To walk dogs alone in the woods?

[Mouseorchestra7]

I walk my parents’ dogs (two small-ish cockers) in the woodland and countryside around the busy-ish seaside town my parents live in. I absolutely love our walks, and find them so good for my mental health. I’ve never had any scary experiences (touch wood) in the year or so I have been regularly walking them (discovered the joys of it during the pandemic), but I do sometimes wonder whether I should be going out on my own for long walks as a solo women (late 30s). Part of me wonders whether I should even be asking this, as I know I’ll have to continue whatever people say, as I love the walks so much, as do the dogs!

I was just reading up about the Julia James murder, and it got me thinking (and worrying). I don’t have an OH, or friends in the area that can come with me unfortunately. If you walk on your own, are there any precautions you take? Hate that women have to worry about these things!

I do it. And you're right, is awful that women have to think about it, because I think at least once during my walk that I perhaps shouldn't be doing it alone.

I don't walk in woodland alone unfortunately as I would like to but I'm too worried and don't find it relaxing. I tend to stick to busier dog walking areas but still wide open spaces so we can have our own space and not be on top of other walkers!

I hike on my own, and I see a fair few other lone women hiking. I think you have to remind yourself that most women are killed by people they know. The risk of being attacked by a complete stranger is very small.

I wouldn't walk alone in woodland after dark.

*most women who are murdered

I do it - I take some comfort in the fact I'm with my dog - he's mostly a big softie, but I have no doubt if I was in real danger he'd shred someone to pieces or die trying.
I do think that the chances of someone laying 'in wait' in the woods is very slim compared to being somewhere there is a lot more footfall and being dragged off elsewhere. If I thought too much about all the what ifs, I'd never leave home and I love my walks. Just be cautious, take your phone, text your parents on going out and coming back in xx

I'm a dog walker, so I do all day, everyday. I rarely worry about it and I often opt for very quiet areas. I did have a man stop and talk to me the other day and I felt slightly nervous. He just looked a bit off and one of the dogs kept barking, despite him speaking all nicely to it. That got rid of him anyway😂

Unfortunately I never walk in woodland or anywhere isolated. I have some fantastic walks straight from our house but only if I have a friend for company…makes me so angry that as a female I am so vulnerable.

I walk/hike alone all the time. I love the solitude and it does wonders for my physical and mental health. Yes, there is a tiny, tiny risk that I might be in the wrong place at the wrong time and something awful might happen, but the benefits far outweigh that risk. I feel far more at risk walking around the inner city area where I live.
I usually let someone know where I'm going and always carry a charged phone with me.

I walk in the woods near my house nearly every day by myself.

Statistically I am still more likely to come to harm by crossing the road so I don't worry about it.

I walk my dogs at night, there's a playing field with a wooded area across from me so I take them there for a quick wander when it's not blowing a gale and sleeting. Mind you they're big and there's 3 of them.

I walk my dogs alone twice a day, and we live rurally. I've had a few occasions recently (one was a man parked in a van with the engine running in a gateway I had to walk through to get to a footpath) and another where there was a man shouting on a mobile in a field miles from anywhere with no dog and not wearing walking gear. It was really really odd, and I put the dogs on their leads a bit quick and power walked off.

It really pisses me off to be honest. I shouldn't have to think "am I safe".

Not with those types dogs. I have a rottweiller with a very strong protective/dodgyness detector though so I feel more comfortable. I make a point of taking her halti off if someone makes me nervous.

@PurpleNebula84

I do it - I take some comfort in the fact I'm with my dog - he's mostly a big softie, but I have no doubt if I was in real danger he'd shred someone to pieces or die trying. I do think that the chances of someone laying 'in wait' in the woods is very slim compared to being somewhere there is a lot more footfall and being dragged off elsewhere. If I thought too much about all the what ifs, I'd never leave home and I love my walks. Just be cautious, take your phone, text your parents on going out and coming back in xx

The problem lies that if you walk same route at same time of day, it's easy for someone to start following you and you can become a target.

