Hiking alone

[Ijustneedtosleep21]

Hopefully this is the best place for this.

Hiking alone... would you? DH is not keen on me going alone, I'm not overly confident about the idea (anxiety as a lone female in remote places) however I am also 100% I'd rather not do it with DH, baby and toddler in tow. I would probably take the dog for company.

If you hike as a family. Tips would also be helpful.

I would and have. Mobile phone, dog and a good compass.

The main thing I worry about is getting lost. As long as you’re confident on your route, go for it. I really enjoy being out alone.

I would and have. Like pp I think navigation / weather etc biggest issues but if you are sensible and competent shouldn't be an issue in themselves.

I walk alone sometimes but we also often go as a family. A lot depends on where you’re walking for me - well-trodden popular Lake District walks or very remote Yorkshire moors are 2 very different prospects. Certainly it would be rare in the Lakes to be on a popular route and not see another soul. What are your main concerns - getting lost, getting injured, something else?

In terms of hiking as a family we’ve been regularly going since DS was a tiny baby, he’s now 5 and DS2 is 14 weeks. DS1 has amazing stamina because we’ve always encouraged him to walk, starting off short and low level (and interesting! Lake shore to paddle in, rocks to climb up, animals to look at, walking along the beach, collecting things on the way).

He can now easily manage about 6 miles on the flat and 4-5 miles ish if it’s up a hill. When he was small he would walk and then we’d give him a shoulder ride for a rest before encouraging him to carry on. Lots and lots of snacks, I’m absolutely not above bribing with smarties eg walk to that gate you can have a smartie We also have a nature book that he can tick stuff off in on the way round - it’s like a nature scavenger hunt so find a cobweb, spot a bird in a tree. He loves that and it really keeps him going.

I would and regularly do. Take appropriate clothes, map compass and food and you'll be fine. The feeling of going at your own pace, stopping only when YOU choose, and the peace and quiet are fantastic.

Same here, I do and highly recommend it!

As previous posters have said, map, phone (with GPS), good clothing are a must. I also have a personalised first aid kit and always take extra sugary drink carton. Also a good backpack with whistle if you want to hike in more remote places.

One of my dogs is a "guard" dog = doesn't like people or other dogs, I always take her 😉.

I also think to start off, plan to use easier, shorter trails and build slowly.
ENJOY

yes I would if physically capable, although I still want OP to Define "hiking".
Which picture shows how much stuff you'll be carrying, how far from civilisation each evening, how easy to find the right trails, how many hours/day, condition of the trails, how bad could the weather be, would it be in a place where you speak the language or not, etc.?

... how easy to find a water source, how hostile the locals to strangers or women alone, how good the mobile signal, how scary the insects...

Now I really want to go to Taiwan. That place looks amazing!

Yes I do, as often as possible. Remoteness doesn’t bother me, some of my best days are those when I don’t meet another soul! Just be careful not to overestimate your fitness and navigation skills.

I do. Either on my own or with my dog. Take a well charged phone and make sure someone knows your route and don't deviate from it.

It's really lovely to go at your own pace and really engage with the environment.

Another vote for "do it". If you're unsure, start with a popular and well-marked route where they'll be plenty of other people and little chance of getting lost. You don't need to jump straight in at the deep end.

Thanks everyone. We have a holiday home in the Jurassic Coast so I think I'll start there on routes I know and build up confidence to walk alone.

I am anxious about walking alone and meeting someone not very nice out rather than anything else.

Ease yourself in gently with a walk from Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door on a bank holiday then. Absolutely no worries about being on your own .

Seriously, I'm a keen solitary walker with no dog, and regularly do massive walks across Dartmoor with no qualms. The last couple of horrible stories to hit the news have shown that a woman can be attacked walking down a city street at night/ jogging in a small town in the morning. In other words, although it's incredibly rare to be attacked by a stranger in a public place, it could happen anywhere, not just somewhere remote.

Not hiking but only cos I’m not fit enough! I go for walks by myself (4-6 miles) if I know the area and where I’m going!

@crackofdoom

Ease yourself in gently with a walk from Lulworth Cove to Durdle Door on a bank holiday then. Absolutely no worries about being on your own .

Seriously, I'm a keen solitary walker with no dog, and regularly do massive walks across Dartmoor with no qualms. The last couple of horrible stories to hit the news have shown that a woman can be attacked walking down a city street at night/ jogging in a small town in the morning. In other words, although it's incredibly rare to be attacked by a stranger in a public place, it could happen anywhere, not just somewhere remote.

That's a very good point. I happily walk alone in my local area where there is probably just as much, if not more risk at times.

It's always just me and the dog when hiking, mostly on Dartmoor. Go prepared for the weather and the terrain, plus mobile phone or GPS, and you should be fine.

I've never felt afraid. I suppose my reasoning is that a nutter is not all that likely to hang around in the middle of nowhere on the off-chance that a lone woman might walk past.

I love it, I can go at my own pace, stop when I want to, and enjoy the peace.

I hike alone all the time. I either go to places where there’s lots of people, in which case it’s safety in numbers, or to the hills around my town. They’re so steep that I hardly ever see anyone, plus they’re so inaccessible, that it’d be a really odd place for anyone to hike to, just on the off chance that there’s a lone female they can attack.

I am obviously aware that many attacks are opportunistic, but I like to think the chances are actually smaller when you only see one or two lone hikers, than they would be if you’re walking around a town or city, where you pass loads of people. Thinking about it, I’m not sure I’m aware of any stories of female lone hikers being attacked.

I think all lone hikers need to be well prepared in case of an accident or navigation failure, it may be harder to reach help so you need the kit to stay out if necessary, but in terms of "nasty" people, it must be safer in remote locations than busy ones.

Personally I refuse to let the fear of nasty men restrict my life. If I want to go somewhere I go and don't think about terrible things happening. The risk is still very small.

Plus I should also say, I strongly suspect all the men I've known who have a very strong caring/worrying streak and don't like me being out on my own also have a fairly strong need for control....

@DetailMouse

Plus I should also say, I strongly suspect all the men I've known who have a very strong caring/worrying streak and don't like me being out on my own also have a fairly strong need for control....

I think he's more concerned about being left on his own with two under two 😃

I think he's more concerned about being left on his own with two under two 😃

Ah, maybe that's it but yes, there does always seem to be a self interested reason when men are all worried about us, even the good ones.

Rarely completely alone but frequently with the dog, he's pretty protective and not interested in food when out so always felt safe.

When the kids were tiny I had one in the front carrier and exh the other in the back carrier, by 3 dd2 was a very good walker managing 4-5 miles over tough terrain (dd2 however was a lazy so and so who wanted shoulder rides at 8!)

I do it weekly. Sometimes get a bit bored but it's peaceful

Hiking alone... would you?
I've been doing that for the last 40 years!
My tips would be start off easy, maybe places you know well.
What kind of hiking are you on about? Country lanes and trails, wooded areas hill, mountains?
For a good wild hike kit up well and have great navigation skills. Theres loads of online help.Wear appropriate kit. Let people know your route and your estimated due back time. Have plenty of food and drink.

Load a good map app onto your phone that shows your live location, but dint rely on it for map reading. It drains your battery!

I regularly walk on my own, I get a bus out to the Somerset levels and take off down the back lanes and footpaths. I sometimes meet people walking a dog but often I'm completely alone.

I always let DH know roughly where I'm walking, and I take my phone and a paper map with me. I have some lovely leather boots (just upgraded), waterproof coat and a backpack full of snacks.