Leading the Way, One Small Step at a Time

Hannah Davies is the General Practice Physical Activity Champion for Pennine GP Alliance. As part of our Walking Works programme, Hannah attended our Walk Champion training and has been supporting her colleagues to walk more in and around the working day.

Hannah has also promoted the many benefits of walking to a local primary school and within her community, where she's set up a walking group. Here she reflects on the challenges and triumphs she's faced along the way.

When I moved to Calderdale with my three-year-old, I had a rude awakening. I’d pictured idyllic family walks through the stunning West Yorkshire countryside. The reality was a toddler who treated walking like a chore and whose enthusiasm for the outdoors was directly proportional to the amount of sunshine.

Getting her out the door was less of a scenic stroll and more of a battle of wills, involving what felt like dragging a sack of potatoes with very strong opinions.

New to the area and without a network of friends, I knew I had to do something. I wanted my daughter to love being outside, and I wanted to connect with other parents who were going through the same struggles. The idea was simple: create a family walking group where kids could socialise while the adults did the same. What started as a hope for a few new friends quickly grew into something so much more meaningful.

And so, the Valley Roamers were born.

I started by inviting a few people I’d met in Hebden Bridge to join me. We decided to meet on the last Sunday of every month, a simple commitment that was easy to remember. Our walks are usually around five kilometres, a distance that might sound short to an experienced hiker, but with little legs and a constant need to explore, snack, and inspect every interesting stick, rock and puddle, it can easily take a good few hours.

The early days were a mix of familiar faces and newcomers. Slowly but surely, the group grew. What started as a handful of us has now blossomed into a group of 22 members, and we’re always happy to welcome new families. The beauty of the Valley Roamers is its relaxed and inclusive nature. There’s no pressure to keep up a certain pace; we go as fast as the slowest walker. This philosophy has created a supportive and welcoming environment where everyone feels comfortable, regardless of their child’s age or walking ability.

Over the past couple of years, we've walked through an incredible variety of landscapes. We've traced the winding paths along rivers, scrambled up the rocky faces of crags, trekked across open moorland and ambled along the peaceful canal paths. Every walk is a new adventure, a chance to discover a different part of the incredible Calderdale landscape.

We've seen the seasons change, watched the wildflowers bloom in spring, crunched through autumn leaves and wrapped up warm for frosty winter walks. There’s a certain kind of joy that comes from being outside, even in the most challenging weather, and our group has learned to embrace it all.

I’m so incredibly proud of what the Valley Roamers has become. It’s about so much more than just the physical benefits of walking, though those are certainly a welcome bonus. It’s about the invaluable social connections we’ve built. Friendships have blossomed between the adults, who share stories and advice as we walk. And for the kids, it’s a monthly reunion. 

They’ve gone from being hesitant walkers to mini-explorers, eagerly looking forward to seeing their friends. There's a friendly competition to see who can find the coolest thing in nature—be it a particularly gnarled tree root, a funny-shaped stone, or a tiny, fascinating insect.

The best part of all is seeing the kids’ attitudes toward walking completely transformed. The same child who once resisted leaving the house now asks eagerly when the next Valley Roamers walk is. She and the other children in the group now have a newfound appreciation for the outdoors, and that, to me, is the greatest success of all.

We're not just a walking group; we're a community. We’re building lasting friendships, nurturing a love for nature, and creating lifelong memories, one small step at a time.

Hannah's involvement in Living Streets Walking Works programme was funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority. To find out more about our work in the region, email [email protected]