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 do it every day. Not actually across fields with crops or livestock but along tracks between fields.
I'd be more nervous alone in a city.

I would, in the day. I have a field behind my house, through the day I use the back door and cut across the field to the main road. I've done it before with my sister at night but would never on my own at night - nice area and very low risk, but not worth the risk imo

am a gay male and would warn female friends off from doing this in my area being gay means nothing apart from i do worry about my close female friends

if others asked i would say the same and this is edinburgh but am a worrier after being attacked a couple of times

I hike on the moors alone, it's the one place I feel safe. Walking about my town not so much. Just stay aware, no buds in so you have all your senses.

but aren't the weirdos more likely to be where they are sure of finding people?

Yes I walk through lonely fields and in the woods alone. The mental and physical heath benefits of doing so are enormous. I always ensure I have my mobile with signal and my dog. Although I'm not sure how much of a guard dog she would be!

See I'm the opposite. Born and bred in cities and feel much safer in London than anywhere else, even in the middle of the night. I find the countryside a bit eerie. But I refuse to be curtailed when the risk is so low so I walk and run alone when I visit and it's always fine. As per pp much more risk for women in their homes than outside

This has honestly blown my mind. I can’t imagine for one minute not walking across the many fields/forest/canal around our (safe, rural, middle class) area alone with the dog. I now realise this is a privileged attitude and feel genuinely sorry that anyone has to weigh the risks up in their mind before making a decision such as this.

Yes, of course. I do it all the time!

Of course I do if it's daytime. What century is this? There's a difference between women telling men how unsafe they make us feel at night and them respecting that, and men telling us we can't go on fields! Men (gay /straight, they're both men) have no business telling us what to do. Fuck off the lot of you.

What is so dangerous about empty fields?

Surely fields are no more dangerous (and probably a lot less dangerous) than woods or city streets or beaches or shopping malls or pavements or housing estates or footpaths or anywhere else that women should be able to walk without fear if they bloody well like.

God, life is full of danger, from driving to skiing, to clubbing- you can't lock yourself up

Yes I walk through fields all the time. Doesn't worry me at all.

YANBU, I walk across fields alone every day and have never felt worried about it. I love being out in the fresh air, listening to the birds singing, it is very good for my mental health.

Yup, woods and fields. In fact, I go out of my way to avoid other people. Only in daylight though, I’d probably break an ankle if I tried it after dark, even with a torch.

I run and walk alone in fields, moors, in the mountains, even at night. Urban areas are more dangerous. If I was a lunatic waiting to attack lone women I would probably go somewhere there was a chance of coming across someone. Stranger attacks are terrifying and obviously big news but are incredibly rare. I am going to crack on and live the life I want fo lead.

Yep, I do. I also run alone all year round including the winter

When I've been across random fields and into different woodlands, if it's a common area or walking trail, usually their are other dog walkers about, but as a precaution I try to scout ahead and see if I can spot people, then as I'm walking every so often check behind me or at least turn off on a section and double back or stop at e.g. A hedge row to see the "wildlife" gives more of an idea of being followed , if the area is too busy then it's just keeping on guard either way, and not having music playing ect.

If you’re a BIG weirdo you’re not going to strike in busy, urban areas.

You’ll bide your time somewhere quiet and incredibly unlikely to be disturbed. That said, of course these incidents are rare but don’t be fooled into thinking the really bad shit only happens on urban streets.

Yes, no worries at all other than keeping an eye out for livestock - I grew up with large animals and only once have I been concerned (work site in a field of bullocks, they were a bit too pushy so I decamped quickly - only later did I find out that the security guys were too scared to go anywhere near them).

Basically the Jason Bourne method of situational awareness and have an escape route planned when possible.

Please give me the data on women attacked by men whilst walking across fields in daylight during the past ten years.

NB. Cows aren't men.

I do, but only when I have to walk the dog alone, probably less than once a week. I find it a shame that I feel the need to be very aware of my surroundings, I have in the past taken a walking stick but our dog has grown huge so I think he’d be quite off putting.

No one is past the age to be raped. Its not about sexiness, youth or attractiveness. It's about power and humiliation. A young man was sent to prison recently for breaking in and raping elderly women. One of them was 83.

Sorry, I have to comment again because this is just bonkers. Men are not lying in fields, their malevolent intentions nestled by the burgeoning ears of corn, waiting to pounce on some unsuspecting woman out for a stroll.