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

120 replies

Coldnorthwind · Yesterday 09:31

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?

OP posts:
Miyagi99 · Yesterday 16:09

likelysuspect · Yesterday 15:35

Its not silly at all and is the exact reason why I wouldnt join a walking group

Long stretches of walk where there might not be any heedges or trees that fit the bill, also dont know if other people are ok with that, no public toilets

The countryside is often inaccessible to people like me with a weak bladder

I did one long walk one and drank nothing all day, it was a baking hot day, took me a week to recover. I just couldnt risk drinking anything

Everyone on a (long) walking group is fine with it, gents to one side, ladies to the other or if you have a weak bladder like me, anywhere low ground or behind a bush! I’d never risk getting dehydrated. No one looks!

Bjorkdidit · Yesterday 16:09

likelysuspect · Yesterday 16:02

I dont have a problem weeing outside, I specifically said if you are with people that are not ok with that but more importantly if there are no trees and hedges

Im surrounded here by miles and miles of open land and cliff top, beautiful walking country, but simply no where to stop off, nothing at all

I can only really do long countryside walks when we're on holiday and with a guarantee of stops or undergrowth.

Even then you're going to get a cyclist bombing along out of no where when you thought no one was coming

Cyclists see very little. I walk and cycle and it's amazing how much more you see while walking that you never see while 'bombing along' on a bike.

If you're friends enough with someone to go walking with them, you're friends enough to tell them you'll catch up after you've popped behind a tree. When you've got to go, you've got to go. There's nothing to be not OK about.

RichardMarxisinnocent · Yesterday 16:10

So how does needing to open your bowels work on a long walk? I know if you're wild camping (in places where it's allowed) you're supposed to dig a hole, go in there and bury it, and take any toilet paper used home or to a bin. Do people take trowels with them on long walks so they can dig a hole? Or do people who might need to poo just not go on long isolated walks?

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TillieAndPosey · Yesterday 16:14

It's called a hedge ticket round my way. Some of the best skies and views I have ever seen have been whilst having a wild wee.

Miyagi99 · Yesterday 16:14

RichardMarxisinnocent · Yesterday 16:10

So how does needing to open your bowels work on a long walk? I know if you're wild camping (in places where it's allowed) you're supposed to dig a hole, go in there and bury it, and take any toilet paper used home or to a bin. Do people take trowels with them on long walks so they can dig a hole? Or do people who might need to poo just not go on long isolated walks?

Edited

I have luckily never needed a poo, I go before I leave and wouldn’t need to go again at least until I got back if not the next morning. But yes, you can get fold away lightweight trowels for overnight hiking/bowel troubles. I’d probably take a dog poo bag for tissues.

TheTecknician · Yesterday 16:14

Learn to whistle nonchalantly and then no one will see you. Whistle quietly and you won't be heard either!

TillieAndPosey · Yesterday 16:15

RichardMarxisinnocent · Yesterday 16:10

So how does needing to open your bowels work on a long walk? I know if you're wild camping (in places where it's allowed) you're supposed to dig a hole, go in there and bury it, and take any toilet paper used home or to a bin. Do people take trowels with them on long walks so they can dig a hole? Or do people who might need to poo just not go on long isolated walks?

Edited

You find a suitable, very tucked away spot in the undergrowth.

NineFour · Yesterday 16:15

RichardMarxisinnocent · Yesterday 16:10

So how does needing to open your bowels work on a long walk? I know if you're wild camping (in places where it's allowed) you're supposed to dig a hole, go in there and bury it, and take any toilet paper used home or to a bin. Do people take trowels with them on long walks so they can dig a hole? Or do people who might need to poo just not go on long isolated walks?

Edited

I can't speak for those with health issues but I open my bowels fairly frequently, at least twice a day, at random times, and in 40 years of hiking can honestly say the need has never arisen when I didn't have access to a toilet. The body seems to be able to manage that.

If I did find myself in that position, I'd go well off the path and do my best to bury it or cover it. Not ideal but as a very rare one off, needs must.

You can get lightweight folding trowels to carry with you, but I never have.

Yetone · Yesterday 16:22

Reportingfromwherever · Yesterday 10:12

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

You take a nappy/ poo bag with kitchen towel and tissues. Put the kitchen towel on the ground and stop it being blown away with stones. Poo on top of the kitchen towel. Use the tissues. Wrap everything inside the kitchen towel and put in the nappy bag. Take back with you in your backpack. ‘Leave only footprints. Take only photographs’ I walk for many hours in remote places.

