A Lanarkshire mum has won a national walking competition and has used her prize to reinvest in what she loves.
Mandy Clement took part in Paths for All's recent initiative during May where she was tasked with snapping a photograph on one of her favourite walks with the hashtag #ILoveWalking.
The mum-of-three from Carnwath was selected as the competition's lucky winner where she was awarded a £500 voucher for Cotswold Outdoor.
Taking to walking several years ago with short local walks, Mandy found her love for being active and now enjoys hill walking on a regular basis.
The 48-year-old has been leading a range of accessible walks as part of the Scottish Women’s Walking Group – an online group of 25,000 people which she joined five years ago.
On scooping her prize, Mandy said: “Winning this competition has been fabulous and I have invested in new boots, hiking socks, Smidge (essential in Scotland) and a fabulous pair of waterproof trousers (another Scottish essential).
"As a famous comedian once said, 'there is no such thing as bad weather'.”
Mandy works as a full-time team leader in social care but is a huge advocate of the physical and mental benefits of walking.
May is National Walking Month. This year, Paths for All invited members of the public to celebrate and share images and videos of why they love walking during the month-long campaign.
Of the posts shared were nature photographs, selfies, videos and poems, outlining an unconditional love of walking, the immense benefits to physical, mental and social wellbeing and the inherent value placed on our Scottish landscape and heritage.
Keen to take part in the campaign, Mandy explains she regularly enjoys a variety of walks in the hills, woodlands, local parks, rural tracks and urban trails.
During National Walking Month, Mandy also completed more ambitious hill walks including the Meall nan Tarmachan and Meall Glas and Sgiath Chuil summits.
She added: “One of my most colourful walks in May was to Duthie Park in Aberdeen when visiting my daughter.
"The park was a riot of colour from blossom on the trees, rhododendrons in full bloom and a wonderful walk around the winter gardens.”
Mandy, who also takes part in yoga, is now encouraging others to enjoy the outdoors.
She said: “Get yourself out there whether it is 20 minutes or a long-distance hike, look around and enjoy everything you see, hear and feel. I have met so many wonderful people whilst walking in groups and with my dogs.”
Kevin Lafferty from Paths for All said: “National Walking Month is our favourite month of the year - it highlights the power of walking for physical, mental and social health and wellbeing.
"It’s fantastic news to hear Mandy has won our national competition, and we congratulate her on doing so."
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