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With high pressure in charge of the weather, there was hardly a breath of wind and no sign of rain.

This was just the tonic needed to encourage Inverclyders to shake off any lethargy and step out into the pleasant autumn conditions.

The Lunderston coastal route was busy with walkers, some just strolling or walking dogs, and others giving their legs and lungs a workout by striding out purposefully along the path.

Swathes of autumn colour can give our spirits a lift(Image: David Carnduff)

At last, the succession of low pressures which had targeted the west of Scotland for what seemed like weeks on end had finally relented.

The settled conditions coincided with the publication of a new report which highlighted how being out in nature brings many health benefits.

It's a subject I've written about in the past and this new report adds to the considerable medical evidence that being out of doors is good for body and soul.

The report said that a study involving nearly 20,000 people found that those who spent at least a total of 120 minutes out of doors every week were significantly more likely to report good health and a higher psychological wellbeing.

It added: "When you see green trees, smell pine and hear gentle rustling leaves or the sound of birdsong, your autonomic nervous system - a network of nerves controlling unconscious processes - responds instantly."

So there you have it - just what the doctor ordered!

Fallen leaves create colourful carpets among Inverclyde's woodlands(Image: David Carnduff)

Meanwhile, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has taken this a stage further with their 'Nature Prescriptions' project.

This is where healthcare professionals encourage patients to use nature in a range of ways to aid recovery.

Nature Prescriptions were originally trialled in collaboration between RSPB Scotland and NHS Shetland and the programme is now being introduced to other areas.

The RSPB says the prescriptions are tailored to each individual to help them improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

Results have been encouraging and most healthcare professionals who were involved said they were happy to continue with the programme.

Here in Inverclyde, autumn is a perfect time to sample nature's medicine.

Woodland walks are especially calming when the trees start to shed their leaves, creating carpets of colour. And early morning mist can add elements of mystery to the even the most familiar of routes.

Going inland, the various trails starting at Greenock Cut Centre can take on extra appeal in the clear autumn air and there's always the chance of seeing migrating geese or whooper swans resting on Loch Thom.

If you're feeling energetic, climb the adjacent Dunrod Hill and enjoy the 360 degree panorama: to Arran in the south, Cowal to the west, the Argyll Hills to the north and, if visibility is good, the Pentland Hills far to the east.

Knapps Loch at Kilmacolm: a perfect location for an autumn stroll(Image: David Carnduff)

Nearby, Corlic Hill is the most northerly summit in the regional park area, with great views to the north and west. The route to hill is signposted at a junction beyond Whinhill golf course.

It is part of a circular walk which passes the Gryffe reservoirs and a forestry plantation where crossbills - quite a rare bird in Inverclyde - can be occasionally seen.

Inverclyde has an extensive network of cycle tracks, one of which runs from Kilmacolm village centre to Bridge of Weir and beyond. Once the route of a railway which ran to Glasgow, the track passes through attractive countryside with views to Misty Law.

If cycling is not your thing, then an autumn walk around Knapps Loch, at the southern edge of Kilmacolm, is bound to boost your mood. The loch, with its island and pine trees, has a good selection of wildfowl and is a favourite location for photographers.