Members of a Balloch health walk group celebrated its fourth birthday in style with an appearance on BBC’s The Big Painting Challenge recently.

With their intricate knowledge of Loch Lomond’s bonnie banks, Walk in the Park’s Balloch branch were selected as the perfect judges to select winning paintings of the loch that would catapult contestants into the semi-finals of the competition.

The group took part in filming at Rossdhu House at Loch Lomond back in November, but kept their appearance under their hats until just before the show was aired on Sunday, April 22.

And the part in the show is testament to the great connection the walking group have with the area, currently with around 60 registered walkers and 35-plus people taking park in each weekly walk.

Fran Crumley, Lomond coordinator for Walk in the Park, told the Reporter: “Our involvement came from a request from the BBC. They were looking for a walking group that knew the area.

“They wanted people who would be able to look at the paintings and know if they incorporated that feeling of walking in the area.

“A lot of people in our group are born and bred here. They have a great knowledge and love of the mountains and countryside.

“Around 20 people from the group were involved. We filmed around October last year down at Rossdhu House at Loch Lomond Golf Club, and then filmed some walking shots.

“We didn’t know any of the painters, and we didn’t know ourselves who had painted each of the paintings until we watched the programme.”

The Walk in the Park project is run by the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Countryside Trust, and focuses on helping people to enjoy the physical, psychological and social benefits of walking in the beautiful surrounds of the national park.

The Balloch group have now been going for four years – and its members have struck up fantastic bonds through the weekly morning walks, which last around 45 minutes.

And it’s the more, the merrier, as new members are always welcome.

Fran said: “It’s simple and easy to do and a chance to enjoy the nurturing environment of the park. It helps promote a sense of well being.

“The main mission is to encourage people to be more active through walking. It can also help people who may be recovering from falls. We also offer strength and balance sessions.

“In the Balloch group we have a group of predominantly 50- to 55-year-olds. The health walk has physical and social benefits. It’s set up for people who have been inactive for a period of time, but groups are really open to everybody - we never turn anybody away.

“It’s totally free, and after every single walk we have a social opportunity for people - we’ll have tea and coffee.

“We have a lot of people who have come by themselves, it’s a very welcoming and friendly atmosphere. I’m out on every single walk.”

From starting out with one group in Callander 10 years ago, The Walk in the Park project has developed to now offer five groups based across the park with its latest addition in Drummond coming up to its first birthday.

Fran, who has been working with the project for two years, said: “It’s amazing, I love my job. I get to know such amazing people who all have their stories to tell. There’s a place for everybody.

“It’s free, fun and really simple. It’s a really easy way to get active again. It becomes part of walkers’ life.

The Balloch Walk in the Park group meets every Wednesday at 10.20am. For more information contact coordinator Cathy Scott by emailing cathy.scott@loch-lomond-trossachs.org