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?

I would echo this. Frequently run across fields solo. The only time I was badly harassed was in a large town - while running with a group. (The group quickly realised what was happening, caught up with me and helped out!)

When I think of a field I am thinking of a farm field not a place where commuters and druggies hang out. That sounds like a park or recreation ground.

Drugs are a problem in a couple of nice
rural locations I can think of. Areas to avoid where they hang out can involve fields.

There was a channel 4 programme, fictional I think, a few years ago depicted this quite well.

I think if I felt like I knew the area well and it was light I'd be ok with going alone, less so on unfamiliar land

I'm picturing this weird mash up of people huddled together mainlining heroin whilst a smartly dressed man with a briefcase walks past all witnessed by a group of curious cows.

That is one fucking trippy field.

This was my walk home this evening. Not a soul around. I’m not kidding out just because I’m not in possession of a penis.

@Summerloverr it’s a shame you haven’t engaged with your own thread at all.

Missing out not kidding out.

Absolutely not.

Even in daytime?

Absolutely - I would and do. Far happier doing that than some urban areas.

Do you walk anywhere alone?

@PurpleDaisies that is one fine field. Here is one I walked across earlier today..

Thanks for the cow video to the person who posted it. Sorry, I can't find your name to tag. I found it more disconcerting how fast they can run!

@PurpleDaisies I only realised, after you said, that the OP hasn't engaged with their thread.

I'm sure the chances of being attacked in a field are statistically very low

"He said it's not safe for a lone woman to walk alone across fields."

It would make life a bit difficult for me if I didn't, considering I am a farmer.

I feel safest running through countryside/ fields. Few roads to cross. Too quiet to be worth loitering for an opportunist victim to assault/ rob.

I am cautious about cows and check my escape routes. The other day they seemed happy in the middle of the field. Annoyingly my route went around two sides of the perimeter, and by the time I was leaving the field one was mooing its discontent and "followed" me along the other side of the hedgeline which wasn't great. Sometimes I have swerved cow fields as they're twitchy or blocking the RoW.

My other concern is trip hazards. This is why I don't run trail at night. Also if alone, pheasants make disconcertingly eerie noises 😂 (less freaky if with company)

Fields are generally a lot safer than busier public spaces/ roads. The only places I avoid is if there is a specific reason in that area.

I agree with PP about the statistics showing women are in more danger from people than they know than strangers. And heartbreakingly, women are attacked anywhere and everywhere. I wouldn't walk through a field alone at night or an urban park... actually would rather a rural field. Women were murdered near me in London in parks and walking on pavements. I don't think urban or built up environments are necessarily more safe.

Top quality field there too.

I hope you had a penis with you to protect you from harm.

There are always people about first thing in the morning walking their dogs.

Yes. If it goes from woods and in to woods I might be more wary.

Women have been picked off asking down suburban streets, high streets, outside their own houses, in their own houses etc etc technically nothing is ‘safe’ so as with everything we risk assess. I run across fields alone in daylight.