens in the great outdoors.
My Professionally Guided Walks are either one-off or linked to particular features in the local environment e.g. the Ayrshire Coastal Path or the Alloway Railway Tunnel
I widely use the Ayrshire Coastal Path (ACP), a wonderful 106-mile route along the Ayrshire coast from Glenapp to Skelmorlie. The Path is entirely managed by a group of enthusiastic volunteers. It is divided into a series of sections, each overseen by a Path Warden, who regularly carries out inspections, removes hazards, ensures signage is still in place, checks the security of gates and stiles along the way and so on.
I’m very proud to be associated with the ACP. I know it well. I take a lot of time to plan and research my Guided Walks so that those who come along can enjoy the experience without worrying about navigating, planning logistics of how to travel between the start and end points, timing the walk according to the tides and so on. I fill the walks with fun facts about historical features or different plants/wildlife we might see along the way. I also talk about the work of the volunteers on each section so that people have an insight into what is involved in managing and maintaining a long distance walking route such as this one. Last year Gillian’s Walks donated £770 to the ACP maintenance fund to help pay for the upkeep of the trail.
For the past two years, I have organised a series of 12 walks on ACP, one section is tackled per month. Some people book the whole route, a year-long experience during which they will meet a whole bunch of new walking friends! Anyone can join in and complete single sections at any time.
The Alloway Railway Tunnel, a vital part of the path network around Ayr, is very well used by both walkers and cyclists. The Tunnel will undoubtedly become a major tourist attraction once installation of the Mural is complete.
Community involvement in creating the Tunnel artwork is the key to its success. The artwork belongs to everyone. My son painted an owl and I did a mushroom at one of Chris’ Workshops. We never cease to be delighted at spotting ‘our’ contribution, that bit of the Mural ‘belongs’ to us.
I have cooperated with the ART Project Committee to run a series of ‘Start at ART’ walks. They all begin with a short chat about the Tunnel Project by Shelagh, the Project Secretary and a keen walker herself, followed by a walk on local paths. The next walk will start at the Mural then follow a circular walk from Alloway to Ayr and back, taking in some of the iconic Burns sites, Rozelle Park, the Blue Bonnet Trail, a mural Workshop at the Cutty Sark and then back to Alloway along a stretch of the ACP. This event is part of the third Ayrshire Walking Festival a week-long celebration of walking with events throughout Ayrshire.
As you can see, I am passionate about walking. Improving health and wellbeing and enjoying social interaction are at the core of all my walks. If you are not a walker, go on – take the first step, join a walking group, you won’t regret it!
Gillian Craig
Gillian’s Walks.
