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!

[Schnauzersaremyheros]

To answer the ops question - with my dog, I'm happy to walk anywhere on my own, including forests. On my own - would probably stick to parks

[Sunnyday321]

My big local forest is Savernake and we all know what we think of that place !😱😱

[Applesonthelawn]

Do it all the time.

[coogee]

Does running count? My running routes go across fields, around lakes and through woods etc.

On my own, no dog. No, I don't regard it as dangerous.

[Angrypregnantlady]

Nope. Although I have panic attacks being home alone so I don't think I'm normal... I have a rottweiller but always have a means of protecting myself and have the SOS function on my phone set up and trackers on my phone and car. DH would think I'd lost my mind if I suddenly went for a walk in the woods alone.

[Sbk28]

All the time. The risk is worth the reward for me. I'm more likely to be attacked by a man I know and trust than by a stranger in the forest, just as we all are.

[SummerSazz]

I walk my dog in open areas and woods. Prior to getting her I would only usually go for a run as I think people get sideways glances if walking alone and no dog. That may just be in my head though!

[Henneypenny7]

I did until a man with a baseball cap on came up to me making what I can only describe as silly noises was probably a miss understanding on my part but scared the out of me! So now I’m more wary!

[Startingagainperson]

I do love walking on my own and have it done it in woods, open spaces and in other countries. I’ve done it as a teenager, adult, all stages.

However there is a small risk and I really feel cross that there is. For men as well as women too, we forget that men are attacked by strangers statistically more than women. I guess it’s a small one in the day though.

It does make me feel a bit spooked though when my main local walk now is through a well used park, full of joggers and families, in a nice part of town, but on the main route I always pass a shrine of fresh flowers where a young woman was raped and murdered in the early evening, completely randomly. I think of her every time I walk now.

[Startingagainperson]

@Sunnyday321

My big local forest is Savernake and we all know what we think of that place !😱😱

That’s a real mumsnet spooky tale!

[percheron67]

I wouldn't walk anywhere at all isolated without a sharp dog.

[steppemum]

@Sunnyday321

My big local forest is Savernake and we all know what we think of that place !😱😱

I am missing something here as we often walk in savernake. Usually as a family as it is 30 min drive away, but still, what am I missing?

[BramStoker]

I regularly walk and run alone in local woods (no dog)

So far I've had no cause not to feel at ease doing this

[manybirdsnests]

I'm really surprised by some of the posts on this thread!
I'm with @NannyR and @LemonRoses, happy to go alone, wherever - forest, heath, field & lane (during daylight hours) - in fact, the more remote the better.

Maybe I'm naive?

But I find it so important for mental health to get out into nature.
I do live fairly rurally, fwiw.

[FangsForTheMemory]

When I lived in London I hiked all over the Home Counties on my own. The only thing that was ever a problem was fields with horses in. They’re a pest.

[Zenithbear]

Yes I do with my 2 dogs. One is pretty big and goes crazy if a stranger goes near me. I'm always a bit more on guard in woodland than in open fields though.

[springiscoming12]

I do this daily and don’t view it as dangerous at all

[Charm23]

I walk along the river footpath near my house regularly with my dog and my little girl. I'd feel comfortable at the beach, park and in open spaces but I only go to the woods with my husband. It's not that my area feels unsafe, I just prefer not to go to areas like that alone because if anything did happen it's more secluded and less people about so harder to get help.

[An0n0n0n]

Yes, I'm not going to live my life afraid.

Rapists want power and like fuck am I going to give them that.

[AzureHawker1]

I run alone in woods all the time, even in the dark but I live in a rural area so don’t worry too much about meeting anyone dangerous. If I was somewhere more populated I probably would. In fact I would definitely be more nervous running alone in a city at night than in the forest where I live!

[Catsrus]

Every day with the dogs, am I aware of possible danger? yes, I have a rape alarm in my pocket, and I don't walk anywhere so remote that I don't pass other walkers.

But then I lived in London for 20+yrs and regularly walked home in the early hours from my friend's house to mine. You have to assess the risk and get on with life.

[FunTimes2020]

@Bluebird2021

yes i do

why not?

Take a guess

[LadyPoison]

Yes I do it regularly with the dog.

I'm actually more nervous in the lanes as there have been a few attempted dog thefts locally.

[LizziesTwin]

I do and it’s never bothered me at all. I’ve been harassed on suburban streets or housing estates but not in the woods.

[ferryblue]

Fuck no. I used to but after several experiences in my late teens I can’t do it anymore. I only walk in towns now.