Women hiking alone

[Teatimes2]

Inspired by another thread, I'd love to hear stories about women who enjoy hiking/ long walks alone. It's something I used to do before I got into running. I was a member of a hiking club at one stage but I found the constant chat and big groups to be draining and would love some inspiration from other women who also prefer doing this alone.

I went for a long walk alone this morning. Dropped dc off at school and off I went.
Well, it was a long walk for me, through woodland, about 8 miles all in. Absolutely lovely, alone with my thoughts, barely saw another soul. Did see a few people out on their own walking their dogs.
I’m not into hiking (lazy!), I just like switching off for a couple of hours and being on my own sometimes. I so rarely get a chance to be on my own.

I always walk alone in the countryside, but only in the daylight.
I love the headspace!

I hike alone. I go to the lakes a few times a year and do some big hill walking days. Never felt unsafe as a lone female though I’m aware phone reception isn’t always great and it only takes one slip to have a broken leg, etc. I always carry an emergency shelter, a whistle and think I could wait out a rescue if necessary. I probably ought to be better about telling someone my route.

During the week I go on a long hike with my dogs every day. I occasionally go to a park but usually go off in the wilds and off the beaten track as it were.

I do talk to my dogs though!

I regularly hike alone. I can only remember a couple of occasions when I felt wary but not because anything specific happened, it was more me being careful.

Walking alone is fantastic, really good for your headspace. Personally, I’d hate to feel like I had to make conversation with a group if I didn’t feel like it.

I do it a lot. I’m trying to tick off all the Wainwrights. Sometimes I do them with my boyfriend, but sometimes if he’s working I jump in the car (am based in the NW) and do a few on my own.

Would stress you’d need to really know your navigation skills and be prepared with what you take with you. But it’s ace. I did a Steel Fell, Gibson Knott/Helm Crag walk once and only saw one fell runner in 7 hours. It was glorious!

I know which thread this was inspried by.. I'd love to go on long walks alone LOVE it but unfortunately my bad anxiety stops me as i always feel something bad will happen. I have a crippling anxiety that I'll get murdered or soemthing if i go out alone into open areas or woodland where there arnt many people..not sure why and ive spoken to a therapist who wasnt the most helpful so there we go ..

I've done it all the time for years -- I no longer live in the UK, but when I did I walked parts of the Pennine Way, the Ridgeway and the Cotswold Way solo, did the Leicestershire Round etc, and generally did a lot of solo walking. I've sometimes walked with friends, but genuinely prefer it alone. Other than the same elementary safety precautions in more iffy terrain that you'd take if you were walking in a group, I've never done anything special, or indeed felt at all at risk.

When we lived in a Leicestershire village, I used to walk a lot at night by myself too chronic insomniac and enjoyed it.

I try and have a long walk alone every day. I live near woods and fields so just head out and walk for a couple of hours (or less if it's a working day). It really does keep me sane and clears my head. I don't get the same benefits if walking with other people.

I go the Lakes once a week on my day off and hike alone. At this time of year I am out in the dark with a headtorch as I go out early. I have never felt unsafe. I think it's probably safer to be a lone woman in the countryside than a city.

I always camp and hike alone. I have a 'personal locator beacon' so I can summon assistance if I have an accident in a remote area with no phone signal.

Of course there is a risk but generally less than getting in the car to drive there.

I have done a few long distance walks alone, GR20 in Corsica and the Chamonix to Zermatt Haut route. I did it alone as a bloke but there seemed to be plenty of solo women trekking these routes. It is a nice way to travel as you can enjoy the solitude and majestic sights on your own during the day but if you want to socialise in the evening you can as most walkers for that stage will all end up staying in the same refuges where you can enjoy a glass of wine and a bite to eat.

I love walking alone; used to go for really long walks in the woods foraging and exploring and it’s just so relaxing and freeing. You can just roam at will and follow your nose (as it were) and discover some amazing views and places, also feel in tune with nature and experience the seasons/trees changing in an almost meditative way. It’s amazing for clearing the head and I highly recommend!

Sometimes I was looked at suspiciously (re the line woman thread) on the rare occasions I’d bump into others, but generally everyone really friendly. I would have felt slightly less self conscious with a dog tbh, but ultimately it’s such a pleasurable experience that if you get the “weirdo/murderer?” side eye, you just rise above it.

A guy I know said he always got weird looks and people trying to avoid him when walking alone in the woods with no dog, and it sounded like he aroused far more of a negative reaction than I ever did, I guess because he’s a potential threat.

So I think it can affect both sexes.

Bottom line - just gfi!

I live in the Peak District, often walk alone. From a "woman" perspective I have no concerns, I think I'm far more likely to meet a predator walking in a city park, or using transport, or online dating.

From a general walking alone point of view, I try to stay aware of the weather, tke appropriate equipment, plan routes well within my ability.

@DillonPanthersTexas

I have done a few long distance walks alone, GR20 in Corsica and the Chamonix to Zermatt Haut route. I did it alone as a bloke but there seemed to be plenty of solo women trekking these routes. It is a nice way to travel as you can enjoy the solitude and majestic sights on your own during the day but if you want to socialise in the evening you can as most walkers for that stage will all end up staying in the same refuges where you can enjoy a glass of wine and a bite to eat.

This is quite inspiring!

I've almost always run alone and walk the dog alone most of the time.

Oh yes I run all alone too, friends sometimes suggest going together but I always say no thanks, that’s my time! Plus they prefer to go in the evening whereas I’m a 5am girl for running otherwise I procrastinate all day and put myself off.
It’s dark at the moment when I go out but I just stick to the routes I know well. I miss running by the canal during the darker months, I avoid it when dark not through fear of anyone following me etc but more because it’s totally pitch black down there and I’m terrified of falling in
It’s liberating doing stuff on your own, get out there!!

This is a far less depressing thread than the ones that come up so frequently where women say they don't dare walk alone at all, anywhere, in case of attack.

I mean, I recognise that there's never zero risk, but the chances of a nutter or sexual predator hanging around waiting for the one person who passed every day or two on some of my more regular walks when I lived on the edge of a midlands village are pretty slim.

I love hiking alone and I've camped on longer distances.
There used to be a 'great outdoors' section of mn - I wonder if it's still around

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/the_great_outdoors

I walk on my own a lot, I walked the west Highland way solo in June. I love the feeling of solitude and being alone in a big space.

If you want to watch some inspirational YouTube channels and instagrams, I can recommend Mary Mansfield, Spend more time in the wild, Homemade Wanderlust, WildBeare - all women hiking, camping, long distance walking solo.

Another one here who walks solo in the countryside. Love it

@Negligee

This is a far less depressing thread than the ones that come up so frequently where women say they don't dare walk alone at all, anywhere, in case of attack.

I mean, I recognise that there's never zero risk, but the chances of a nutter or sexual predator hanging around waiting for the one person who passed every day or two on some of my more regular walks when I lived on the edge of a midlands village are pretty slim.

Agreed. So nice to see other women sharing positive stories of their lone hikes.

I walk on my own in the Peak District. Love the peace, solitude and time to breathe and think. I have never felt unsafe or threatened and find other solitary walkers or groups happy to pass the time of day if you want or equally happy to walk on by with a smile and a hi. Sensible precautions of course, check weather very carefully, planned route, right kit for conditions and tell someone where you are going and how long roughly you will be.

Do you mean go for a walk? Or several days hiking? Because the latter I will drum into my dc the same safety basics my friends and I always operated with- absolute minimum two people, ideally minimum 3, log your route with someone, pack suitably, etc etc.