About BigWalk
Introduction to BigWalk
Connection with nature
and the healing power of forests
Connection with others
and the healing power of community
Connection with self
and the healing power of knowing oneself deeply
Big Walk is a life practice that Scotty Poynton and Scotty Williams believe is important in the context of the increasing pressures of modern life that tend to increase mental fatigue. In our experience the restorative nature of Big Walking may decrease this through extended experience of wild nature, involving long periods of walking together.
Just seeing, feeling, smelling, touching, listening. Just that.
It is so powerful. It is so simple.
As we all strive to navigate the complex challenges of today and restore loving participation in nature, the Scotts believe that there is a need to support people to reconnect with the simple, beautiful healing power of nature. Whilst at the same time spending this time in nature with a small group of other humans to deeply explore the connections and interdependencies between us, and most importantly, to better understand our participation in nature and to connect with ourselves.
The philosophical murmurings of Michael Leunig infuse our perspective, with humour and love as we journey across Switzerland on our shared journey of restoration, our journey deep inside ourselves to find the essence of who we are, what really matters for us and how we can help others on their journeys with curiosity, courage and love.
On our physical journey we walk across Switzerland on the SwissMobility trails, including the Jura Crest Trail (National Hiking Route 5) from Dielsdorf towards Nyon. We are keen to BigWalk on the ViaGottardo and other https://www.schweizmobil.ch/en/summer.html walking trails in 2020, please let us know if you are interested at bigwalklife@gmail.com
Cast
We are aiming for many people from all walks of life, from all backgrounds, from all parts of the world to join us on our Big Walk journeys (both physically and in spirit).
Big Walk 2018 in August 2018, on NR5 from Dielsdorf, saw the Scotts joined by John Watkins.
Big Walk 2019 in August 2019, also on NR5 from Dielsdorf, expanded our Big Walkers to include six new people: Steph Fonteyn, Alessandro Poynton, Marc Doyle, Alban Mayne, Jacques Nollet and Graham Beesley.
We welcome anyone interested to consider joining us on one of our Big Walks in 2020. Please register your interest by sending an email to bigwalklife@gmail.com
We look forward to walking with you in the future for your future!
"It is clearly and palpably the case that being active is better for every single organ system of the body than being inactive. And better again that this activity is undertaken in large and regular doses, day by day, week by week and year by year, right throughout life."
Shane O'Mara
Scotty Poynton is a forester who loves walking and talking, he is the founder of Earthworm (formerly The Forest Trust) and a Community Ambassador for Movember.
Scotty Williams is focused on risk, resilience and regeneration and is driven to support people on their journey towards transformative action. He believes in courage, not hope, and above all, love.
Why BigWalk?
For peace, for confidence, for strength and courage, for connection with what really matters in your life, with nature and with others
Testimonial from Alban Mayne
Big Walker 2019
"It took courage to give BigWalk2019 a go. My biggest worry was rather mental. I was anxious about being with myself for hours and hours and having no escape from it during whole days. It was worrying but exciting at the same time.
Thanks to Scotty P’s guidance we took time to pause, stop, observe, enjoy the beautiful nature from landscapes, forests and trees to insects, flowers or mushrooms.
We all got to listen more to others and to ourselves.
If I had to choose one word to summarize what this experience was about, connection is what #BigWalk2019 was all about!
Connection to nature to start with. Taking proper time to stop, look, listen, smell, admire and ultimately realize that we are part of nature is absolutely magical. After a few days of walking, I was really feeling at home in the forests and my senses were getting stronger and stronger. An amazing memory was the 3rd day walk through the forest when it was raining and the mist was giving a very special feeling of the forest as if we were walking in “The Hobbit”. It unlocked my mind and my senses for the rest of the walk as I felt part of nature and not an outsider anymore from that point.
Connection to your own feeling. The long hour of walking offer you the opportunity to listen to yourself and go deep. It can be scary but in the end it is much needed in this often superficial money-driven world that can easily distract from really matters. The beauty of the walk is that you can walk alone when you need to and together with anyone when you want to.
Connection with new amazing people. I am so lucky to have connected with wonderful people and have had time to discover them through quality time and shared experiences. The fact that the walk lasts several days is very important as you get to exchange with other walkers over a much longer period than usual and the output of our discussions got much richer."
August, 2019
