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.

But that sounds like a wise decision, and presumably this is not a rural woodland, but a clump of trees on or near campus, hence with a significant population in the vicinity? That’s a completely different situation.

I happily walk without care all around my semi rural neighbourhood, and have done as a lone female for 30 years: l appreciate that people living in more densely populated areas may be more cautious. I just feel lucky to have the feeling of safety.

I go to busy areas, not a forest though, but woodland/common. Not comfortable in isolated places.

I do all the time and have never felt at risk but maybe Australia feels a bit safer

Yep brought up in the depths of the countryside, spent whole days off in the woods and fields, quite regularly alone. Feels very safe to me.

Quite happy to do the same now without hesitation during daylight hours. It's how I relax and de-stress.

Not so keen at night, too spooky especially when the owls start calling!

There are a few walks locally to me where lots of people visit. One of them has pathways leading off to woodland areas. I’ve been often with Ds mostly and dh sometimes and I’m fine when I’m with them but I’ve walked through on my own and there are certain spots that make the hair on the back of my neck stand up and I’ve quickened my pace. I have no clue why, overactive imagination maybe? Don’t know. Makes me frustrated at myself as it’s a beautiful place.

Yes, I have walked for many miles in places all alone {no dog} and overseas, too from age 11 onwards.
Only ever was assaulted in parent's home by a man they trusted......

Trust your gut feeling.
If a route feels ''Wrong''.....Obey that instinct.

@KatChocolate

There are a few walks locally to me where lots of people visit. One of them has pathways leading off to woodland areas. I’ve been often with Ds mostly and dh sometimes and I’m fine when I’m with them but I’ve walked through on my own and there are certain spots that make the hair on the back of my neck stand up and I’ve quickened my pace. I have no clue why, overactive imagination maybe? Don’t know. Makes me frustrated at myself as it’s a beautiful place.

I get this too. I obey the gut feeling.

Places near cities can be ''Edgier'' for some reason.

I'm not mad keen on dense woodland either.

I stick to populated areas if alone, or even if I am with my dog.

This is so interesting to read. I studied landscape and before I would have said this is all cultural (ie. rape risk/ victim blaming/ modern lives out of touch with nature etc.). But after I realised its all much more interesting and deeply ingrained psychological stuff which harks back to hunter/gatherer times and tribal conflict.

Prospect and refuge theory is probably the main topic in this area. Its that essentially to stay safe you need both a view and physical protection at the same time. So with the field example, most people feel more relaxed if you walk around the edges next to protected boundary (like a thick impenetrable hedge bounded with a ditch) rather than straight through the middle. If the edges are unprotected and very permeable it gets a bit more tricky. You weigh up instinctively the risks of being seen vs seeing.

OP, I'm so glad you started this thread. I have an unexplained fear of walking in woods, fields etc on my own. I know it's irrational but I cannot help it and I'm afraid I may have passed it on to dc.

Yes and absolutely love walking in the woods alone especially at sunset/getting dark... But that’s Welsh borderlands woods and not Hampstead Heath

I do if it’s a fairly busy route with lots of other walkers around. Although round here, you’re probably more likely to get run over by some wanker on a quad bike than assaulted.

I’d love to do a multi day hike and camp alone under the stars! I think I’ve seen Wild too many times.

I wouldn't.

Never, ever again after Tony from Aylmerton Field Study Centre www.afsc.co.uk/ thought it would be a laugh to jump out, shout & follow me & my mum through the woods at Felbrigg for about ten minutes until we were actually holding hands & running to get away from him.

We complained to the study centre who brushed it off as 'oh, just Tony having a laugh when he was waiting for his school group to come past'. It wasn't fucking funny for the two women he targeted in isolated woodland, and I'll never go back to Felbrigg again as a result.

@iMatter

I live in the New Forest

I walk in enclosures (the really Forest-y bits) all the time as well as the more open bits

There's only one locally that gives me the creeps (I think it's a historical thing) and I run through there really fast...

Me too lol,

I walk in lots of countryside and wooded places with my dog. I have been surrounded then chased by cows - got through a gate just in time to avoid being trampled - and I sprained my ankle in a country park and had to be rescued. My dog didn't help in that situation, he just carried on snuffling around. Now I carry an alarm phone that gives my location.

Nope but I live in a rough af area. Might feel a bit different if I didn’t.

I do it and I'm in Cardiff.
But I'm absolutely ready to throw down if someone approaches me. I'm always on guard looking at what could be a potential weapon or website route.

I do as I have a dog, wood is on the doorstep but it does creep me out sometimes.

I do. Mostly with a dog.

I am more concerned of her getting in a pickle than I am about me.

I do my best to be aware of my surroundings and the people who are in the same area.

No. If I'm with the kids we got to open spaces. If DH is there we go in the woods. I simply don't trust men.

it’s young men who get randomly attacked more often, that I feel my son has zero awareness and young women too much awareness.

Is this a comparison of like for like or is it this plus the sort of assault/harassment and feeling of fear that is common in 'outdoor offences' that women experience? I can't find it but I've read that when it's the latter, the numbers are more comparable.

I read this in the context of the argument that when domestic/intimate partner violence/assault is accounted for, the ratio crimes of violence against men and women is different than when looking at solely at the 'outdoor' or street violence that is usually discussed.

I do it all the time yes, london, outskirts and other places.

I do it every every single day. I'm a dog walker and it's my job. I've never once felt unsafe.