I have given up walking around the area near where I live (in Aust.) due to runs ins with unattended roaming dogs and snakes.

At a past residence I also encountered a quite frightening person whilst walking alone.

With the exception of snakes, I expect there is no difference in risk in walking in the UK or Australia... but I think people are possibly more inclined to walk in the UK.

So, I'm curious... if you're a solo walker in the UK, is safety a concern for you... and if it is, how do you bolster your safety?

Carry a big stick?

I carry a stick. The excuse I use for myself is that as it's quite rural, I might twist an ankle and need a stick to get back home.

Also good for belting a snake if you have too. Never met one on a walk yet.

Dogs and loonies are a real pest though. If you need to defend yourself, why not carry a walking stick?

I walk a lot - 5 to 10 miles a day and can honestly say that I have never given my personal safety a single thought! (OMG, do you think I should?). I can't see the point of carrying a stick (Im carrying enough weight as it is!) although occasionally I do pick up a twig to clean the mud out of my boot soles.

I always see dogs, usually very happy mutts with happy owners enjoying the countryside but not yet had a problem with any of them - the Labradors do look at me a bit askance as much as to say "well, where's your dog then?" And the spaniels are more inclined to bound up and say "here I am, you want to play?". The Jack Russells are more inclined to "I know there's a rat around here somewhere, oh! rabbit!"

My biggest safety concern is a small stretch of a regular road I choose to take which doesn't have a footpath so I have to be vigilant about stepping onto the verge but the cars usually see me and give me a wide berth - then I get onto a Roman road which just has foot traffic. I was a bit miffed once when it took a couple of days to clean up some road kill on one of my routes!

I agree with you that there is a growing feeling of insecurity in the world we live in, and apart from a very few secluded places or areas I really know, I am trying to anticipate potentially dangerous situations as much as I can.

When taking the train, I would rather change carriage than sitting alone, I also do not stand near the edge when waiting for the subway, try to avoid eye contact with yobs especially when with dogs, walk on the lighted side of a road by evening / night, avoid walking alone in parks by night, and so on.

Potential danger is everywhere and one must just try one's best to keep safe

For many unfortunate victims, seeing the flash of a knife was too late for safety

Karim

I don't feel potential danger is everywhere - well not anymore than it ever has been.

I walk every day through the countryside and am never frightened - although I am a little wary of cows. They're huge and very occasionally they have been known to turn nasty. But the likelihood of that happening to you is so slim as to be not worth worrying about so I don't.

I love meeting dogs and their owners on my walks because they're always so happy to see you (the dogs, not the owners!)

Depends where I am walking.

People are people no matter where they are, there's good and bad, walking or not, pleasant, indifferent, rude and potentially dangerous.

I don't feel danger everywhere but I am aware of potential depending on circumstances.

I am always ready to greet a stranger but it is often not reciprocated.

As a guy alone in the countryside I feel no danger from people and it is always wise to steer clear of animals.

When I am walking alone in countryside or even around the village I notice that women alone, and pairs of women, often steer clear of me, avoid eye contact, pretend I don't exist. (No, I don't wear a flashers mac) But this also happens when my wife is beside me and she says she sees it when she is alone.
Some no doubt are being cautious, some just don't want to speak. This was a bit hard to get used to because it was not so much like this in US where I lived, nor in Germany where I visited a lot from the US. I thought I was being friendly but Brits are more suspicious / paranoid I guess.

Often couples walking will greet when met in countryside, more usually older folks will speak, more usually its under middle age that will ignore. But then I feel that class distinction indicated by manner of dress also can influence who is likely to speak to whom.


In city parks, most folks go there own way, I don't attempt to greet unless they obviously also want to, again, usually older are more likely to acknowledge your existence.
I do stay alert, stay aware of surroundings, have arms by my side, carry little or nothing by hand.
My wife and many other women have handbags across body, not in hand or on shoulder.
In parks and streets I consider take the opposite side of the path to groups of youths but depends on how they look, some are fine, but some look potentially belligerent. There have been cases in this town of older men being mugged, even in daylight, even just for a phone and a take away meal.

I do avoid walking alone behind women in areas where there are few other people and similar around schools. One, I don't want to make them feel uncomfortable and two, I don't want to be turned on and accused.

