To prefer long walks/ hikes alone.

[Teatimes2]

I was a member of a walking club for many years. Much as I enjoyed the walks and lovely scenery etc, I found the constant chatter and noise too much. I am an introvert though! Lately, I've been branching out and doing longer hikes myself. I find the silence and peace refreshing and feel less drained afterwards from all the small talk.
Anyone else feel like this or am I just odd!?

Ha that sounds like me at work! I never like the ‘cool’ tv shows and this whole reality tv thing is just incomprehensible to me (a load of show-off toddlers viying for attention). I just put on my headphones and listen to a podcast (I need to ‘concentrate’ when in doing some fiddly coding...)

Why would that be strange? If you prefer walking along that's fine!
I run, I belong to a club and enjoy running with friends, but also running alone with my dog. It's nice to go both!

I live hiking and I live in the mountains and also cross country ski. I talk a lot about my adventures and people often asking they can come along next time.

I hate being responsible for other people's logistics, for the constant questions, where are we going, are you sure this is the right way, what time will we be back, I've worn the wrong shoes, I'm hungry, I didn't know it would be this hilly, I'll just wait here, you can climb to the peak and we can walk down together. But I do actually love company... I did find the perfect partner, twice in fact, but one now has a job that makes our hikes impossible and the other has moved to the US.. I am gutted!

And I am under no illusion that the common factor is me... I am the problem!!

I happily walk alone or with the dog, I can’t walk far but I enjoy solitude.
DH walks too fast for me and prefers longer distances so we don’t go out together.

I joined a local walking group but they were so cliquey and unfriendly I soon abandoned that! The Ramblers weren’t much better, I felt really snubbed so solo it is!

Yes and l am the same with running....hate the pressure of having to walk or run at someone else's pace

I have a friend who I walk with now who I met through a young widows group. We cover many miles together but I do find she hasn’t mastered comfortable silence yet!

I’m not adverse to chatting whilst we go but it gets tiresome, is non stop and it’s always quite deep. I often find I’m mentally as well as physically exhausted by the end.

I do walk alone, but it’s finding some more walks which I feel safe doing. I really wish I had a dog to go with.

I feel exactly the same. I'm a fairly happy, sociable person but much prefer walking just me and the dog. I love the feeling of being with my own thoughts and experiencing the changing landscape. Chatting with someone else completely distracts from that.

The Voice, a poem by Rupert Brooke describes it very well

www.rupertbrooke.com/poems/1908-1911/the_voice/

Walking alone is lovely, especially mid-week in term time, if you can. So peaceful and such a wonderful opportunity for thought, observation and to indulge my inner voice in directions it wouldn't normally find space for.

I also like walking with people but, with a group, it does take a while and a lot of chat to sift through the regulars and work out who you're best attuned to. You also become known yourself as 'a quiet one', by your interests etc, so the right people find you, the wrong ones drift off. That all takes a few months of walking regularly, you can't expect instant results in two or three walks.

I do find walks a great opportunity to catch up with one friend at a time, as well. Something about the natural rhythm and the fact you're 'doing something', not just sitting for the purpose of talking (which can feel a bit forced), makes conversation flow more naturally I find. Also there's a defined end point and structure to the outing.

Yes, I much prefer walking alone. I find chatting and walking with friends absolutely exhausting and really not very enjoyable. I do however love walking with DH and DS, we have a laugh and reconnect but there's no pressure for constant meaningful chat. We can walk without talking for stretches. I dont have a friend I can do that with. The silence feels uncomfortable.

@Bryonyshcmyony I really can understand those feelings - somewhere where I used to walk regularly has had a couple of women raped and a few incidences of flashers.

I don't walk there, but I have set an auto alarm / signal on my sports watch so if anything did happen I could trigger that. I also carry a small canister of deep heat spray should I need to spray someone in the eyes with it use it because I get cramp suddenly.

I’m seeing a gap in the market for ‘silent partners’ - walking buddies that will only say things like ‘watch out for that dog poo’ ‘are we lost?’ ‘Wow a double rainbow’ and ‘time for a cuppa’... I’m in!

@KittenKong me too!

That's a wonderful idea!

@Bryonyshcmyony I'm the same way. I'm disabled and live in a semi rural area. There are loads of gentle lovely paths I could walk and it would be so good for me, but they are also remote and I know of at least one woman raped while she was out walking locally . Wish I was in a position to get a big scary dog to bring out with me!

Yes that’s why we need an understanding buddy system.

I always walk alone because it helps in so many ways; to keep fit, to think things through if I'm troubled or puzzling something out, to de-stress and unwind after a hectic work day, to get closer to the natural environment after enclosed office or wfh space, and just to have the choice to change route, or what I do along the way without having to heed someone else's preference!

@Bryonyshcmyony

I love walking alone but for some reason I am scared of it. A woman was assaulted walking on the coast near me and its really shaken my confidence.

I’m the same. I love walking by myself with just my little dog for company. Ddog is not a fan of other dogs so I tend to walk remote routes that I know will be quiet. Over the last year or so I’ve started to feel anxious before my walks but once I’m out and about I feel fine. My confidence is shaken and it’s annoying that I feel that way.

I love walking alone.

Though I also like walking with a small number of walking buddies. A good walking partner knows that everyone has to do things at the pace that is right for them. Do uphill stretches fast and then have a sit down and look at the view or slow and steady and keep going. It isn’t a three-legged race, tied together.

Also people who can simply enjoy the view, silence, sound of birds and don’t yak non stop.

Alfred Wainright says something like..
'Thanks also to my two faithful companions who have steadfastly suported me throughout my hikes, my left leg and my right leg.'
And I do sometimes think.. that I am out with my favourite walking companion when I am out alone. I walk neither faster nor slower and I am very agreeable to all of my own opinions.

@MorrisZapp

I'm a friendly, sociable person but I honestly prefer doing most things alone. Shopping, walking, exploring new cities, having a sandwich on a bench etc. I love to mooch and follow my own nose.

I see couples in shops or out walking and I shudder a little bit.

Exactly this!

My daily walks are alone, not hiking length but sometimes an hour. YANBU to prefer this.

I like to walk alone, but I wouldn't attempt anything too remote on my own after what happened to poor Esther Dingley. Even though she let her boyfriend know her route, he didn't raise the alarm for 3 days after she stopped her regular communication and by that time it was sadly too late. So for that reason I would always attempt something that's a bit strenuous with someone else who would actually be there to see if anything went wrong!

I prefer doing most things alone but I rarely
Get the opportunity
I run solo, I’m rubbish but it’s all for me. I would hate to run with others, to have to keep up or slow down to accommodate someone else. I definitely don’t want to be chatting.
Same with walking too. I don’t have a dog, I get up early in the holidays and either go for a long walk or run just to have some alone time. No one yabbering in my ear about their work problems, or moaning that they’re bored. I realise I sound very intolerant of others. I suppose I am!
I do meet friends for dog walks and walks with all the kids but I like to also have that time I’ve carved out to be totally alone.