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?

Yes and I often do, alone and with DC. I'd avoid cattle for my safety and to prevent the animals getting stressed. I can't imagine any reason why walking across an open grassy space in the countryside in daylight would present any heightend risk above walking in any other environment. Cattle aside.

I think you mean Dallow Road. And as for the rest...well words fail me.

Yes

I'm not sure there's any great data that suggests that fields are less safe than streets, houses etc in terms of rape.

I would hazard a guess that you are far far safer from rape alone in a field at 3am than you are in your bedroom.

I’ll walk across any field alone. I just avoid the ones with the murderers in.

seriously though I have literally walked across the country alone and will do so again. I cross moors and bogs, I go out of mobile signal, I walk miles from any civilisation. I go up hills and mountains - wainwrights, munros. I camp out by myself. I stay in bnbs by myself. I walk in the dark. I walk in cities at home and abroad. I walk with my ear buds in and my head torch on. The riskiest thing is traffic in cities and breaking an ankle in a remote location.

this doesn’t come from a place of privilege it comes from a place of refusing to be curtailed

Yes, I would. I also walk home in the dark on my own all the time. Always have. Have had a few unpleasant momeents but luckily nothing awful has ever happened yet. It is horrible when bad things happen and are in the paper as there is a risk you will 'lose your nerve'.

Yes but I’m a farmer!

We have no public footpaths crossing our land and I’ve never seen another soul. Having said that I don’t like taking the dogs out in the fields on my own at night. Not sure why.

I do it fairly regularly. However, I’ve become more aware of the risks recently since a friend was attacked by a man in broad daylight on a popular country path. He snuck up behind her and grabbed her tightly round the arms and torso. She kicked and bit him and screamed her head off and he eventually let go and ran away. She reported it but no one has even been arrested. For every case of male violence that makes the news there are a lot more that don’t.

*ever been arrested

I live in the country and go for walks round lanes, woods and fields all the time. As do many other women (with or without dogs).

I will be doing so in half an hour when the dog is up. We walk in fields, woods, by rivers - just me and him. We see lots of other dog walkers, the odd runner and loads of sheep.

I can’t imagine living in such a fearful way that I wouldn’t walk in the countryside by myself. It’s literally never occurred to me not to.

Your friend also shows a real inability to calculate risk - women are far more in danger in their own homes or from work colleagues than they are walking across a field yet he’s not telling you to not go home or to work, is he?

Wouldn’t walk across a field with cows mind you.

Don’t forget to avoid the sea after watching Jaws, hotels after watching The Shining, work after watching Die Hard, home after watching Panic Room… 🙄

I can’t imagine curtailing my independence so much, or being so intensely fearful.

I’ve lived and travelled independently all over the world. By far the most dangerous thing I’ve done as a woman is have a male domestic partner. I have little time for men who think I need to be warned about normal activities but who have never once thought of where the real risk to women lies. I don’t find their concern for my safety at all genuine.

Definitely - I do not just walk in isolated places I also solo wild camp - it always shocks me when i realise people are concerned about doing this.

I have been doing this for 40+ years and have never even once felt uncomfortable.

Exactly. I have only been followed in a rural area, quiet where very few people were around.

Lots of women have no choice but to walk at routine times as other family members routines dictate this/ lifestyles. What do you do then? Easy to say walk at different times/different places. Not always possible.

Yes, I walk across fields, woods everyday but I live in a rural area and see a few dog walkers on the same route. I feel safe because I have my dog with me but have gone many a time on my own.

I was so nervous I couldn't remember the emergency number.

999?

This. I find it beyond frustrating that this myth persists that women are at greater risk outside on their own (with the unspoken implication being that they should stay at home).

In actual fact you are at far far greater risk in your home with your husband or partner, with your colleagues or in the pub.

Rape and assault on women is a real risk but the riskiest situations are not when women are out unsupervised. They are the situations where a man who is known to you attacks you.

Yes of course.

Personally I wouldn't because im very risk adverse and have PTSD due to a series of traumatic events.

This is peak Mumsnet for me!

Yes, I walk across fields all the time. I try to walk as much as possible, rather than drive, so am also taking short cuts across fields (using the public right of ways). I'm also happy to walk across them in the dark if I have a torch (don't want a sprained ankle).

Of course I’d walk across a field. The likelihood of anything happening to you is absolutely minuscule.

Your friend is being a patronising twat and doesn’t know what he’s talking about. You’re not a child; you don’t need him telling you what you should and shouldn’t do.

Driving is a million times more dangerous. Your friend is very paranoid