Walking alone in forests?

[Vemjs]

I was just wondering if most women are happy to walk through a Forest / big fields / nature reserves on their own for a dog walk? Or do you view this as dangerous?

Sorry it's probably not under right topic!

@MixedUpFiles

Having spent 2 years walking an extra 20 min back to my flat at university because the short path went through a dark group of trees that had been the site of multiple rapes, I don’t believe women are making inaccurate risk assessments. We make these decisions every day. Short path only in daylight in a group. Long trudging uphill path when traveling solo or if walking at night. We learn to make these decisions because we must.

'a dark group of trees' - yes, but in an URBAN area

Most of the recent attacks that I can recall were in urban areas - those two sisters who were celebrating their birthday in a London park and were found murdered, Sara Everard walking home in London. The victims of the knife attacker in a Reading park....

Not much going on rurally

Fields in daylight, yes - woods, no. I sometimes feel a bit anxious when I'm alone, but try not to let it stop me. I have a big dog, but he's a golden retriever so not sure he would protect me!

There is a strange little shrine in a wooded area near us - it's quite sad and seems to be for a child, but it gives me the creeps. I also had a very odd experience in the woods as a teen where we heard footsteps come up right behind us and stop but there was no one there. We weren't drinking or doing drugs - just hanging out. I find the woods beautiful but a bit spooky - so I don't go alone.

I go running alone.
The woods near me are busy through the day. I wouldn't run around at night mainly because of the trip hazard of undulating ground and random sticks and processing that by speed by torchlight.

Quiet open countryside, I'm comfortable in. Most of my running routes are so quiet that an opportunist would need a lot of patience before the next dog walker/ rambler came along.

I'm more cautious about places that are "known" and quiet where there's a gentle drip of people passing through.

There's certain points along the river that are awkward to avoid if I want a flat run. Mainly the bridges by the city centre that attract loitering, but also a stretch heading out to a country park which I save for faster runs.

My DCs are 8 & 10 and keen on night hikes. Just one of them for company at night makes a big difference. We recently did a night hike in the countryside which gotthe roosting pheasants flapping and squawking. On my own, it would have beem eerie. A child to chat with, fine!

Funny you should say that. I have and do with dog but have recently been thinking I don't like the vibe of a particular one local to me. Don't go there now. I am starting to feel like I want pepper spray or legal equivalent just in case. I do look over my shoulder sometimes and always take a phone. Sad isn't it?

Once I was walking alone in some on the outskirts of a French city and suddenly realised I was a moron. No one knew I was there, very few people passed me, didn't even have a dog, or mobile in those days, didn't know the paths. Suddenly panicked and retraced my steps. (Not as risky probably as when I was 18 and naively did the same thing in the notorious prostitution woods in Paris).

I've always walked alone wherever I want in the UK ; statistically we're n a very safe country as far as "stranger danger" to women goes. I'm late 40s now, grew up in the countryside on the edge of a large forest,v used to walk alone or with dogs. Moved to Central London, used to walk home alone from nights out in the small hours. Now live in a not-at-all-posh London suburb with great parks and woodland nearby and still walk alone everywhere, including after dark. Spend a lot of time at the seaside and walk alone after dark there too. A few times I've felt worried about a follower, in town, and have adjusted my path to stay in well-lit and busier places.

I'm not naive; I know that anyone can be at risk and I teach my sons as well as my daughter to be aware of their surroundings, to look out for possibly dangerous people, and to have a plan for if trouble arises. But the benefits of making a conscious choice to take my place in the world, and to enjoy the outdoirs, far outweigh the tiny risk of violence that I face in the UK.

Nope. Due to being followed one morning in a quiet area a few years back, I wouldn't place myself in a vulnerable position like this again. Luckily nothing happened, but it could have had terrible consequences.

No, due to an incident yrs ago with 2 men in a white van, on a rural road. I bought a treadmill after that!

No. There were a few minor incidents of women being stalked by a slightly odd man a few years ago in the countryside around here so I wont go out walking alone. Although I do have a fairly large dog, she is a big softly so not sure she would protect me.

I do in popular locations where they're always reasonably busy so help would always be round the corner if something happened - I would be too nervous going somewhere more isolated alone.

Yes and often do. My feeling is statistically risk is very low- much much lower than getting in a car. I enjoy it. I need the time alone. Overblown fear has taken away so much from life (especially for kids) and I refuse to become hostage to it.

Depends on the area probably. I walk without a dog in forests/fields around me but I’m in a very rural area. If I was with a dog (a decent sized one) I’d walk anywhere.

A remote nature reserve or forest with a dog would be ok for me. Danger spots for me are dark isolated places right next to populated areas. I’d be nervous in such places, but would probably still risk them with a decent guard dog.

Yes why not?

Sadly no, unless with a (big) dog

I wouldn’t. My friends do without a care. My dog walker is female and walks in isolated places all the time with the dogs (she is not a fan of “people”)

Yes, during the day, not at night. If you have a dog, you're not alone anyway.

I do it on a near daily basis

Yes, but I carry an emergency whistle, just in case. Hopefully someone would hear me.

I have a dog ,I dont go anywhere too lonely if I can help it.Usually walk with DH or a friend . Its sad ,but a few years ago was walking with DD only small then .A guy jumped out and we took flight! Another time where we now go some homeless guys were in the woods .And on another occasion a random guy just standing there .No phone .dog or anything!

she is not a fan of “people”

Sensible.

I always used to walk alone &, it would fleetingly cross my mind, I could meet danger but I have become even more fearful as I’ve grown older. Walking down a country road now, if I meet someone or a van drives slowly past, I instantly tense.

I was raped as a teenager walking home through the dark countryside (6pm dark mind, not actual nighttime). I would do it if I really had to during the day time, absolutely no way once it was dark.

That said, one of my friends was assaulted in a city centre park in broad daylight. So nowhere is safe really.

I do it, and I love it. But I live very rurally.

I do this nearly every day on my lunchtime walk.

I am sure that its safer than crossing the road which I also do every day.

I do wildlife photography as a hobby, so I do it with a camera and big lens around my neck.

I keep my wits about me and walk where I feel safe. I generally stick to the places I feel the safest and I often go early morning to my usual nature reserves when it’s quieter and there are mainly only other birders about. A couple of my other reserves are members only, so any old Tom, Dick and Harry can’t just walk in (one is gated and you need the members access codes to even get in).

Forests I generally avoid. Even the small wood by me that I visited today, I stayed near the outskirts where I could see and easily reach my car if needed.