I always vary my routes and walk at different times of the day. Hard work sometimes, but better to be safe that way. I only walk in residential areas if on my own. Never woodland, canal tow paths or secluded areas.

I'm the same - I walk alone with my dog every weekend in fields and woods near home, and think to myself every time whether I should.

I don't go to the same place twice in a row, though, I mix up my routes a lot, and I listen to what's around me, no headphones or music.

I walk alone in the woods and all the local countryside with my dog, and go jogging too. Occasionally I feel a little bit wary of a man, and hold my keys so that the poke out between my fingers like knuckle dusters. But it doesn't feel like real apprehension, objectively grounded. More like an irrational fear As others have said, statistically we are more at risk crossing a road, or being at home with our partners.

@Retisestress

Unfortunately I never walk in woodland or anywhere isolated. I have some fantastic walks straight from our house but only if I have a friend for company…makes me so angry that as a female I am so vulnerable.

My sentiments exactly. Was just saying to DH that I wish I could just get up and have the confidence to walk anywhere without doing a major risk assessment each time 🙄

We live rurally and I walk my dog, and run, on my own. There's one field I cross where I do think to myself, it's obvious where I am going [deserted wood] anyone could see me from the road. I don't do it often and I have got the emergency beacon thing set up on my phone. And a terrier by my side.

What really fucks me off is that I even have to think about this stuff. My DH was talking about the "best running route round here" but half of it is along a not-very-busy canal and tbh I just don't fancy that. I hate that I feel limited. I lived in London for nearly 20 years and never felt like this, maybe I was more naive then.

@BoodleBug51 It pisses me off too. I have to say that I’d be very wary seeing a man alone (without dogs) on one of my walks. Perhaps I’m being a bit unfair on solitary men there! The ‘creepiest’ experience I had recently was a man wearing a mask and sunglasses on a walk in a remote rural field. It just freaked me out, even though he didn’t actually do anything.

I don't think twice about walking my dog alone in woodlands or more remote areas (eg five mile hikes in Welsh hills where I am unlikely to see another person the whole time). But there are some parks in my city where I would feel very vulnerable alone at certain times of day.

As a previous poster said, the biggest threat to women comes from men they know, and the chances of being attacked by a stranger while out for a walk are minuscule. I prefer to live my life rather than be restricted by a disproportionate fear of a tiny risk (my mother, on the other hand, would take the opposite view...).

I walk in the local woods all the time with my dog. I used to go jogging in some woods that are more isolated but used to feel like i was being watched. a flasher had being reported there numerous times so maybe it was my imagination as I'd never seen him there but I used to run so fast through them woods as I'd feel spooked. I don't go anymore as they unnerved me too much. A shame as was a great quiet place to jog with the dog.

I walk on isolated moorland at all hours of the night. Never feel unsafe, but am very far from civilisation. My logic is that if I was a racist, murderer or other predator I would await my prey somewhere I’d be likely to be waiting for less than a week.

I don’t think I’d be so confident in an unlit semi-urban environment.

Yes I walk in the woods with my dog. Its a popular dog walking spot and Ive never felt worried about it. My friend won't go up there on her own

I used to run with my big dog every morning in the dark but stopped when I realised the tension I felt before I went wasn’t cos I was running but cos I was actually scared. And my big dog will bark at anyone who comes near, but I still didn’t feel safe.

I recently took my little dog out in some woods near me during the day and felt really vulnerable.

In fact the only time I’m happy in isolated places nowadays is if I’m out riding my horse. Didn’t used to feel this way but there have been incidents near me.

@User48751490 I do vary the walks, but do go to secluded areas (although still areas where I tend to come across at least a couple of other dog walkers). Woodland is my favourite, as there is some beautiful woodland near me. I feel that rural areas are probably safer than say a woodland near an urban area or near a very busy road.