Starting school run, no option but to walk mud track

[LittleMigraines]

My eldest is starring nursery, however as I don't drive (medical condition) the only way to get there is to walk via a country lane road, or up a mud track lane through woods. I'm getting very nervous about this as I will have 2 DC for this. Any tips or advice please.

Is it a country road with no footpath? How so you get the kids places at the moment?

Good shoes.

How long is the walk, OP? And how old is the youngest? I assume you’ll need to do a back carrier or something?

Do you all have excellent wet weather gear and good wellies?

Take snacks for the return journey!

Alternatively, do you know anyone who will be driving who might give a lift?

Wear wellington boots.👢

Decent wellies and torches for when it’s dark. I knew someone who walked their child to nursery 3 miles along a path next to the river. Their attendance wasn’t great once the weather turned wet and cold.

There's no path next to the road unfortunately.
The walk along the dirt track takes roughly 25 minutes, I havent tested walking along the side of the road yet as I'm nervous about this with 2 children. The youngest is 1, I have an Out and About stroller currently as eldest won't use a stroller anymore. I have recently brought a puddle suit for eldest, and we both have wellies.

We dont tend to go out often on our own, usually with family or friends in their cars, however once at school we have no one nearby who can give us a lift, and do enjoy walking, it's just the practicalities and my fear.

Wellie boots & waterproof trousers. Even if DC has to take them off on arrival at school & put school shoes on. I've done that with my 2 to walk through woods to school when car was in the garage.

Wellies. If it’s going to be very muddy then hiking poles/a stick are probably worth considering.
For the kids could they have school shoes and the walk to and from school in the wellies?
Also high vis reflective tabard/sash or flashing lights would be good as the evenings and mornings get darker.
could you cycle? Kids in a trailer or bike seat?

The dirt track is safer from vehicles, but then I worry about 'weird' people and something happening with no protection for us.

I was at secondary school but I had to wear wellies every day to walk up a muddy track to get to the bus - I wouldn't stress, just make sure you have decent wellies and consider waterproof trousers or alternatively see about keeping a spare pair of trousers at school in case of a slip on the way in.

Cycle up the lane with the kid in a tow along buggy?

so you are going to be walking over an hour and a half every day for drop off and collection in potentially shitty weather and you have a younger one to deal with too?

Is it a busy road? Could you get one of those cycle trailer things for the kids and cycle to school?

At the moment I cant afford a bicycle nor a trailer.
Maybe my imagination is making it worse than it is, realistically I know the chances of anything happening to us along the track are slim. Not sure if we are safer to walk in the road or the track.

You need to either learn to drive or move house.

Do you live somewhere particularly dangerous, or with a track record of attacks on women rurally?

I'm asking as it's perhaps unusual to be so anxious about this.

In practical terms you could try:

• a test run of the walk accompanied by someone for reassurance
• a head torch for when it gets darker
• taking a rape alarm with you
• having your phone in your pocket so you can quickly get help if needed
• could you cycle with children in seats on the bike?

I walk solo and with the children rurally a lot, I'm yet to encounter anything worse than a blister and have never once met anyone unpleasant or weird, if that's somehow reassuring.

It actually sounds lovely and a good way to keep fit. Please don’t worry !

How about the muddy puddle suit and wellies and ask to keep his school shoes at school (plus spare clothes incase he still gets muddy) to be kept on the class.

Sorry, just saw you can't learn to drive. You need to move then. Where you live sounds unsuitable in lots of ways, not just for nursery.

Seems odd to choose to live so remotely with children if you're scared of weird people and don't drive.

There are no known attacks I know about here, just a personal worry.

I am also aware my situation is completely less than ideal, but that's my current situation and I have to make the best of it, if I could be a driver again I would, but I cant, I also cannot just move home at the moment. Believe me, I wish I could change a lot at the moment, I am simply trying to do the best I can with what I can, and how I can.

Sounds similar to mine though I do have an option to drive but by a weird quirk it's much further so walking is quicker. Take the path, wear wellies and enjoy it.

@RedHelenB my situation has changed since first moving here. Things I could never have seen happening and things I did not want to happen.

Thank you to all those offering reassurance and help, it really is appreciated.