The 2023 National Survey of Attitudes to Walking and Wheeling in Scotland found that 85% of adults walk several times per week or daily, with more than half (59%) walking for leisure or exercise.
While 84% said they enjoy walking because it is good for their health, a significant increase from 78% in 2019, only just under a quarter (24%) had heard or seen messages on the health benefits of walking.
Professor Fiona Bull, Head of Physical Activity at the World Health Organisation (WHO), presented compelling evidence at the Paths for All 2023 Expert Lecture, hosted in Stirling in November, on how walking can save lives, and how Scotland is leading the charge.