A walking initiative at Musselburgh-based Queen Margaret University (QMU) has won a national award.

During the Covid-19 lockdown, staff came up with the concept of organised, socially distant walks to help reduce isolation and improve mental and physical health among the student community.

The Wellness Walks’ initiative has been recognised by the Scottish charity Paths for All, which champions everyday walking and the creation of community paths.

The walks were developed as a collaboration between Louise Gill, from the university’s student wellbeing service, and Sarah Whelan, QMU’s sustainable transport co-ordinator.

With students often confined to their rooms in student residences during lockdown, the walks provided “a welcome opportunity to join others in some gentle exercise, while connecting with nature in a safe and socially distanced way”.

The walks helped develop social connections and improve health and wellbeing during some of the most challenging periods, a QMU spokesperson said.

The hour-long free walks, which take different routes and nature paths, have grown in popularity and now run every two weeks throughout the academic year.

They have created the opportunity for students to meet people from different courses and to learn about the various walking options which surround the QMU campus.

Announced during the UK’s National Walking Month, the ‘Walking Champion in Education: Wellness Walks’ award by Paths for All recognises the positive impact QMU’s Wellness Walks have had on the student population.

Mrs Gill said: “The coronavirus lockdown period was hugely impactful on our students confined to our university campus accommodation; we wanted to offer these students walking as a way to support isolation, loneliness and promote mental health and wellbeing.

“At the time, the Wellness Walks were a popular way to respond to our students’ needs whilst adhering to coronavirus restrictions.

“It has been very rewarding to see QMU’s Wellness Walks recognised by Paths for All.

“The feedback from our students is very positive and those that have participated enjoy exploring the area and accessing our natural environment, which has also empowered students to continue these walks independently.

“Our hope is that the Wellness Walks make a difference to the health and wellbeing of our participating students in a variety of ways. Our walks will continue into the future and may develop further, promoting our connection with wellbeing and our environment.”