Would you do these walks if you were me?

[Whycantwebefreetolive]

Feeling very anxious about dog walks recently, as a few others seem to be. I’ve been feeling it more the last month or so, not sure why.
I live near to some open fields and woods leading down to the beach.
We go as a family (with Dh) to take the dog in the woods at the weekends and feel safe.
During the week, Dh isn’t home until it’s dark, he’s tired in winter by then and we don’t want to take Dd, 4 out in the dark.
During the day I often take Dd and the dog on my own into the fields part by my home, it’s very open, but with no one around. We’ve always enjoyed it, but I often feel I can’t fully relax. The other day I just started to feel really anxious and just hurried Dd (in a fun way, she didn’t know I was worried) and the dog back home. Then I felt really crappy and also annoyed that I feel scared there.
There’s a road that runs along a little further away that often has the odd car/can down.
I don’t know..I’m wondering if I’m putting us at risk going here?
It’s so nice to have this space we can just walk to at the end of the road. I sometimes drive Dd and our dog to a more open place with people to walk, but we enjoy it by our house.
Would you go or it’s too risky?

*We only go into the actual woods part with Dh

No more at risk there than you are in your own home (more likely your dh would kill you than a stranger) or any time you set foot out the door (more likely to be hit by a car than murdered). Be aware, but don't live in fear

I walk dog in the woods by us early and alone. Doesn’t bother me, I am always aware and looking around but the dog enjoys it and we live in a safe area

The statistics of being attacked are probably very tiny, maybe you could find those for your area? That might help

I walk dogs alone for 5-6 hours a day and I've never once felt worried or scared.

I would. If it's open, you'd be able to see other people approaching there doesn't seem to be much risk. Keep your phone on you and enjoy your walks.

I'm not sure if I'm in the minority but I walk anywhere at any time and don't give it a second though.

@fatsinglereadytomingle I’d be able to see them, but I’m always aware of not being able to run anywhere safe with Dd if something happened etc. I’d have to run all the way back to our road of houses, that makes me uneasy.

I walk the dog alone all the time (woods,fields etc). I sometimes think about vulnerability but then think the whole point of having the dog is to enjoy the countryside and the risk of other things (in cities or on roads) is way higher than a random attack in a random woods in my quiet area.

I'm another who walks anywhere at any time - no dog so by myself a lot of the time, and have never had any reason to feel anxious!

Do you suffer from anxiety normally? It would be a shame for you to have what sounds like a great space close by and be too scared to use it! Might be worth talking to the doctor to see if they can help if it's not something you're already being treated for.

@Whycantwebefreetolive

The National Trust and The Wildlife Trust and RSBP charity all do back to nature fun activities for families,

Also The Royal Horticultural society does interesting back to nature stuff for families

Google can help you find further information, about nature activities days.

My take on this your Op Thread, is to listen to your intuition it's there for a reason, to ensure you are aware of any potential risks,

I think if you tell someone where you are going and are fit and we’ll, the chances of anything happening are very slim.
keep your phone charged and stay aware of your surroundings, but I’d say the same if you were going shopping in a city centre.

I've been walking my dogs in woods and remote countryside for years. My main worries are getting lost (awful sense of direction), falling and hurting myself, my dog hurting himself etc. I don't worry about being attacked - though It is alarming when you hear of things like the dog walker who is missing.

Trust your gut. Don't let anyone tell you "Don't be silly". 6 million years of evolution have developed your senses and gut so that we can sense threat and survive. if you sense that you are unsafe there, find an alternative. Loads of organised walks around, or you could organise a little group so everyone always has someone nice to walk with. You can do it.

I would continue. Also no harm sharing your location. I also carry a low grade pepper spray these days.

Where do you get pepper sprays from?

You can't. In the UK they're illegal.

Illegal under Section 5 Firearms Act. Don't get caught with it.

Just get a travel size spray deodorant or hair spray instead of pepper spray. Throw the lid away so it’s in your pocket ready to spray

it would hurt enough to distract an attack I imagine

But there’s literally nothing to be afraid of in the OP’s case. She’s walking in empty fields, with no threat, and the only thing that’s bothering her is thinking about the disappearance of Nicola Bulley, and the fact that, if a threat did one day appear, there would be no passersby. There’s nothing to ‘sense’. OP, @whitebreadjamsandwich is right.

Another one here for trust your instinct. I take my dog on walks, usually alone, near woods and the river. Everything's usually ok and I don't worry about it. But yesterday this guy appeared, dirty, shifty and loitering. Put me on full alert. As luck would have it, this walk that I do alone, was different. I was with a friend - male - and was mighty relieved that I was because I felt definitely that 'something could have happened'. Trust your instinct.
For what it's worth, the guy was later lifted by the police.

A good loud rape alarm will do better than pepper spray- as you've seen with that awful case of police brutality in the us, even those trained in using spray often mess up and spray it in their own faces.

Also a simple thing is to tell people where you are going and when you'll be back.

Take your phone.

I am heading out now for 45 minute walk. It’s pitch black with my head torch. No dog.

I simply will not allow very very very very rare incidents stopping me from living the life I choose to

I always loved walking alone. Don't have a dog but go for many long walks in fields, woods, countryside etc. Never felt anxious for a second.
Is this anxiety a sudden thing? Can you think of any reason why you're feeling like this?

I’m very similar OP. I used to walk by myself and now I feel uneasy. I choose not to walk in woods or empty spaces alone. The risk might be tiny to all of those posters above but I still feel it an unnecessary risk.

I tell a friend where I’m going and share location on WhatsApp x

I have occasionally felt uneasy in remote places I am normally comfortable and it has been almost exclusively when I've had a young child with me. I agree it's normally when I'm subconsciously affected by something in the news.

There are apps for your phone that work like rape alarms. A spray perfume or deodorant are not officially weapons but could buy you a few seconds. I'm sure the feeling will pass so just walk elsewhere for a while.