Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To walk dogs alone in the woods?

147 replies

Mouseorchestra7 · 06/02/2022 21:41

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!

OP posts:
Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 07/02/2022 20:33

I do it a lot and don’t worry about it. Sometimes the thought crosses my mind that if someone is anted to attack me they could and I wouldn’t be found for ages! But it’s more of a hypothetical thought than a real worry.

Maybe I should worry more.

MayBMaybenot · 07/02/2022 20:48

I regularly walk my dog in woodland on my own. It never occurs to me to even think it might be dangerous. I love the feeling of freedom it gives me from my otherwise busy and stressful life.

On one occasion I was approached by a loan man (no dog in tow!) and did think it odd. He asked me politely for directions as clearly lost, I pointed out his route, he thanked me equally politely and went on his way. Such a shame that we have to view any lone man as a potential danger.

MissMaple82 · 07/02/2022 21:02

It's a sad life of your too scared to walk in woodlands on your own! I do it all the time, never once come to my mind that it's not safe

gonnabeok · 07/02/2022 21:09

I carry a rape alarm on a keyring and a small cannister of red paint for anyone who tries to steal a dog.

User48751490 · 07/02/2022 21:15

@MissMaple82

It's a sad life of your too scared to walk in woodlands on your own! I do it all the time, never once come to my mind that it's not safe
Again, if you have never experienced being followed or attacked then it's not really that surprising that you can go about your business without worrying.

You end up with a tainted view afterwards.

Buildingthefuture · 07/02/2022 21:21

I do, often, and have done for 20+ years. In all that time, I’ve only had 2 slightly weird incidents. Once, a lone man walked towards me and my very placid, love everyone dog went stock still, all his hackles came up and he made the most deep growling threatening sound I’ve ever heard. Man turned in the other direction and walked away. Had a similar incident on a very quiet canal towpath about 10 years later with a different dog. I don’t worry about it, but I only go when it’s light.

Original poster
Mouseorchestra7 · 07/02/2022 21:52

I do think the type of woodland or green space makes a big difference. Where I used to live, there was a woods that was a notorious dogging spot and I always felt a bit weirded out there, as there would just be random lone men wandering about. It was next to a busy road out of town. I feel that places next to busy main roads just outside towns or quiet urban parks are probably less safe than a remote woodland trust wood. It doesn’t make sense for an attacker to lie in wait for a lone woman in such places. As another poster said, they would risk dying from exposure! And I do think that a lot of these attackers are opportunists.

Reading these responses, I’ve realised how I’m always doing a calculation in my head about where is ‘safe’ to go. There are (nice) woods and green spaces that I just wouldn’t feel safe visiting on my own for one reason or another.

It’s a shame that some of us feel that we can’t go for walks on our own in nature because of fear. It’s so unfair. I can’t stop doing it because it’s so beneficial for my mental health. Just wish I didn’t worry (or feel I had to worry).

OP posts:
Original poster
Mouseorchestra7 · 07/02/2022 21:54

@gonnabeok just ordered these from Amazon!

@Buildingthefuture creepy! But glad the creepy experiences have been minimal. I would also only go in the light.

OP posts:
SelkieQualia · 07/02/2022 22:11

[quote Laiste]**@FindingMeno - ''When a man came out of the woods at me, I did the same. Fortunately when he got hold of me I did try, and managed, to get away.''

Did you sort of snap out of it?
Flowers bloody hell

Even though it's so long ago i often think about it and wonder what would have happened if he'd touched me. At the time i thought that if he touched me i'd have just fainted :( It seemed to take forever those few moments between him emerging and then the sound of the car. My mind was racing i just couldn't move.

When people talk about how they'd do this and they'd do that if x y z happened i keep quiet. You just never know how you'll react and i'm quite embarrassed that i froze.[/quote]
Don't be embarrassed - the freeze is a reflex, one that's quite difficult to overcome. It's similar to the one where some animals "play dead" when threatened.

Basic self defence training can actually be really useful - I did one training evening years ago, and it really stuck with me. I really recommend it!

MoiraNotRuby · 07/02/2022 22:19

I walk alone after dark in rural places...I think its unlikely I will be attacked, statistically, but its still a fear. However,
I have already survived violence in my own home and on the street. So even if I do encounter violence in a field I kind of feel resigned to it. Might as well have some nice walks regardless. Shit isn't it.

Laiste · 08/02/2022 08:04

@MoiraNotRuby -''I have already survived violence in my own home and on the street. So even if I do encounter violence in a field I kind of feel resigned to it.''

Flowers Dreadful that so many of us are either scared of and/or actually half expecting trouble from men.

