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.

Love it. Done it all my life since age 12 so over 40 years now, both in this country and overseas. Although usually not strictly alone, as my dog is with me.

If out in a very remote spot, I always leave route notes behind. Always carry a whistle, a map if in unfamiliar terrain ( don't rely on batteries lasting) and a fully charged phone. Food and drink and proper clothing and boots.

I rarely see anyone else on my routes, and other solo women walkers are very rare.

@Janeandjohnny I was most appreciative when a runner behind me on a dark country lane announced " runner coming past" when he saw me.
If I had heard someone running behind me without that it would frighten the life out of me.

[quote FindingMeno]@Janeandjohnny I was most appreciative when a runner behind me on a dark country lane announced " runner coming past" when he saw me.
If I had heard someone running behind me without that it would frighten the life out of me.[/quote]
Thats a great tip. Im gonna do that next time. Thank you.

I live in Snowdonia and love walking alone. Done snowdon hundreds of times. Prefer to go alone and off the beaten path. Prefer do that as the tourists take the main paths. I fo quarries, prefer them as they are quieter

I do most weekends. Gone up several munros solo, camp solo etc etc

V happy for you to message me or to answer on the thread any specific concerns.

It is hugely rare for me to encounter another solo female hiker. Other than that no issues but lots to consider.

It is a wonderful hobby for fitness, mental health, photography, writing, nature spotting etc etc

Another solitary walker, I've gone walking and hiking on my own for as long as I can remember, including walking in the less salubrious areas of various cities in the UK and abroad, and have never experienced anything that would make me hesitate. I like walking with other people sometimes, but enjoy having a few hours of not having to worry about anyone other than myself.

I love walking alone on old tracks. I could go on about it but do look at the Adventure Queens group on FB where you will find a whole community of women who do all sorts of walking

I'm not fit enough to do long walks now, and when I'm out of London I'm with DP, but when I was in my 20s and 30s I went off walking for a few days on my own several times. I loved having days when I barely saw a soul, was never scared.

Almost solitary, just me and two older dogs

I love it, have done this since I was old enough to drive, and round our local country roads before that. In Wales I used to go up the Brecons and Black Mountains (quite often would see maybe one other person near the mountain road on the latter- then nobody, all day. If it was a warm summer's day I'd have a sleep in the grass for an hour, looking back I was lucky not to get any ticks!) . In New Zealand I climbed Mount Taranaki and did the Tongariro Crossing on my own. Got out of the way of it now but I did spend some of the last couple of weeks of my second maternity leave walking...I climbed Slieve Donard which I had never done before, and also my county top Sawel Mountain- didn't see a sinner on that one, even for the last 20 minutes of the drive on the road in. When the wind dropped there was complete and utter silence (it being winter- in summer, there would have been skylarks probably. Skylarks are reason alone to go hillwalking by yourself).

I live v near Richmond Park and I love taking the long way round through the park but I’m mindful of time of the day. I wouldn’t feel safe after dark.

I have hiked on my own, multi-day hikes on the South West Coast path, South downs way, and on trails in New Zealand. I never felt unsafe, there were always other people around (too many people who wanted to chat on the South West Coast path, it took me ages to get anywhere!). I did occasionally worry about getting blown off a cliff when it was windy but apart from that it was a fantastic experience. I mainly just run on my own at the moment on local routes. I've never had any trouble, just comments from older men telling me I'm doing well and cheering me on (I must look like I need some encouragement!).

I did this a lot when I was single - packed up the car, loaded up the dog and camped and hiked in the Peak District. I can read a map and navigate, and I didn’t go in winter (too cold for me to camp then!), and I loved it.

These days I trail run, almost always alone. Dear old dog is gone now, and I have a young puppy who will be my running buddy in time. We have some adventures to go on, him and me. I also have a hankering to run a long distance trail, perhaps the Icknield Way, one end of which is very close to my home. I love the idea of an expedition and travelling to where I’m going on my feet. And I’d love to do the coast to coast as well, although that I’d do with DH. Financial and family commitments prevent this at the moment, but one day…

I recovered well after having ds but HATED maternity leave. I was bored stupid. His dad and all my friends were at work.
Ds was an easy baby and I bf so I bought a sling and walked the easier bits of the Brecon Beacons, all of the ridgeway and some of the Peak District that year. It was a brilliant summer and I lost my baby weight, no problem.
Lots of people stopped to chat too which was good because I was quite short of adult conversation.

I often happily walk my dog alone for 2-3 hours (and walked alone before having the dog). This is around the area where I live, so I know it well and don't have to worry about navigating.

When it comes to walking across fields full of cows, however, I would much prefer to be in a big group of 30+ ramblers!

I've been walking on my own countless times. I've also been on multi-day walks where I stayed at hostels and/or hotels on my own (I'm not a fan of camping). I've never found it a problem. I've always done this "in season" when there are plenty of other walkers around. The only person who's ever been shocked by this was a man - a complete stranger.

In my opinion, the countryside is much safer than London where I live - I mean we have knife crime and all sorts going on here.

I love my own company and being out in nature but was always too anxious to go on a proper hike on my own. This year I booked a few days in a hotel within a national park and just did it. I stuck to fairly easy footpaths cos I was a bit worried about breaking a leg or something, as I am so clumsy!
However, I absolutely loved it. One of the best things I’ve done in a long time. Went hours with hardly seeing anyone else and I felt so free and happy. Plan to do this yearly if I can and maybe do some longer walks closer to home.

Just to clarify, mine were all day hikes. I do pant do camping at all as I like the comfort of a proper bed!

@Janeandjohnny I prefer a brief hello or something as you go on your way. Feels less intimidating as you appear friendly, but not too friendly. Eg look away apart from the brief greeting. If overtaking from behind ‘passing through’ etc helps let me know you are there and your intentions. If possible, cross to the other side of the street or leave plenty of room as you pass. Thank you so much for asking this question. I wish all men considered this as it can be really scary when you are aware of a man suddenly behind you, especially if moving at speed.

I'm planning on walking the Sandstone Trail next year over two days. It's around 34 miles Frodsham to Whitchurch. Bed and breakfast in Tarporley at the half way point.

I love walking on my own, I don’t get out anywhere near as often as I would like. I love travelling solo too and haven’t had that opportunity for many years, you see so much more and get such a different perspective on your own. I love not having to please anyone else, my family are quite a laid back lot but still..

I do my daily walks and work outs with music, but find it really wonderful to get out alone with just the sounds of nature on proper walks.

It's actually been a bit tough visiting my parents in their national park home where I grew up, because normally they let me crack on with it, but having been separated so much last year that they always want to come with me.

I’d love to do more lone walks, especially in different countries, when DD is older. We went on holiday to Northumberland in the summer and I enjoyed some early morning costal walks, where I didn’t see another soul. Amazing 😍

@EdithKnobchops

I'm planning on walking the Sandstone Trail next year over two days. It's around 34 miles Frodsham to Whitchurch. Bed and breakfast in Tarporley at the half way point.

I used to live up that way and rode/walked much of it, some lovely countryside, you’re in for a real treat 😍

Walking is my new hobby since DS started school…and now I’m addicted! I’ve found the Komoot app has helped me with planning routes and settling any anxiety I might have about going out alone.

Not totally alone but my fondest memories of maternity leave are the long walks. Covid meant no baby groups and DS would only nap in the pram so we would walk for miles everyday. I loved seeing the seasons change and discovering places I’d never been too. The quietness was bliss. DS loves to be outside now so we still get out for walks but they’re not as peaceful with a one year old.