My one experience of being threatened was 15 years ago, on a visit here from USA, walking alone from a pub, not drunk, dark evening, main busy road in suburbs, I was accused by youths of following their sister along the street. After an argument I walked away with another fella who happened to come along.
Oh, right, there was this eastern European guy recently that rode is bike at me and accused me of blocking his way on the busy road side footpath, but then people riding bikes on pedestrian paths is quite common cos they feel at risk when they ride on the road. The English thing is to step aside and mutter under breath, while I was probably behaving like an American and not stepping aside because it is illegal for them to ride on the footpath.

As a woman walking alone, and I don't know if this makes any difference or not, but I walk with a purpose. I don't keep glancing around, and I often just smile and nod at anyone walking past, just to let them know that I have seen them.

I think if you walk around looking fearful then it sort of screams out that you're uncomfortable. One day I was walking home from work, and I usually walk fast anyway, so i don't dawdle..lol, but I was rapidly coming up behind these 3 LARGE youths who were walking in the same direction, so they didn't see me coming but undoubtedly they heard me..LOL. I just watched them and as I got right behind them one of them glanced over his shoulder and looked shock. He said 'where did you come from? You must walk fast'. I didn't even slow down and I just smiled and said 'yep, gets me where I need to go quicker..'. They laughed and that was that..!

So just from my personal experience I walk like I own the place.. LOL But at the same time paying attention to those around me. I guess I should be grateful (touching wood) that in all the time I've gone walking at all hours of the day and night (and especially here in the US) that I've never encountered any problems. I guess it must be that 'Don't mess with me or else YOU will have the problem' look on my face

I've had the same problem with Dogs and Snakes here. I carry a walking stick if we go for a walk, found it in a charity shop. I used to carry a golf club.
I don't remember having any dog trouble in UK I did get chased by pigs one time.

Good evening

I meant being aware of potential danger in big towns such as London, Birmingham or Paris past 9pm in areas which I do know and that are poorly lighted or deserted at such times

But as far as trains are concerned, I make a rule of not standing alone in a carriage.

As for dogs, I love them and their owners too as it is so easy to engage a conversation around my love for animals, but I stay clear of skinheads with pitbulsl or rotweiler dogs, first of all because I am from a mixed race background and do not want to engage on unnecessary confrontational or even dangerous grounds.

Thanks God that I am not paranoid about the issue on a everyday / all situations basis or I would not have been able to travel the beautiful UK like I did for my postcards

Anyway, dear Expats fellows, stay safe

Karim

On one hike in the peak District, I got ... not chased but surrounded by gigantic cows. We'd climbed up a long hilly pasture to the top in order to see a great view of the surrounding hills. The husband was ahead of me taking photos & I sat down, then just lay back to rest a bit with my eyes closed. When I opened my eyes a few minutes later, I was totally surrounded by 6 curious brown cows who were trying to figure out what I was up to.

With my heart pounding a bit, I veeerrryyy slowly rose and shuffled away, with them backing up uneasily to let me go. Haha, I STILL to this day don't know how so many came out of nowhere to completely surround me soo very quietly that I never had a clue!

I walked my dog a lot in the UK. My dog was small, but I always felt safe with her. If you feel at all uneasy walking in the UK, I recommend a dog. Many people who won't smile or nod at a lone human will do all that & more when they see a dog.

I met all my friends in my village through dog-walking, & those were the best friends & longest-lasting.

Cows I've read are curious animals, hense the attention you got.
Make sure you know the difference between a boy cow and a girl cow. A boy cow will protect his girl friends.

I just recently purchased pepper spray.I used to take a golf club with me but now I have the pepper spray just in case. Where I live there are a few stray dogs . Also, sometimes the stray snake! and you never know when a wild pig will come along. Oh I miss the Uk.

I've read that pepper spray is illegal to carry in the UK?

Living in a seaside resort where the population is doubled in the summer, the biggest problem seems to be with drunken, lumbering louts. It is aways best to try and keep clear of them, but otherwise I walk around without fear.

Nevertheless I remain vigilant, and when I am unsure, will move my bag to the other side of my body away from a possible grab. Although I have health problems, I am tall and don't present myself as an easy target.

Curiously the only person who has abused me was a tall skinny teenage girl passing me crossing the road. She was about to go clubbing nearby, but looked as if she had already been drinking too much.