Ramblers - any romance to be found on those walks?

[Wombatsliketoast]

I'm late 40s and have been single for a couple of years. I don't fancy OD but a friend, knowing I'm an outdoor kinda girl, suggested I join a walking group.

Anyone got experience of such groups? Do they just er... walk, or is it a hotbed of passion along the footpaths?

hmm, well all the people I know in Rambling Groups are retired.... would that be a barrier for you ?

They're not all retired. My SIL is in a walking group and they go all over the place. I've thought of doing this, too - you do it first, OP, and tell me what it's like!

Just sorting out my boots and rucksack for a walk tomorrow afternoon I've seen advertised in the local paper.

Will let you know what its like Imperial

If you enjoy it, check out a holiday company called 'HF'. Very good option for singles wanting to meet others.

Mainly they just walk!

Good place for making new friends though. Alot of the people that go on the walks in my experience have partners already they just like walking.

Though by making new friends one thing leads to another doesnt it, friend of a friend etc. Just expands your social circle.

Whereabouts are you, Wombats?

I go out with the ramblers sometimes. Range of ages in my group. Generally nice people too.

If you want to meet men, I'd recommend a cycle club, there's almost always a lot more men than women! You'd have to enjoy cycling though otherwise it would be no fun at all.

I'm not single so not looking to meet a partner but I belong to a book group and am doing ukulele group lessons - there is a great mix of people in both of those which is a good start and they are very friendly groups. Been at least two relationships develop in my book group in the time I've been going.

If you are around London there is a great book on walks accessible from London Time Out Book of Country Walks

I have an old edition - in the back of the book there is a schedule for people who want to meet up and walk with others. So for example the general group might to walk 46 on the 12 Saturday of the year. He then provides meet ups for other groups and one of the was for singles. i.e. Singles do +2 walk - so walk 48 in week 12.

Hope that makes sense!

I agree with TheOwl though - by expanding your circle of friends, through doing something you enjoy, you then get invited along to other things, and meet friends of friends... one of whom might be 'the one' even if a ramble isn't.

I love the idea of the Saturday walkers club - www.walkingclub.org.uk/swc/saturday_walkers.shtml and one day in the future when I have Saturdays free will go on some

as was said it is about going out meeting new people and creating new social life around activity you enjoy - if you want dates go online..

Slightly controversial here....

Agree with the points about "going to meet new people/expand your social circle etc".

But I DON'T think its nice for people to go to a social group or event with the sole intent of "finding dates". If there's a massive immediate mutual attraction between you and someone else then . But it makes the atmosphere really socially unpleasant to have someone of either gender "looking for the attractive ones to talk to".

My Walking Groups experience: I was post break up, so ...erm...wanted to do some walking and explore the area (plus get some new drinking buddies of either gender)...and there was just a really unpleasant atmosphere because some had obviously signed up as "this is my SOLE opportunity to get dates"?

I had conversations with men "interrupted" by girls who had "talked to him first and so thought they had a claim" (even though they weren't actually dating or a couple or anything) it was just like "bitch get off my man" Welcome to Ramblers High School 2010.

Or you'd get some completely WEIRD men who the female members had brought along "on the promise you'll find a date" and they'd introduce them to the single attractive females in the group and leave us to "look after them" Fairly sure what my "league" is and obese supply teachers 20 years older than me aren't it. It was embarrassing for everyone.

I made one good long term friend from that group so it was fine, but I walked solo after a few events . I mean if you're going to "take your time and be open to meeting new people, who could include love interests" then that's cool but there is NOTHING worse than someone at an event who is obviously looking to latch onto a "prospect". Internet date or something.

DF, met, married and had DS due to her YHA walking group. My cousin and others have found DPs Scuba Diving.

I met DH at an astronomy conference.

There is absolutely no harm in getting out the house and doing something you enjoy and seeing what happens.

My top tips for finding " a man "

Join a River Rescue team as a volunteer - something like red cross at the river, or Sea Rescue even

Join The Specials - you will meet many police officers.

