Case Studies
Katy’s Journey – Finding inner confidence in the outdoors
Steve’s Journey – From Recovery to Purpose
Paul’s Journey – Finding Peace on the Path
Tom’s Journey – From Burnout to the Fells
Tom had spent years working under intense pressure in a Michelin-starred kitchen. The long hours and relentless stress eventually took a toll on his mental health, leading him to walk away from his career and, for a while, from day-to-day life. Struggling with anxiety and low motivation, even getting out of bed became a challenge.
When Tom was referred to Tracks & Dales, he was unsure. A few early attempts to go on short walks didn’t come to fruition, his anxiety was overwhelming. But in time, he took the first step and joined us for a walk and climb at Hutton Roof. That day changed everything.
Through our structured outdoor sessions, Tom began to rebuild his confidence. He learned new skills and discovered joy in movement and nature. We supported him to take his climbing further by introducing indoor sessions, which allowed him to build independence in a supportive environment
From there, Tom went on to tackle a challenging walk and scramble in The Langdales. The experience was tough, but it gave him a renewed sense of achievement. Today, he’s set his sights on Helvellyn, a peak that felt impossible just five months ago. Tom is also now back in employment, working at a small independent pub in Ulverston and feeling happier, healthier, and more connected than he has in years.
Daniel’s Reset – Climbing Back to Confidence
David’s Forgotten Fells - Remembering to Heal
Callum’s Journey - From Isolation to Independence
Katy joined Tracks&Dales through our partnership with Cumberland Council’s Care Experienced Team.
Having grown up in the care system and now navigating young adulthood, Katy arrived on her first activity feeling very quiet, unsure of herself, and lacking in confidence. Being in a new group and outdoor setting felt unfamiliar, and she understandably kept herself to herself at first.
Over time, through regular activities and a welcoming, supportive environment, Katy began to settle. As she grew more comfortable, she started to open up, join in conversations, and take a more active role in the group.
Her confidence has steadily grown. Katy is now someone who looks out for others during activities, offering encouragement and support to those who may be feeling just as unsure as she once did. Seeing her step into this role has been a fantastic part of her journey with Tracks&Dales.
Spending time outdoors has helped Katy feel more connected, more assured in herself, and more optimistic about what she is capable of.
What began as a nervous first step into the unknown has become a space where Katy feels she belongs.
Steve first connected with Tracks & Dales through our partnership with The Well Communities, a peer-led recovery organisation that supports people overcoming drug and alcohol addiction through long-term, trauma-informed care and a 12-step behaviour change programme.
Before coming to us, Steve’s life had been strongly affected by addiction. He had experienced the instability, loss of direction, and disconnection that often accompany substance misuse, and he recognised that he needed structured support to begin rebuilding his life.
Through The Well’s 12-step programme — a framework that encourages personal reflection, accountability, and mutual support — Steve gradually developed greater clarity and stability. As part of this process, he learned to understand himself more deeply, build healthier routines, and reconnect with his community of peers who had lived experience of recovery.
Once he was engaged with The Well and making progress in the programme, Steve joined Tracks & Dales. Here, the combination of wellbeing walks and outdoor activity added a valuable new dimension to his recovery. The time spent in nature, alongside supportive staff and fellow participants, helped Steve strengthen his resilience, improve his wellbeing, and enjoy moments of calm focus away from the pressures of day-to-day life.
Now, Steve is well on his way through the 12-step journey and continues to build a life shaped by meaning, connection, and self-respect. Looking forward, he’s expressed a powerful desire for a “full circle” moment — giving back as a volunteer with Tracks & Dales once he’s ready. This aspiration reflects not only how far he has come, but also how deeply he has embraced the value of helping others on their own journeys.
Steve’s story shows how collaborative, community-centred support — combining therapeutic recovery work with nature-based wellbeing — can help people move from chaos to confidence, and eventually, into service and purpose.
