Precautions for solo camping as a female

[Messen]

I’ve been camping a few times either completely alone or as the only adult with kids. Never worried about anything really but suddenly overcome with crippling menopausal anxiety…

Kids are now older and for various reasons aren’t coming with me on my trips this year. One one planned trip am camping with a friend albeit with separate tents, but in another trip it’s just me and the doggo (see below, TLDR, not a protector ;).

Suddenly I feel a bit more alone, although I realize this is mad given minors don’t afford much actual protection and nor does the person in the tent beside me on my accompanied trip.

I have a dog but dog is utterly useless at defence. Would enthusiastically greet any nighttime visitors and welcome them in, while turning a blind eye to any actual violence, theft or harm.

Do you have any safety and security tips for solo UK female campers? I generally go to medium sized sites in south/south west/ south east England or south Wales. Not that that matters given weirdos get everywhere ….

Don’t underestimate the guarding factor of a dog. They don’t have to be ferocious to put someone off.

Things which would make me personally feel secure: a big heavy torch kept by my head, a set of bells on the zip so it can’t be opened quietly, something to pee in to skip night time trips to the loo, camping within reasonable distance of two different tents/groups. Also I like to get my clothes together then turn off any light before changing, to prevent accidental projection of a shadow show on the side of the tent!

When I camped alone on small site, I used S shaped carabiners to link together the two zip pulls on each door and hung something rattly on each door. Definitely a bucket for the night as I don’t feel safe leaving the tent during the night to go to the toilet block, a couple of good torches, a charged phone. You could also leave a pair of mens boots in the porch/ outside to give the impression you are not alone and set up two chairs as well. Enjoy your camping trip 🌞

Ooh, the bells are an excellent idea: thank you! Also the bulky torch by my bed.

dog would growl probably but it would be quiet and a bit unconvinxing :) bit of a pudding, scared of her own shadow although a ‘big’ bulky dog which might help.

These are also such good ideas. Spare big walking shoes and two chairs plus carabiners. Thank you . I never ever get up to an actual loo in the night, got a camping khazi :)