I used to walk to and from school four times a day. Mum worked from home so I always came home for my dinner. 1/4 of a mile or so from home to infant and primary at Gisburn Road and about 1/2 a mile each way from Barlick Modern. So at least a mile a day from four to eleven and a couple of miles each day once at secondary school. Gym or sports twice a week, 3.5 mile cross country usually a couple of times each week before anything else. Couple this with laiking out after school, we used to roam miles in the country and round the becks and streams, best trout holes were always the furthest away.
Not the same sporting activity at school now and lots of kids that could walk are dumped via car. The only kids that came in cars or buses were the ones that lived out of town any distance, certainly at secondary school plenty walked from Kelbrook, Brogden, Salterforth and Earby.