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Original poster

Would you let your 15yo out for a solo rural walk now?

64 replies

LadyofLansallos · 28/08/2023 20:38

DD thinks we are extremely unfair & ridiculous for not letting her go out at 8.30 on her own, to walk through the village to take the footpath up the hill on her own. It is dark here by now.

Would you?

OP posts:
stbrandonsboat · 28/08/2023 20:39

Absolutely not.

Nauseatedbean · 28/08/2023 20:40

8.30 in the evening? I would say no at 15.

museumum · 28/08/2023 20:40

Probably. But with a head torch and a personal alarm.

Bumdrops · 28/08/2023 20:40

No, I would not
and I allow my 15 year old to go to London I train, out and about for the day and back again -
but it is a no for walking in isolated / rural areas evening / night time alone …

gogomoto · 28/08/2023 20:40

With or without a decent sized dog? Mine always went out but we lived in a city, though they would go out at my parents who live rurally too - we have a protective dog so I really never worry

Original poster
LadyofLansallos · 28/08/2023 20:40

8.30 in the evening. Like, now.

we have let her in the past when it was lighter in the evening. And we would let her with a friend.

OP posts:
Riverlee · 28/08/2023 20:41

Depends on your area and your child.

Original poster
LadyofLansallos · 28/08/2023 20:41

With a Labrador!

OP posts:
FormerlySpeckledyHen · 28/08/2023 20:41

If it is along a road with street lamps then yes. If no lighting and a footpath away from view then a definite no.

Beenhereforever1978 · 28/08/2023 20:42

What does "up the hill" mean?

Richmondgal · 28/08/2023 20:42

Yes i used to travel on my own from west to north London to watch spurs at 13 and on trains to the and midlands kids need to lear. Independent

Nauseatedbean · 28/08/2023 20:42

I wouldn’t now as it’s dark. I live rurally and still see a fair few stories on fb pages of people that have been followed or got into unsavoury situations! I don’t think the rural location equals completely safe.

Wishiwasatailor · 28/08/2023 20:42

uf Your username is related to your location we are probably very close by. It’s tricky because I do this exact same thing with the dog and a head torch even so I would feel very nervous for her but not for myself

whirlyhead · 28/08/2023 20:43

At 15 I was on my motorbike travelling several miles to visit a friend as well as my boyfriend (in a country where you could drive at 15). What’s the problem?

Westfacing · 28/08/2023 20:43

museumum · 28/08/2023 20:40

Probably. But with a head torch and a personal alarm.

And who would hear the alarm and know where it was coming from?

Original poster
LadyofLansallos · 28/08/2023 20:43

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 28/08/2023 20:41

If it is along a road with street lamps then yes. If no lighting and a footpath away from view then a definite no.

No lighting.

it’s a footpath up a hill - not sure how else to describe it! It’s a rural walk we often do. Goes through a wooded bit on the lower slopes but is mostly open field type landscape.

OP posts:
Postapocalypticcowgirl · 28/08/2023 20:43

What's the mobile signal like? Could she call someone if she fell and broke an ankle? If mobile signal is good, I would probably let her, if she has a head torch or similar.

Singleandproud · 28/08/2023 20:43

Walk the road together and let her take the dog one route and follow behind at a bimbly pace. I find night walks are DDs favourite time to talk.

Nauseatedbean · 28/08/2023 20:45

Good idea from @Singleandproud you could go together.

FormerlySpeckledyHen · 28/08/2023 20:45

Why does she need to go as a matter of interest? Simply because she fancies a walk or does she need to be somewhere?

Original poster
LadyofLansallos · 28/08/2023 20:45

Singleandproud · 28/08/2023 20:43

Walk the road together and let her take the dog one route and follow behind at a bimbly pace. I find night walks are DDs favourite time to talk.

Hah I just offered her this & she said the whole point is to be on her own away from us.

having moaned earlier that she spent too much time out of the house today.

OP posts:
Samsonsmum · 28/08/2023 20:46

If she is going at 8 30 what time is she coming back

Original poster
LadyofLansallos · 28/08/2023 20:46

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 28/08/2023 20:43

What's the mobile signal like? Could she call someone if she fell and broke an ankle? If mobile signal is good, I would probably let her, if she has a head torch or similar.

Signal is good.

OP posts:
YukoandHiro · 28/08/2023 20:48

I grew up rurally and I wouldn't have wanted to do it at 15. Or any age tbh.
Rural makes it more dangerous, not less. The isolation is a major risk factor.

43ontherocksporfavor · 28/08/2023 20:48

Nope