
Exploring the health benefits of hiking and amazing cross-border hiking routes
“Hiking as an antidepressant”, a one-hour conversation took place at the Conversation Festival LAMPA on September 5, 2020 in Cēsis Concert Hall studio in Latvia and at the same time could be watched online. It was a great opportunity to find out more about hiking and amazing cross-border hiking routes that have been developed or are under construction in all three Baltic countries, such as Coastal Hiking along the Baltic Sea, Forest Trail that connects Rīga and Tallinn via forests and Green Railways, that allow exploring the old railway lines and cross the border.
The conversation was moderated by the journalist and World Wildlife Fund ambassador Kristīne Garklāva and connected field experts:
- Gatis Bušs, family psychotherapist,
- Matijs Babris, entrepreneur, architect, adventure traveler, hiker,
- Edgars and Baiba, Coastal hikers.
The conversation was broadcasted from the Cēsis Concert Hall studio and now the story is published here.
Challenging oneself for a 16 km long hike
LAMPA Interreg Hike followed the conversation and led along the scenic Gauja river on September 5 in Cēsis and its surroundings. 16 km long route has started near Cēsis Concert Hall and followed varying terrain through the city, forest, gravel roads and along Gauja riverside till Ērgļu cliffs and back to Cēsis. Adventurous hike allowed to 70 hikers from Estonia and Latvia to explore the natural beauty of Cēsis and amazing cross-border hiking route the Forest Trail.
Both events were organized by the Interreg Latvia of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of Latvia in cooperation with Interreg Estonia-Latvia programme, Interreg Latvia-Lithuania Programme and Interreg Central Baltic Programme and Latvia-Russia CBC Programme.