Blog Post from Rebecca at Little Legs

I wasn’t quite prepared for the noise, chaos, and sheer intensity of parenting young children. I adore my kids and I love being a parent—but, like so many others, I’ve found the early years completely consuming.

Somewhere between the laundry mountain, snack demands, and sleep-deprived mornings, I lost my sense of self and personal space. And finding time to exercise without a child hanging off me was near impossible.

I’m always on the lookout for fun (and preferably free) things to do with the kids that get us all out of the house.

Living in Calderdale turned out to be a gift. The woods and hills became my escape.

In the early days, I’d walk with the pram or sling, often just to get a nap out of the baby and a moment of peace for myself. Birdsong and dappled light streaming through beech leaves soothed my babies and me.

I started to find short, easy routes close to home. Little loops I could do in under an hour – nothing too ambitious, just something achievable on low energy and low sleep. Places I could bail on if it all went pear-shaped, but more often than not, they gave me the quiet headspace I needed. Sometimes I’d walk alone, other times with friends, chatting as we went.

As my babies turned into toddlers, I started revisiting those same walks with them. We don’t have a garden, so these green pockets became our play space—a welcome change from the usual playground circuit. Over time, we explored the seasons together: spotting the first snowdrops, paddling in streams on sticky summer days, picking blackberries, watching sheep graze, crunching through fallen leaves, and leaving footprints in fresh snow.

I’ll be honest, we’re not a super-wholesome, always-outdoors kind of family. The TV is on a lot at home. We eat plenty of beige food from the freezer. There’s regular mess, chaos, arguments, and last-minute dashes out the door. It’s real life. But I’ve found it all feels more manageable when I’ve had a bit of fresh air, a bit of space, and a moment to just be. And the same goes for the kids, they stop climbing the walls and end up happier too.

It doesn’t always go smoothly. Some days are a write-off. But more often than not, getting outside acts like a reset button, for them and for me.

I started Little Legs to share some of the local walks and outdoor ideas that have worked for us, in the hope that they might help you too. You don’t need to be super outdoorsy or have all the ‘right’ kit. Just pop on your trainers and give it a go. There are so many brilliant little routes and green spaces in Calderdale – you might be surprised by how close they are.

Getting outside has become a vital part of looking after my mental health. And I believe there’s something there for everyone, even if it’s just a twenty-minute wander down a bridleway. You don’t have to go far to feel a bit better.