Does anyone have any advice on how to meet animal-loving, countryside-loving men?

[ChorusOfDisapproval]

Asking for a friend (yes, really!). She's lovely and adores her pets. Not interested in clothes, make-up etc really and would love to meet someone similar. I'm not sure OLD is the way to go, but can't think of how/where she'll meet anyone like this.

Try muddy matches if it's still going, designed for country folk

I know a woman who took up clay pigeon shooting after trying and enjoying it on a company away day, and met her countryside loving husband at a competition. They now have two spaniels and a dachshund.

She could get into dog walking, or even dog sitting. That's quite profitable too. Perhaps volunteering with the Dog's Trust if there's a centre near her; or even an animal sanctuary.

I have one of those but we met through work, we were both countryside rangers at the time and it was 30 odd years ago so that’s not AT ALL helpful.

More recently my neighbour, mid-50s nabbed one on a walking holiday and a friend, early 60s, found same at the kayaking club. Lovely men
they are, I greatly approve and have declared them both to be Good Catches.

When I was looking I tried Muddymatches which is OLD for country minded people but it was saturated with women and any remotely nice looking man that appeared on there was pounced on straight away and they had their pick😄

Does she go to country fairs? If she lives rurally can she help at local events? Local shoots or clay pigeon days are a good way to meet men although they tend to be in the senior range but are great fun and you never know who someone knows once they know you're looking!

Local dog walking meet ups could be good too.

Move to Cumbria. They're ten a penny here. It's great.

I want to meet a mad cat man but I can't find one. Surely there must be a dating site for cat people?

That could lead you down some dark alleys @Gettingbysomehow be careful out there 😆

Yep: https://fetchadate.com/

This is my plan once my kids are older 😜

Presumably she's a bit past the Young Farmers stage? Often they have older people as trustees/helping put with finance/events etc.

Does she live rurally? Going to the pub, local beer festivals, farmers market, quiz nights, sports club events etc is the way to meet people in our neck of the woods. When I was a kid it was pie and pea suppers, and what were always known as "garden parties" - essentially a fete in someone's massive garden 😃

Try moving to the countryside?

Thanks for all your suggestions. To answer a few questions, she's 30, lives in a semi-rural village and already walks her dogs each day.

She works shifts so it's not always easy to attend any kind of group on a weekly basis.

I think maybe joining an activity that's just monthly or similar would help. Ditto the specific dating apps.

I think she needs to do more with her dogs- round where we are there are organised dog walks, dog training sessions etc and also look at animal rescues that need volunteers etc etc. A lot of local wildlife charities hold volunteer days, might be worth contacting them too.

Plenty of Facebook singles hiking / walking groups with events all over.

Volunteer with her local wildlife trust/national trust/woodland trust etc

Hiking group?
Birdwatching club?

There is such a thing as the Young Farmers' Club but I think the age range is up to 28. In my day we used to go to young farmers dances (I lived rurally). They were usually held in barns with plenty of cider flowing. You had to treck through muddy lanes to get to them in your mini skirt and platform shoes (yes, I'm that old).

When you say 'animal loving, countryside loving' what do you mean?

Most of the proper countryside men I know would run a mile from 'bunny huggers'.

Is she looking for someone who really loves and understands the countryside I.e involved with farming/game keeping or someone who enjoys countryside views and dog walks?

There's plenty of countryside related Facebook groups which aren't dating specific but where it would be possible to get talking to people.

Countryside capers is one that springs to mind.

So I met my other half on muddy matches a couple of years ago. I had a couple of previous really nice relationships from there too, I joined when the dust settled after my divorce and can vouch that it works! I also have the sort of lifestyle that includes dogs, shooting, beagling, kids into pony club and YFC etc and meet plenty of country based chaps, however...

The thing that stands out for me in your post is you saying that your friend is an animal lover with no interest in clothes or make up. The blokes I know in the countryside all have their pick of very glam and groomed horsey women after their acres, and all shoot, so idyllic as country life may sound to her she'll either have to up her game and head to Fairfax with the rest of us 😂 or maybe try a walking club or volunteering with the local Wildlife Trust and settle for a part townie?

@TheSnootiestFox when I said not into make-up etc I mean she's not a glammed up type. She's naturally pretty and wears nice clothes and a bit of make-up for an evening out but isn't the type to go for lip fillers and all that malarkey.

Her dad lives rurally and does shooting etc but most of his contacts are much older obviously.

She would ideally like to live in the countryside, she has her own allotment as she enjoys growing stuff but again, all the people there are either older or already coupled up.

Nice to hear you had success with Muddy Matches, I'll suggest she gives it a go.

Well, YFC now has an upper age of 30 so if she's quick she could get herself in and make some friends that will hopefully be with her for life, other than that it is the conservation projects. The YFC crowd would be much more fun though! I wish her well x

Cheese rolling events
Any country where they have Burning Man rituals
Highland games
Darrowby
Greenpeace
Morris dancing
The list is endless!

Take up birdwatching? I’m married to one but we met at work. Maybe not so compatible with shooting though.