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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is it really that odd to go for a walk on your own!?

76 replies

Bestseller · 03/02/2019 15:23

Without a dog?

I think it happens in real hiking country but in the local country park?

DH and I have been making a point of going for a walk every weekend. It's been lovely, a chance to properly relax (rather than veg) and catch up. But he's away this weekend and it's a beautiful day so I decided I'd go on my own. Which was different to together but still lovely.

I did feel a bit conspicuous on my own without dogs or children though and this was confirmed when one man stopped to ask where my dog was. I think he assumed I must have lost it and was offering help.

Anyway we had a short conversation about how odd it is to be out in the woods on your own and how he, as a man, would feel everyone would be very wary.

Would you go for a walk on your own?

OP posts:
Original poster
Bestseller · 03/02/2019 15:36

I don't think so Zebra, he was much younger than me. I think he meant he'd be worried that others wouldthink he was a threat/was up to no good, being out in the woods for no reason.

OP posts:
Seren85 · 03/02/2019 15:37

That's what I am doing now! Walking around the local park in peace and catching up with some MN.

DareDevil223 · 03/02/2019 15:37

I go for walks on my own all the time, Dcat isn't keen on long walks Grin

caesio · 03/02/2019 15:38

I'm a dog walker and see plenty of people walking without dogs and don't think they're strange.

I would however look whether you have a dog though as if you have an off-lead dog I can leave mine off-lead. If you don't have a dog I need to put mine on the lead so he doesn't bother you. Perhaps thats where the dog-related questions are coming from

Sproutingcorm · 03/02/2019 15:40

Furries not curries! Confused

CandidCat · 03/02/2019 15:40

Going for a walk along: perfectly normal.
Approaching women and telling them it's odd: Creepy and strange.

CandidCat · 03/02/2019 15:40

*alone

HollyGoLoudly1 · 03/02/2019 15:42

I walk alone. Headphones in, podcast or music on, great way to clear your head.

Original poster
Bestseller · 03/02/2019 15:42

I probably spoke first, just a "good afternoon". He was perfectly pleasant, I didn't feel threatened

OP posts:
arethereanyleftatall · 03/02/2019 15:44

Eh? I, like everyone else, am always going for solitary walks. I have never met anyone who would think it odd.

GreyGardens88 · 03/02/2019 15:44

I've seen posts on here by women who have said they felt threatened seeing men walking by themselves! What kind of world is it where you can't go for a stroll by yourself without being seen as an oddball/serial killer Hmm

whatacrapusername2306 · 03/02/2019 15:45

I do it all the time. Headphones in, power walk my way around a wooded area near my house. I don’t own a dog either.

AlwaysSomethingThere · 03/02/2019 15:49

Erm I do this roughly four times per week!

BlueJava · 03/02/2019 15:53

Completely normal whether sans dogs, sans kids or all together. The bloke is strange.

Bloo22 · 03/02/2019 15:55

I’m a SAHM and am very rarely alone, my only time to escape is when I have a walk by myself. It’s lovely to just be able to hear myself thing for a change

WomanWithAltitude · 03/02/2019 15:55

Totally normal. Why wouldn't you? I go for walks and runs on my own all the time.

EnoughSnowAlready · 03/02/2019 15:57

He sounds very creepy.

morningconstitutional2017 · 03/02/2019 15:57

I go for a walk round the block (or two) on my own some days simply to stay fit, weather permitting. It has often felt a bit odd and I stay clear of isolated places for my own safety which sadly isn't guaranteed on a street either. That's the world we live in these days.

tillytrotter1 · 03/02/2019 15:57

My own company is what I enjoy most!

RB68 · 03/02/2019 15:57

It was probably just an opening gambit to have a chat. We live in a good area for walks but until we got a dog we didn't do as much as we should - now we do everyday although sometimes we take turns. I do prefer a purpose to walking though so glad we have a shop a good couple of miles away, a nice canalside cafe the other way and a local egg seller a medium walk away! I miss my walking pal who moved away as we were walking every day and usually tried to end up at a destination (pub or cafe) about twice a week. Sad she won't ever move back here but we still speak every day

Comeonchameleon · 03/02/2019 16:00

That’s a really creepy conversation - sounds like he was trying to scare you.

Asking where your dog was then highlighting that a lone women could be harmed by a lone man

BusySittingDown · 03/02/2019 16:03

I used to go for walks on my own all the time. It never occurred to me that people might think it was odd.

It's exercise - no weirder than going for a jog/run on your own.

I do actually have a dog now though.

TooManyPaws · 03/02/2019 16:03

I live in a rural area and the road that I live on is very popular with both walkers and cyclists. In fact, the speed limit sign notes that this is why there is a speed limit rather than the national speed limit. It's perfectly normal to see people alone or in groups out walking at all times of the day. Some people even do the seven mile circuit back to the village regularly if not daily.

1Redacted1 · 03/02/2019 16:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RelaisBlu · 03/02/2019 16:07

I do this every day