How do walking groups usually manage toilet breaks on day walks?

[Coldnorthwind]

Recently made redundant. There are a few women's walking groups near me and I would love to go out on a day walk. (I wouldn't want go out walking in the countryside alone which is a whole other topic). But what do people do about needing a wee? Is it fine in those groups to dodge behind a tree? I would do this if out with my dh/friends. Writing it down now it seems silly.. this must be what everyone does, I guess?

It depends on where you are walking and how long you will be out? If you are walking in the hills of Snowdonia for 12 hours then yes people are going to answer nature's call.....well.....in nature.

If you are talking about walking on less rural countryside, like say the ramblers, then walks usually are shorter and involve a stop for coffee at a suitable cafe at the halfway point.

Ramblers walks tend to start at a train station (might be toilets), pub stop at lunchtime (definitely toilets), end at train station (might be toilets).

Thank you. Generally in wilder locations so suspect not many facilities available.

Yes, depends on the length of the walk and the strength of the bladder.

You'll probably get replies from people who think going to the toilet anywhere except one's own home is disgusting and you should just wait until you get home or perhaps go at a naice cafe if you're desperate.

But the reality is that unless you never leave civilisation, sometimes a wilderness wee is necessary and you just have to hope that there's a suitable tree or other place to hide when you need to go.

Often the leader will point out a suitable spot and we'll all go to the "ladies" and "gents" enmasse 😆

A voluminous poncho and a shewee? I have never yet used mine, I have to say.

Sure, and I’ve absolutely wild wee’d on long walks or climbs, but, thinking back to any time I’ve been on an organised walk in England (university walking club, Ramblers, local walking group where I used to live), I don’t think I ever had to for the reasons pps mentioned — loos midway at least.

The network of rights of way and field paths is probably the single thing I miss most about no longer living in England. There’s no equivalent where I live now, which means walks are much more difficult to organise around a pub lunch stop.

I've been on guided walking tours all over Europe. Usually someone will just say "I'll catch you up" and nip behind a tree while the rest of the group continues at a leisurely pace and waits at a discreet distance, if necessary.

I wouldn’t be worried about needing a wee, I’d be more worried about needing a poo! Maybe that’s just me 🤷🏻‍♀️🙈

This. Once you've done it a couple of times it feels more normal. I find my desire for privacy depends on how desperate I am. Sometimes there is cover and sometimes not. Rules are if you become aware of someone weeing you just pretend you haven't noticed.

I’ve been on dozens of Ramblers walks averaging 8-9 miles and perhaps one in 50 has had access to a toilet half way round. Dartmoor isn’t set up that way, and nor are many parts of the coast path ‘loops’. Wild wee when necessary, but I’m strict with myself about drinking enough but not too much and can usually hang on.

Pubs.
"One pint out; one pint in." is our group's motto.

You go and squat behind a bush or rock or in some undergrowth somewhere!

As a dog walker I do many wild wees 😂

I just wear a continence pad a
and assumed everyone else did to be honest

I always have to go to the toilet sometimes I say I will catch you up. Sometimes it will be a gentleman’s forward.

I have never heard of anyone doing that so I don't think its common.

Surely it must be horrible walking once it's been used? Not that standard ones can hold an entire wee according to google. They're more designed for leaks.

Um, no. Why would anyone do that voluntarily? 😳

Really? You thought everyone on a longish walk was freely urinating into an incontinence pad and then wearing it wet, next to their skin, for the rest of the day? On a walk that’s supposed to be for fun?

I think it’s a valid question and I would wonder the same. No way could I hold a wee in for hours and hours. If there’s loads of woodland and it’s secluded then fine but I think on wild moors
it would be more difficult.

I’ll happily go behind a tree do a wee and don’t have issues with poo - just go in the morning an that’s it for the day.

If there's no vegetation for cover you use a dip in the ground or a rock.

it doesnt get wet the pad absorbs the urine to keep it away from the skin a bit like a nappy really

Me too

😂
Hadn't heard 'gentleman's forward' before but it is brilliant!

I generally need a comfort break when out walking and I do try to be as discrete as possible but couldn't care less if someone sees me.

Wild wees are great! Just nip behind a bush or tree and make sure you can’t be seen.