Arthur's Seat walk turned out to be just the ticket for me and the boys – Hayley Matthews

As mental health awareness week comes to an end, I've been trying to do things that have a positive impact on my mental health.

Arthur's Seat proved to be a natural gym for Hayley Matthews and her boys (Picture: Scott Louden)

I've written before about my struggles with pre- and post-natal depression, growing up with an alcohol-dependant and violent parent and then all the anxiety left from all the bits in between. So instead of me going over old ground, I'm trying to up my fresh air and outside time.

I'm also on a mission to have less booze, more fresh fruit and veg, upping supplements etc and moving my bum to get some exercise and boost the "feel good hormones".

I'd planned on doing a decent walk every other day. However, a sickness bug hit our household and so Mr Hayley was not feeling good and needed a few days in bed at the weekend. Wanting to give him some peace and quiet, I decided to take the boys out for a walk. Little did they know that I had a big walk planned.

We started off with baby steps just heading to a park, then lunch, then I suggested feeding the birds, then before they knew it we were halfway round Arthur’s Seat. There was some huffing and hawing and the odd moan but we walked all the way round and I can't believe we even found an ice cream van halfway up!

We all felt so much better for it and even though I haven't signed up to the gym yet this week like I'd also planned, I've still gotten the steps in and spent some quality time with my boys in the meantime.

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