Paul joined Tracks & Dales carrying the weight of chronic, unprocessed trauma. His early experiences of life were shaped by isolation, threat, humiliation, and intimidation, alongside physical abuse. Over many years, these experiences deeply affected his sense of safety, self-worth, and connection to others.
In the spring of 2025, Paul reached a crisis point and attempted to take his own life. In the aftermath, he identified a clear and deeply personal goal: to lead a dignified, peaceful, and fulfilling life.
Paul began attending regular wellbeing walks with Tracks & Dales, starting gently and at his own pace. These walks provided more than physical movement; they offered space, consistency, and the chance to be outdoors without pressure or expectation. Being in nature, supported by understanding staff, allowed Paul to begin reconnecting with himself and the world around him in a way that felt safe.
Over the past six months, Paul has attended wellbeing walks consistently. During this time, he has grown in confidence, emotional stability, and self-awareness. The structure of the sessions, combined with the calm of the natural environment, has helped him regulate emotions, build trust, and develop healthier coping strategies.
Paul is now in a much better place. Looking ahead, he has begun to think about how his own experiences might be used to help others. An avid artist, Paul has a strong ambition to combine creativity with therapeutic practice, using art as a way to support people who are struggling — in a form that plays to his strengths and allows him to excel. This sense of purpose is an important part of his ongoing recovery and reflects his growing hope for the future.
While his journey continues, Paul’s story highlights how compassionate, nature-based support can help people move from crisis towards stability, purpose, and renewed direction in life.
After stepping away from a high-pressure career in hospitality, Daniel found himself stuck. The energy and confidence he once had were gone, and even daily routines felt overwhelming. Attempts to re-engage with life, including joining Tracks & Dales for short walks, didn’t go to plan. Anxiety always seemed to get in the way.
But with time, patience, and gentle support, Daniel joined us for a walk and climb at Hutton Roof. Something clicked that day. He surprised himself with what he could do—and enjoyed it.
That single experience turned into a series of transformative sessions. Daniel began indoor climbing, building confidence in a controlled space while sharpening the skills he’d learned outdoors. A more demanding day out in The Langdales followed, which brought him a huge sense of personal pride.
Now, Daniel is planning to summit Helvellyn, a goal that once felt completely out of reach. He’s also returned to work in Ulverston, this time in a setting that aligns better with his mental wellbeing. Daniel’s story is proof that with the right support and environment, people can rediscover purpose, strength, and joy in movement.
David had spent most of his life walking up mountains across the UK, and had ‘completed’ the Wainwrights 3 times. However, Covid struck and in an extremely rare case, affected his short term memory. David now struggles to remember what he did in very recent events, but can recall days spent on the fells in his youth.
David got in touch with Tracks&Dales through the Carnforth & Milnthorpe Primary Care Network, due to being depressed from not being able to get out walking independently anymore. Through structured walks and open conversation, David is slowly improving his short term memory and his fitness through movement.
His wife, Ruth, is able to to have time to herself when David is out with us and is very grateful to Tracks&Dales for that time. For David, the aim is to eventually complete some of his favourite Lake District hills, including Loughrigg, when the time is right. For now, David is able to complete each walk and talk about more and more things that are more recent, which is a fantastic achievement.
Callum had recently started attending Andy’s Man Club support groups in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. Callum started attending due to ‘loneliness and depression’ and knew he needed to change.
Tracks&Dales offers outdoor activities to all Andy’s Man Club participants, so Callum took the big first step and got in touch with us, as he has always wanted to discover the Great Outdoors, as he knew it would benefit his mental health, but never knew how.
After an initial chat, it was evident that Callum would benefit from time spent outside on walks and climbs throughout Cumbria. Callum explained he is lonely, and would like to socialise more through nature. Tracks&Dales explained how our structured sessions will enable him to become independent and safe in the outdoors, as well as help him meet likeminded people to share his stories and adventures with.