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!

[Shrivelled]

Totally depends on the area rather than the terrain or whether it’s a forest etc.

[Halloweenrainbow]

All the time. No dog. I don’t like going anywhere too secluded though. Not because I'm concerned about being murdered, I just don't want to fall and hurt myself with nobody around to help!

[Incognitool]

Absolutely, all the time, solo, no dog. I also walked regularly in the countryside around the village on fine nights.

It’s very rare to see anyone at all, even in daytime. Bizarrely, despite being surrounded by field paths, the huge number of dog owners in the vicinity tend to walk their dogs around the playing fields, never further afield.

[dottiedaisee]

@Nevermakeit

I always think about that poor woman (think she was a GP) who was out in the countryside in the middle of nowhere and was murdered, together with one of her little girls (the other was was Josie or Jodie and was brain damaged). Does anyone else remember her? It was all over the news at the time. So even in the countryside, I wouldn't feel very safe. I would run in a common, but only in daylight - and ones where there are a certain amount of people around

This horrific attack quite close to where I live is the reason why I avoid anywhere that is isolated. Her daughter has made a good recovery but what she witnessed will never be forgotten.

[StudentProblems]

Sadly not, too terrified and traumatised by male violence. It’s exhausting.

[Quaagars]

This thread makes me sad, seeing how many women are too scared to do this

Same

[ludothedog]

I refuse to live my life in fear. Yes, when our dog was alive we would regularly go on rural walks and not think twice about it.

[blueshoes]

Do people really think their dog will protect them? Presumably they have not been in a situation where they were being attacked to know how the dog will respond to the attacker.

[partyatthepalace]

@Sbk28

This thread makes me sad, seeing how many women are too scared to do this. I don't blame any of you, of course. The fear is a natural reaction to news coverage.

Yes, I just read through after I answered and it is so sad. It’s no surprise with all the grim stories around but it’s appalling women have to feel so afraid.

[Gothichouse40]

No, even our local park has had the odd attack. So definitely not in a forest. I tend to stick to botanical gardens or places like that. If I go to our park, someone comes with me. Women have even been attacked walking to or from our railway station as it's so secluded. I think it's got worse over the years.

[BramStoker]

At a guess I would imagine the probability of being the victim of a random violent attack is probably no higher in a remote rural location such as a forest than in a town centre or on a residential street (it may even be lower)

It is indeed very sad that so many women are too afraid to walk alone

[Catlover77]

No chance

[Incognitool]

But it’s ridiculous to curtail your life because of something that is highly unlikely to happen to you on a country walk. We all do more dangerous things every day. Lin Russell and her children’s murder was unspeakably horrific, but of a vanishingly rare type. You’re more at risk around more people, and women murder victims are overwhelmingly likely to be killed in or around a house, by a partner or ex.

[BoomBoomsCousin]

I have no problem with walking alone in the countryside.

The fact everyone seems to think that the main risk of walking alone is strange men is yet another indicator of how risk assessment by (and for) women has become so dissociated from reality.

[AdoptedBumpkin]

Probably not in a large, dense forest. I will walk through a small park.

[VaVaGloom]

I've watched to much crimewatch to enjoy secluded walks on my own. Oddly I feel ok with my youngish DC with me, their company must distract me from feeling vulnerable.

[DiseasesOfTheSheep]

I'm regularly alone, after dark in woodland / fields / other rural areas, with and without a dog. I do know one of my dogs has a protective instinct, but he's often not with me anyway. I don't walk in fear - I seem to startle more folk than scare me!

[Startingagainperson]

I just looked up statistics on this, which were really hard to find!

More likely to be attacked in towns.
Men much more likely to be attacked or killed than women, and at most risk from a stranger.
Women much likely to be sexually attacked, most at risk from partners, ex partners or people they know.

A lot of sites on ‘dangers on country walks’ listing cows, wild boars, adders and tics!

[Startingagainperson]

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/articles/thenatureofviolentcrimeinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2020
www.bbc.com/news/explainers-56365412

[Teddyandsuzie]

Yes, every day.

[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.

[Startingagainperson]

I wonder if it would be helpful to have more information from the police about local risk? For example knowing that some areas are hotspots.

I also have a young adult son who is completely unaware of danger - in one way it’s great he walks with confidence anywhere - but in another way it’s been so drilled into us that ‘women musn’t go out, they are not safe’ when statistically it’s young men who get randomly attacked more often, that I feel my son has zero awareness and young women too much awareness.

[QOD]

Not deep dark woods but isolated countryside
I do carry a tin of deep heat spray on the recommendation of a cop friend and erm a little Stanley knife against her recommendation...
So many dog thefts ... dog is tiny

[Mamanyt]

When I was much younger, I did so regularly. In fact, we had "Mum's week off," usually more like four days, when I would go camping in the forest, right by myself, and unwind. Usually in the winter, often in the snow. Not that I'm some wonder-woman, but because of snakes, and I loathe being bitten by bugs. Those were some of the most peaceful days of my entire life.

[Incognitool]

@Startingagainperson

I just looked up statistics on this, which were really hard to find!

More likely to be attacked in towns.
Men much more likely to be attacked or killed than women, and at most risk from a stranger.
Women much likely to be sexually attacked, most at risk from partners, ex partners or people they know.

A lot of sites on ‘dangers on country walks’ listing cows, wild boars, adders and tics!

Yes,I was trying to think whether I’d ever felt at real risk in thirty years of country walking — other than cracking your ankle in a rabbit hole stuff — and honestly, only on a couple of occasions, from excitable cattle in a field, ever from other people.

Having said that, this is almost always in deep countryside. Anyone not from the vicinity would have had to walk a long way from the nearest road to get there, so it would be an unlikely choice for opportunistic crime. I would be a lot more cautious in woodland or fields on the edge of a town which are more easily accessible and where a potential attacker would be surer of finding a lone female walker.