Do you feel safe walking alone?

[toomanycushionshere]

I live in a village, fairly close to some lovely walks across fields. But I never use them on my own! I automatically assume that it would be an unsafe thing to do, even though I’ve never encountered anything or anyone untoward.

I’m sure I’m not the only woman who won’t walk in the country / woods etc alone, but I wish I felt braver and wasn’t missing out. Those of you who do, do you just take your chances or do you take precautions (alarm etc)?

I feel perfectly fine walking alone where I live, in a small quiet town, or in the forest near my house (even late at night). I walk home alone from the bar at 3 or 4am and feel zero anxiety here. But its a different matter in other places - I'm not so keen on walking alone at night in cities (well the nearest city to me I've felt alright but not in London for instance) and I was downright terrified walking alone through St. Petersburg at night after my ex stormed off and left me alone.

I walk alone all the time as I live rurally and usually don’t see anyone else. I would never walk through a field of cows though.

When I was a teenager I used to spend hours pottering in the countryside on my own. It never occurred to me not to.

As an adult I will walk alone most places. If I pass anyone I make eye contact and say hi. Most times I feel safe enough.

I've been assaulted in my workplace when I found myself suddenly alone with someone, at a local music festival and by a male health professional at an appointment.

Yes, I've never given much thought to walking alone and the only time I've felt threatened was in London when I found myself in an underpass with a large group of Tottenham Hotspur supporters who seemed to think that shoving and barging a solo teenage girl made them look like big tough men.

Regularly walk / cycle / run alone through countryside in daylight

Yes I I've rarely felt nervous walking alone. I do it often. I find busier places and areas much less unnerving than quieter areas. I'm not sure how I could function in life if I couldn't be out alone when it was dark. It would be a struggle

I don't think I'm at all given to risky behaviour. But there's a minimal risk to walking by yourself in the countryside, apart from a sprained ankle or getting trampled by cows.

I put my headphones in and listen to music most of the time

Dangerous, you wouldn’t hear someone coming up behind you, or someone trying to warn you.

Woods & Forests
Canals & country parks
All good and fine.

Down the town of a night? Or going to a shop that's got teens hanging around out side?
That makes me edgy

I walk all over in my own. Woods, fells, South London after dark.

No dog, never carried an alarm.

I regularly walk alone in the countryside and feel safe. I actually feel less walking in more urban areas than I do walking in the middle of nowhere.

I walk alone sometimes, but there are certain areas I avoid.
I have one of those red sprays that a PP linked. I also have a Deep Heat spray, which apparently would work similar to pepper spray.

I think the health benefits of walking outweigh the very small risks. I dont drive so walk/cycle as transport, even late at night. I wouldn't feel comfortable in a park at night, or using underpasses, but happy walking or cycling home on main roads. Daytime I'd walk anywhere. I'd take a phone in case of injury.

I often walk alone at night, BUT that’s in central London where I’m surrounded by CCTV.

I am happy to walk in my local area after dark, although there is one stretch of road that makes me a little uneasy (lots of high fences and gates set back from the road).
I'll walk through the park alone at twilight but it's not lit at all after dark and the paths aren't great, otherwise I would.
Having lived in London in the past, and now living more rurally, I don't feel any differently about walking alone (once made my way home on foot at 2am).
All that said, I don't wear headphones and do keep away from large clumps of bushes, dark bus shelters and any potential alleyways.

I wild camp, on the fells regularly on my own and never worry.

Why would an attacker wait in an area were they’re unlikely to come across anyone?

I walk as far as it is possible my own in the day time in our rural area and I worry more about cows and mine shafts more than I do people. I wouldn't walk in the dark but it's more to do with the lack of lighting.

I live in the country and feel very anxious walking alone as I've had a couple of scary experiences. Walk-in in a city wouldn't bother me at all

I do walk around my area locality night time has it has fairly low crime rate 🤔

However i wouldn't feel that safe walking around a city like Londom or walking in the country's on my own

What about Russell family murders Rachel Nickel etc..

I always avoid the countryside and woods on my own. Am too scared of a nutter pouncing on me. I live in a really civilised area but despite that ,a weirdo has been recently flashing in the one area of woodland that I always felt safe at 🤦‍♀️

This is shocking to hear! My husband and I are immigrating to the UK soon, from South Africa, because we have been the victims of too many crimes now, two of them armed muggings, also three burglaries, I have ptsd and desperately want to live in a place where I can step out of my front door and go for a walk without fearing for my safety. We are looking to live in a safe area in the UK.

I'm sorry this has happened in your area, it must be so disturbing for you, although I'm glad the men have been caught and that you feel safe with your dog. Could you say the general area? But no problem if you'd prefer not to.

Always have done. With or without the dogs (who are not remotely threatening).
Home from town after a drink or several.
Across Oxford as a student

How awful! Which area roughly did these attacks happen?

I walk in the countryside by myself in the daytime quite a lot - probably every other week or so. Do I worry about being attacked? Nope. Statistically, the chance of someone weird pouncing on me is very, very, very low. It's much more likely that I'll fall over and hurt myself, and I mitigate that by walking a lot more cautiously than I would if I was with someone else, and also taking a walking pole with me. I also have a phone and a whistle - just in case.

Walking alone with headphones in is one of the most dangerous things you can do.
Being aware of your surroundings at all times and being able to hear someone coming is so important.