Miyagi99 · Yesterday 16:30

NineFour · Yesterday 16:15

I can't speak for those with health issues but I open my bowels fairly frequently, at least twice a day, at random times, and in 40 years of hiking can honestly say the need has never arisen when I didn't have access to a toilet. The body seems to be able to manage that.

If I did find myself in that position, I'd go well off the path and do my best to bury it or cover it. Not ideal but as a very rare one off, needs must.

You can get lightweight folding trowels to carry with you, but I never have.

Yeah, I just think you don’t really need to go when you’re exercising.

milveycrohn · Yesterday 16:42

I am retired so the walking group I belong to consists mainly of older people. The leader of our group always states where there are (or not) toilets.
When walking on my own, or with DH, we have been walking in the Hills, (Lake District, UK), and have (in the past) walked 16 miles without find anywhere to go. (a bit obvious really; it's hills, and they generally don't come with toilets).
You just have to use a convenient bush or tree.
It really depends on where you are. Many walks in the Lake District are quite 'crowded', and it really isn't possible to use a 'bush' unseen. And in many areas, there just AREN'T any bushes; just hills... And yes, I had to find somewhere, and be really quick.
Now, when planning a walk, I generally work out where any facilities may be, before going.

Gengha · Yesterday 16:44

Flowerheads · Yesterday 12:28

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 don’t know why this really made me laugh 😂

In response to the OP this is one reason I hate hiking but I expect a discreet wee outdoors is kind of what usually happens

Treemouse · Yesterday 16:45

hang to the back of the group and find a bush - just let the walk leader know and they will wait at a discreet spot up ahead where no one can see and you can catch up subtly

Glidinglikeaswan · Yesterday 16:45

When I was on a student field trip to a volcanic landscape there was no cover whatsoever. So the women formed an outward facing circle and we took turns to go into the middle.

Freshleaves56h27 · Yesterday 16:48

AliMonkey · Yesterday 14:41

Stupid question - how do you wee outside without weeing on your clothes - do you have to squat right down to the ground? Maybe I’m just not agile enough but the one time I tried it was a disaster!

This is not a stupid question at all!

I am familiar with this subject as I used to go on very long horse rides and my knees are buggered.

There are three methods if you can’t really squat properly but for all three of them, always ensure that the slope of the ground runs away from you and you are not peeing on to a very hard surface that splashes everywhere:

A Hold on to the trunk of a tree, you are facing it, like you are giving it a hug. Step back and lower clothing but don’t lower it so that it is around your ankles, just to lower than your knees is fine, stick your bum in the air and aim your hips forward, legs apart, so you pee angled downwards.

Some expert wild wee people separate their inner labia with their fingers of one hand at this point (sorry for tmi) so the stream can be directed more easily, and pee as forwards as they can with slope taking the wee away. You need to get the flow right, not too fast and not to slow.

B Sit with your knees as though you are sitting on an imaginary chair with your back firmly leaning on an upright rock or tree trunk. Lower clothes. Pee backwards, so slightly leaning forwards, if that is not too confusing 😀, with floor sloping away from you. This position has the advantage of being able to survey the land around you more easily.

C Find a fallen log or rock and sit on it. Check for insects, adders, and spikey bits! 😀 Shuffle back with your bum. Shove clothing down to your lower thighs. Shuffle back some more so your bum is hanging over back of log, then pee as if you were on the loo.

HTH! Sorry for the rather graphic instructions but it helps to know the right techniques. I would advocate having a discreet practice by yourself before joining a group.

You can also buy trousers now that have covered zips that go from front button to back waist, that you can unzip to pee without exposing your backside. (They are not as difficult to use as they sound.) Other models have strategic flaps. You can also go commando in longer walking skirts or push underwear to one side and wear a long shirt underneath your trousers or skirt that covers your backside area. Strange though it sounds you can buy just shirt tails that are elasticated at the waist that serve this purpose or very wide or deep elasticated woven fabric “belts” that cover strategic areas 😀. Have a look on-line in outdoor adventure type shops,

In the absence of suitable undergrowth, women who can squat a little carry an umbrella and use that to dive behind and cover their rear end. Or they pee between two open car doors with a look out flanking the side view. Or carry one of those modern quick dry towels to wrap
around themselves for this purpose.