I think you'd be unlikely to meet a man at a ramblers club. I was in one in my early 30s ( met DH shortly afterwards) and there was generally one lone man on the walks I went on ( he did look quite happy about it )

However I did meet some lovely people and I enjoyed the walking. Men are probably more likely to be found in climbing, running or cycling groups, or join a real ale appreciation society.

Do it if you think you'd enjoy it, but not as a sure fire way of meeting a man.

I met my DH through online dating, I found OD ok provided I made the first date short and didn't set too much store by it.

A group you might like and find useful for meeting people is SPICE UK Here

Before I met DH, I was a member and I had some really great experiences and trips. There are area groups, the majority of people genuinely nice, and it's a great way of doing things that interest you with like minded people.

I was a member of Spice too QuietTiger - in fact it was their rambling group that I joined.

I have to say that whilst I found it great for activities and being able to go skiing on my own, I wasn't over impressed by the male talent and found that females outnumbered males at the activity events 5-1 at least, and the blokes that did come along to meals were, well I guess not to my taste, would be the best way to describe it.

Imperial I'm in Solihull, not far from Birmingham.

Dee I do understand what you're saying, and I'm really not seeing walking as only a chance to meet a man too much effort for one thing. But if a likely candidate was spotted along the footpaths, I would give due consideration.

Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions.

River Rescue you say Quint?

There are some ramblers organizations that are specifically for singles and unattached people. It doesn't mean everyone is looking for a date, it means for people who perhaps don't have family around on weekends or have been widowed or just want to go out and enjoy the social side- some people do find relationships as well, but the experience of the people I know on them is more that they enjoy interesting company and there's a social side if you want to get involved in that. Not sure of the age group though, there may be younger group ones, the ones round here it's more the 55-75 age group really.

Theoriginalandbestrookie - We must have had the same experiences. The blokes that I met at the meals were similar to what you describe!

Quiet Tiger - the worst was the weekend I went to at CP, honestly it was like being 13 again. I chatted to what seemed to be a nice bloke in the evening, we arranged to meet up for coffee and his mate turned up too, as if he needed a pal for protection.

Sorry OP aware this may not be helping much !

The worst experience I had was Llama walking in the Forest of Dean. It pissed with rain, the llamas were miserable bastards and I had a bloke who insisted on telling me his life history, including the gory details of his medical history and graphic detail on how he suffered from IBD & stress related hives! I was WTF?!Then he asked me on a date!! (I said no).

OP, I appreciate we're not giving you a good example of SPICE - It can be fun - honestly!!

Have you tried Meetup? You can join all kinds of groups. I have joined a couple, just for special interest stuff I can't be bothered to organise friends or DP to do with. There are groups for all sorts and it's fairly above board because the groups are organised and more than likely they are genuine decent (if a bit sad) people and not axe murderers.

Yes there is.

There are quite a few age-specific ramblers groups e.g. 20-30s, 40s which are really mixed and attract lovely people, as well as some odd ones.

The one I know is supposedly 20s-30s but actually has a lot of 40ish members too, attitude perhaps being more important than age (i think the local 40+ group favour b+bs over YHAs for their weekends away) and has spawned many weddings and babies. I'd agree that going in search of romance isn't a good attitude, going with an interest in the activity and in in meeting people and being generally social works better, in every way.

Well I did my first ramble today and thoroughly enjoyed it. About 20 or so people aged I'd say from 45 to 65. Some coupled up, but mainly on their own.

Most were friendly and welcoming - one woman told me her life story, including gory divorce details, whilst a couple of the men I spoke to were keen to tell me about their financial situations (paid off their mortgage, done well with shares etc) which I thought rather odd.

There was one strange hap who was over smiley with everyone, but otherwise they seemed normal, decent sorts and I had a fab walk in the woods.

So no romance today, but a very pleasant way to spend time and meet nice people and great exercise too.

That sounds really lovely wombat were there any under 25s there? I would love to start rambling but I wouldn't want to be the youngest person there.