Research has revealed that more women walkers than men are visiting Scotland. The VisitScotland survey showed that 54% of walking visitors to Scotland are female, with the largest age groups of walkers those aged 45 to 64.
It was also found that the majority of walkers work in managerial, administrative and professional occupations.
The walkers come to hike long distance trails such as the West Highland Way, the Great Glen Way, the Hebridean Way and the John Muir Way.
In general, the VisitScotland research found that in 2015, four million trips by visitors from the UK included walking as an activity.
The popularity of visitors taking longer walks of more than two miles had risen by 18% year-on-year to more than two million trips.
It’s predicted the trend for more walkers to Scotland will continue to grow. Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland chief executive, said: “The growing interest in health and wellbeing presents a fantastic opportunity for Scotland to promote itself, not only through its inspiring landscapes but also through the health benefits of walking.”
This trend helps to confirm a trend that I have personally witnessed over the last decade with far more women walking in the mountains and greater numbers of solo female walkers.