Joking aside I think it’s important to try and encourage women who want to spend time outdoors to do so without worry. And fears about weeing are what stops a lot of women trying, but organisers of guided walks will be conscious of this.

Op you might try a female only walk first to get used to it all? Good luck and enjoy the countryside! Don’t let a natural bodily function stop you!

If you can stop worrying about it, you usually find that the desire to pee goes away as you get in to a walking rhythm and of course you are slightly more dehydrated than usual when you walk long distances. It’s important to keep drinking though.

I advise wearing black on your bottom half to start with and bring an article of clothing like a light rain poncho to wrap around your waist too just in case! And have fun!

RanchRat · Yesterday 16:58

I sometimes wear Tena pants Super on a long walk. They will soak up a couple of very big wees (unless you are necking pints) and you will still feel dry. Buy the smallest size you will fit into, the larger ones have too much 'material'.

igelkott2026 · Yesterday 16:59

I have this issue when running, rather than walking. Bushes are definitely your friend, although I rarely need to go for a wee when I am actually running, it's more before a race/parkrun when there isn't a loo available or the queue is far too long.

The issue for me has been needing to do more than a wee - sadly exercise can actually bring on the urge rather than suppress it - and I find a bush and use leaves to cover it up. Fortunately where I live there are a few pubs and the leisure centre so I can plan routes to go past them.

Thisismyfinesthour · Yesterday 17:04

Flowerheads · Yesterday 12:28

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 do lots of walking, hiking etc.If you have a decent one they aren't wet next to the skin at all. I can get one good pee in one then bin it when I get to a loo with a bin. It's no big deal.😀

6namechange3 · Yesterday 17:16

I also think what would I do if I saw a man or or woman weeing discreetly a good distance from a path if there was inadequate tree or wall cover. I would simply walk on and look the other way. When I am with a female friend we often have a companionable wee and chat, aka the nightclub toilet scenario of many years ago

Reportingfromwherever · Yesterday 17:23

Yetone · Yesterday 16:22

You take a nappy/ poo bag with kitchen towel and tissues. Put the kitchen towel on the ground and stop it being blown away with stones. Poo on top of the kitchen towel. Use the tissues. Wrap everything inside the kitchen towel and put in the nappy bag. Take back with you in your backpack. ‘Leave only footprints. Take only photographs’ I walk for many hours in remote places.

Thank you, I appreciate the advice!

Twoshoesnewshoes · Yesterday 17:23

I walk a lot, not with people I don’t know, but often in mixed groups.
we live in the edge of Dartmoor, so very few loose.
im not very discreet so I usually just yell ‘I need a wee!’ Then head for undergrowth (watch out for ticks!)
wear a long tunic and leggings if you feel self conscious, and make sure the tunic is over your bum.
i don’t usually need a poo. If wild camping, the local law is to lift the biggest rock you can manage. Poo under it, then replace the rock.

CaptainMyCaptain · Yesterday 17:24

igelkott2026 · Yesterday 16:59

I have this issue when running, rather than walking. Bushes are definitely your friend, although I rarely need to go for a wee when I am actually running, it's more before a race/parkrun when there isn't a loo available or the queue is far too long.

The issue for me has been needing to do more than a wee - sadly exercise can actually bring on the urge rather than suppress it - and I find a bush and use leaves to cover it up. Fortunately where I live there are a few pubs and the leisure centre so I can plan routes to go past them.

Covering poo with leaves for a dog or a child exploring the bushes to find is disgusting. Bag it like a responsible dog owner would

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · Yesterday 17:27

I do a lot of walking / hiking on my own and am a big fan of a wild wee!

But this is a really good question about walking in groups.

Tbh I’d have to just say I’m off for a wild wee as I hate going without a wee.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · Yesterday 17:28

I’ve never needed a poo on a walk, ever.

likelysuspect · Yesterday 17:30

CaptainMyCaptain · Yesterday 17:24

Covering poo with leaves for a dog or a child exploring the bushes to find is disgusting. Bag it like a responsible dog owner would

You're meant to flick dog poo into the undergrowth and bushes. The use of plastics has gone through the roof because of bagging up

You're obviously not meant to leave poo on the street pavement or on an open path but under rocks, leaves, undergrowth, yes you are.