@SelkieQualia - yes, i've heard that even a little bit of defence training can help. Even if it's just to lessen the chance of 'freeze' kicking in.

The fight or flight reflexes are often talked about, and you imagine you'd shoot off like a gazelle with all the adrenaline. The 'freeze' isn't mentioned often. The irony is i'm quite gobby and reactive when confronted usually Hmm

I can picture myself just standing there now He must have wondered why i wasn't reacting! Wanker.

JuergenSchwarzwald · 08/02/2022 08:07

On one occasion I was approached by a loan man (no dog in tow!) and did think it odd. He asked me politely for directions as clearly lost, I pointed out his route, he thanked me equally politely and went on his way. Such a shame that we have to view any lone man as a potential danger

It's pretty outrageous that men are not allowed to go out for a walk! Not everyone can run or cycle. Have they got to hide away in gyms so that women feel safe? I get furious when I think of the constraints that women have to live under but this is ludicrous.

prettypastel · 08/02/2022 08:19

I feel vulnerable if I walk my dogs in remote fields or woods on my own. I think the fear is more someone trying to steal my dogs than just trying to hurt me. I hate feeling like this though and feel guilty that I don't walk my dogs as far as I would if there was no fear. They get much longer walks if I'm with someone else.

Ofalltheginjoints · 08/02/2022 08:26

I don't really have a choice but to walk my dog in the woods, he's a rescue and is reactive (work ongoing with a behaviourist and the vet) so woodland walks are the safest place to take him for his well-being.

I'm mid 30's and walk with a crutch so I figure it may come in handy if needed, ddog is a Lurcher and I think he would protect me if needed but I don't want to find out.

Dark mornings I don't mind, for me summer walks are more of an issue as part of the woods is used by local young people using gas/nitrous oxide

Onlyforcake · 08/02/2022 09:08

The only concern I would have would be if there is a local hunt. For the reasons of every stereotype, endangering the public type behaviour you've heard. Vicious thugs.

lljkk · 08/02/2022 09:22

I grew up in a warm dry (climate) place where there are a lot more creeps in the bushes. You really have to think about walking through southern California canyons (undeveloped), where homeless may be sleeping out, lie in wait. Although they also need to spend most their day foraging, and it makes sense to stay nearer to soup kitchens or their actual food supplies -- so the canyons are still pretty safe. Ultimately, their main victims are other homeless in urban places. Too unpleasant to wait around outside in isolated rural places in UK 8 months of the year in day time, and probably too unpleasant 11.5 months/year at night. Even on summer days, the creeps don't have the habit of that kind of rough sleeping.

Covid efforts got a huge % of homeless indoors, I suspect many haven't gone back to streets.

Original poster
Mouseorchestra7 · 08/02/2022 11:05

@Onlyforcake It always makes my hackles go up when I’m enjoying a peaceful walk in nature and then hear gunfire in the background. Luckily, never been caught up in a fox hunt!

OP posts:
Laiste · 08/02/2022 11:09

I don't imagine many of the women here who have been attacked or intimidated by men while out walking would say that it was probably a homeless ''creep'' foraging in the woods who did it.

The guy that scared the shit out of me wasn't sleeping rough, he was in full camo gear hiding in the bushes. It's no good saying men don't hide in the bushes in the uk. They bloody do! Hmm

Enb76 · 08/02/2022 11:14

I don't worry at all - the risk is vanishingly small that something will happen to me. I would have to be really unlucky to be attacked.

Of course, some people are really unlucky but I am not going to curtail my freedoms because there are some nutters out there. I will take my chances. Life is not risk free.

Laiste · 08/02/2022 11:14

There's a lot of drag hunting round here and the only time it's caused any actual trouble for me personally was when our car was surrounded by a sea of hounds who decided it was time to have a chill out and we couldn't move the car for ages.

DH and i have had a gun waved at us by a weird farmer guy who thought we were out to steal his truffles apparently ... Hmm

Blossomtoes · 08/02/2022 12:51

@MissMaple82

It's a sad life of your too scared to walk in woodlands on your own! I do it all the time, never once come to my mind that it's not safe
Yes, it is sad. You’re very lucky that you don’t feel like that.
foxlover47 · 13/02/2022 11:42

@Ofalltheginjoints my two boys are dog reactive so I end up doing the same
Last night it was almost dark , proper the bit before it is really dark
And I forced myself to go from the field down along the "half path " through the woods , I had a hat with the led light in it and the phone light , I'm going to buy a torch .. but for the dogs it's better they won't bump into other dogs but it pees me off that it isn't the years of watching horror movies that worry me but more the fact that there would be a person who would want to do damage

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread