Edinburgh Wellbeing Walk (Royal Botanic Gardens)

SWAN has been working with Walking Scotland to train our autistic volunteers to become Health Walk leaders and run local walking groups for autistic women and non-binary people.

The SWAN walks offer a supportive and inclusive environment for autistic women and non-binary people. Beyond improving physical wellbeing, these walks provide an opportunity for socialisation and peer support.

The walks will be around an hour long at an easy social pace and are perfect for anyone who would like to become more active in the company of other autistic people. We can't always guarantee good weather so please make sure you dress for the weather conditions on the day.

Meeting point - West Gate (Arboretum Place, EH3 5NZ).

On the bus route for 29 + 24 buses, metered on-street and blue badge parking.

People could also choose to arrive by the East Gate (Inverleith Row EH3 5LP) which is on the 8, 9, 23 and 27 bus routes, and then make their way to the West Gate. Wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be booked in advance.

SWAN groups are safer spaces for autistic women and non-binary people over-18 who live, work or study in the local area.

SWAN is inclusive of all autistic women (both cis and trans) and non-binary people, including those who are exploring whether they are autistic, who self identify as autistic or are clinically diagnosed (private or NHS).

If these descriptions do not match you, we ask that you do not attend our groups unless they are specifically stated to be for non-autistic individuals. If you are a non-autistic person wishing to learn more about autism, visit our website for workshops and training: swanscotland.org/training

We aim to make our walks and groups as accessible as possible - they are led and designed by autisic people, in accessible venues.

If you have any medical conditions which might affect you when you are at a group, please let the facilitator know at the start of the group so they are aware of what to do should anything happen (e.g. epilepsy, diabetes, etc.).

If there is anything we can do to make the experience more accessible for you please do get in touch with us ahead of the meet up:

[email protected]

Loop One (35 minutes)

1. West Gate to Rock Garden (via Wild Orchard). We will follow the wheelchair route round the rock garden but people will have the option to climb over the rocks and meet us on the other side if they prefer.

2. Willow Pond

3. Chinese Hillside. The first level bridge is accessible. People will have the option to walk up to the 2nd and 3rd level bridges if they wish.

4. Back to West Gate

Option to leave early at this point.

Loop Two (20/25 minutes)

1. West Gate to Botanic Lodge and Queen Mother's Garden (via Scottish Wildwood)

2. Alpine Houses and Courtyard

3. Back to West Gate

The route is suitable for wheelchairs with a couple of options for people to explore further if they wish. The route is mostly flat though the surface can be uneven in places and there are a couple of inclines (not steep) that are unavoidable.

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