So far the group has completed the Snowdonia Way, the Herriot Way, The National Three Peaks Challenge, a Glencoyne Head Hike and a South Down Hike, led by Paul Horwood and Robyn Lowe. There have also been many within the community who have met up personally to complete other events like the Yorkshire Three Peaks, the Ullswater way for Alzheimer's Awareness and many other brilliant events, including events ran by our ‘regional ambassadors’ who are community members who have offered their time to meet people in their local area for hikes and meet ups to support local connection.

Robyn and Paul are both trustees for Vetlife, and are passionate advocates for mental health awareness for the veterinary profession. Working with Veterinary Voices has allowed a privileged and unique insight into the extent of mental health burdens within our profession. During the Covid 19 pandemic many people have been split from their family and friends for a prolonged period of time causing isolation and loneliness. The first hike, the Snowdonia Way, supported by Paul Horwood and Adrian Nelson-Pratt of Vets: Stay, Go, Diversify, was the first in a series of events to get the profession out and about - walking and talking.

Overall, the hiking group aims to get our profession back in the fresh air, exercising, meeting up for local walks and forging connections, friendships, support systems and mentorship in the local area and across the UK via our Facebook group.

Who can join?

We encourage all the veterinary team to get involved, whether clinical, non clinical, academia, management or front of house - everyone is welcome. We also love to see non veterinary friends and spouses joining in the events.

One thing we do want to encourage is any ability of the veterinary team joining in; by no means this is an elite hiking group. We would love to see local vet parents going from pram walks, dog walks, hikes and wheelchair accessible routes being planned where possible.

Vetlife fundraising

We also spread awareness and fundraise along the way for Vetlife. We have set up a Just Giving page that you can donate to if you like this concept, but also have made it a Veterinary Voices Hiking Group Team page meaning you can join it and raise money through your own local events and challenges as part of the group.

See link below: