Would you walk across a field alone?

[Summerloverr]

I do quite a lot of walking around my town, and one route involves walking across a field for 5-10 minutes.

I only do this during daylight and while it's usually quiet with no one around, there is the occasional dog walker etc.

But my friend thinks I am putting my line on the line by doing this, and says I am putting myself in danger. He said it's not safe for a lone woman to walk alone across fields.

I know there are news stories about horrible and unfortunate events, but they make the news because it's rare. AIBU to walk across quiet fields alone?

The field that I walk through every evening easily takes 5-10 minutes to cross. If you live in a rural area that is mainly arable land, fields ARE big.

No. That would be a normal sized field in the country.

Ah well I live in Cornwall where fields are tiny I guess. And are generally full of cows!

Yes, and I do this most days. Part of the route I walk is through woods, too.

Sometimes I see other people, sometimes I don't. I prefer it when I don't, so I tend to go in the early afternoon after I've finished work, but most people are still grafting.

Definitely not

Not without my dogs.

walk, run, cycle. Night time cycling would be potentially dodgy on uneven ground

Yes, I would - and do! Honestly never thought of it as a problem.

That being said, I don't go walking wearing headphones, just so I can be more awake of the noises around me.

@worriedaboutmoney2022

because she obviously want to walk across it.
and should be able to

Yep, and in the woods and at night. I do avoid canal tow paths when they are quiet but other than that I go pretty much everywhere and always have.

Would depend where it was.

This negative, fear laden mindset piled onto people by the news media, social media and forums such as this is so damaging. The tragic stories we hear about are a relative handful out of millions of ordinary lives in this country

Walking on any public right of way anywhere in daylight is incredibly low risk

By the sounds of some people on here we should act like it's lockdown and only go out in large groups or with the protection of the trusted males in our lives

I would and I do. I can’t imagine living in such a restricted way that I’m scared to walk across a field by myself. The terrible things that make the news are really rare and could just as easily happen at home

This was my walk to one of my schools as a child - 10-12 before we moved. And in the dark after extra curricular some nights in the autumn and winter.

I wouldn't think twice now as an adult.

Women being murdered in fields is thankfully so rare it is national news when it happens. One the other hand people die or are seriously injured in car accidents every day and only makes the local papers.

Yes. I do a lot of walking in places and times Mumsnet says we shouldn't though.

Mumsnet clearly doesn’t say that. Look at how many posters are saying they walk through fields.

Yes, I walk wherever I want (assuming it’s legal) whenever I want. The only thing that would make me think twice would be cows.

I'm always wary of cows and had my escape route planned in case. I don't think they can jump over ditches.

This is a refreshingly unusual thread for Mumsnet. The first response on this one is usually the way they go.

I would in a field but I wouldn’t in woods. That feels much scarier because it’s not open.

I’m the same. In a field you can see a long way and there’s nowhere to hide. The reverse is the case in woods.

I avoided the wooded area unless with friends in daylight. Too many dense areas where people could be lurking, unlike the fields where you can see for miles.

Though one night we were very late, no mobile phones and my parents would have been worried. I ran all the way through the large locked, mainly wooded park, on my way home from skiing lessons (I can't ski now!) one night in pitch black. I was hyper alert, extremely familiar with surroundings, and knew every gap in the railings. I was astounded at my stupidity afterwards and never did it again.

I'm always wary of cows and had my escape route planned in case. I don't think they can jump over ditches.

You might be surprised. I have seen them jump over a five foot high hedge.

Yes of course - and I do it regularly.

I feel at more risk walking though the city centre alone at night. I always avoid that if I can. I've seen far more reports of women being assaulted there than I ever have in the surrounding countryside.