Ramblers and toilet breaks

we all pee on our walks we are all of that age just check for stinging nettles.

Withknobsonit "How about something like doggy bags and bins fir ramblers. Built at strategic places on the ramblers trail!" Who is going to walk every trail daily to empty the bins and carry the contents back to base camp?

Welcome to retirement and the Ramblers 😊
As for the bladder — you’re definitely not alone!
I always use the bathroom before we start, carry tissues and a little “emergency kit,” and if we’re out in nature, sometimes you just have to find a discreet bush 😅
As for walk timings, it’s worth asking the organisers — some groups do morning or weekend walks too

I often go on 4/5 mile walks with my DD as well as shorter 2/3 miles.

I suffer from urine incontinence after a surgical procedure and always have to wear pads inside and outdoors.

If we’re going on a long walk I’ll wear a night pad and a smaller pad inside that.

I usually restrict my liquid intake before we go but always carry water with me.

Only once have I been taken short, and the pads saved the day.

If you’re really worried I’d suggest investing in pads.

I can’t stoop so would find going behind a tree/hedge/wall extremely difficult.

You can’t tell you’re wearing them.

You could wear tena pull ups with a smaller pad inside for extra security.

Hope this helps.

How about something like doggy bags and bins fir ramblers. Built at strategic places on the ramblers trail!
You jnow like our local dog shit park

Perhaps Google Maps could put them on their maps. Even have a competition to design new symbols for poo poo and pee pee deposit areas

Or someone could invent a portable toilet device!

Never reallt thought about this befote

Really hope our countryside and woods does not become as polluted as our rivers.

This us what happens when a small country becomes massively over populated with people and their waste

Silverbrooks

What a tragic story and hard for the leader too.

I know from personal experience of leading that you have to find a line between just how much to micro manage people and how much to let adults get on with it. If it’s a matter of personal safety (and I would include liquid intake in that) I would be micro managing, making sure everybody drank enough.

Yet I know that some people can be sensitive to the point of phobic about peeing outdoors and will restrict their liquid intake so they don’t have to go.

I’ve been on some phenomenally hot and challenging walking holiday with Ramblers Worldwide where I wanted to keep my backpack light as I knew there was going to be a lot of ascent but also knew they I needed to carry a good 2 -3 litres of water to cope with temperatures in the 90s. Water should always take priority.

I think Bill Bryson tells the story in A Walk in the Woods of walking the Appalachian Trail where his eccentric companion had ditched the water to lighten the load.

And we must all remember Michael Moseley. The cause of his death was inclusive but I can't help thinking that lack of water intake was something to do with it.

Absolutely, Michael Moseley here. I'd assumed that too in fact iirc it was suggested as the main cause because I don't recall any other medical condition mentioned.

Unless this had been mentioned already, I should really stop having my morning 2 milky lattes, as I want to wee after, then going for a walk is more difficult!

Join the U3A; they often have walking groups taking this into account
Or join the Trefoil guild and start your own

Wear a Tena

I once needed a wild wee whilst on a walk around a local reservoir. I entered a tall bracken patch and coupied down whilst DH waited nonchalantly across the road with other (one assumed) DH's.

Once finished I stood up, as one by one other women did to. It reminded me a bit of 'whack a mole'............We all exchanged shy, knowing smiles!

I've managed for many years on group walks by hanging back and crouching down behind trees or shrubs. My problem now in my 80s is that my knees are not supple enough to let me do the crouching bit. Group walks are not for me any more but fortunately my husband and I still enjoy country walks (and age-appropriate loo stops).

What a tragic story and hard for the leader too.

I know from personal experience of leading that you have to find a line between just how much to micro manage people and how much to let adults get on with it. If it’s a matter of personal safety (and I would include liquid intake in that) I would be micro managing, making sure everybody drank enough.

Yet I know that some people can be sensitive to the point of phobic about peeing outdoors and will restrict their liquid intake so they don’t have to go.

I’ve been on some phenomenally hot and challenging walking holiday with Ramblers Worldwide where I wanted to keep my backpack light as I knew there was going to be a lot of ascent but also knew they I needed to carry a good 2 -3 litres of water to cope with temperatures in the 90s. Water should always take priority.

I think Bill Bryson tells the story in A Walk in the Woods of walking the Appalachian Trail where his eccentric companion had ditched the water to lighten the load.

And we must all remember Michael Moseley. The cause of his death was inclusive but I can't help thinking that lack of water intake was something to do with it.

I walk regularly with the Ramblers and have never had a problem. We usually stop for a snack and for people to visit the bushes at least once on a walk. On Ramble Worldwide holidays I make a point of having a quiet word with the leader about toilet breaks at the beginning. They are usually very good now. One leader told me a client didnt drink any water on a hot day walking in Spain because of worries about toilets and actually died, so they are very aware of the issue. Its really important to drink if its warm, often older people dont feel thirsty until they are seriously dehydrated.

If we see a male exposing himself by taking a ‘leak’ he can be fined and put on Paedophile Register

How would that have anything to do with paedophilia? I assume you are an adult.

What we need, ladies, is specially designed trousers (and pants) with a gusset (I've used the word, sorry!) which can be released with poppers. After all, zip flies have been around for ages and even put on our trousers too when our anatomy is slightly different, and always has been...

I belong to the Ramblers and the norm is to duck behind a bush. We’re all of the age and do 10 mile walks, so always find a descreet bush. That’s what proper walkers do. 😂😂

DamaskRose

I needed to “go” in one of the most remote areas in the Highlands of Scotland, not a car or another person in sight, only sheep and DH. Suddenly a lady walked right past me, luckily we both saw the funny side (no pun intended).

Of course, there is an argument to go little and often rather than wait for the need for a very long pee only to be surprised by a very brisk walker who suddenly appears. It can happen where you decide to stay on the path rather than step off and expose skin to vegetation that might contain stingers or tics.

Depends on what gear one is wearing and the easy of taking down (and getting back up) what’s necessary in terms of layers.

I was once told by a woman who uses a Shewee, the trick is not to gush but control. She found out the hard way!

I needed to “go” in one of the most remote areas in the Highlands of Scotland, not a car or another person in sight, only sheep and DH. Suddenly a lady walked right past me, luckily we both saw the funny side (no pun intended).

I was once put down for a day of geocaching during a school activity week. The route was going to an area with no public loos for the whole school day! I said I was not able to do that - Normally I'd go in a hedge, but not out on a school trip with teenagers! In the end they swapped me with someone in a different group going through a different area. I had to go in a cafe and buy a coffee in order to use a loo, but obviously drinking said coffee was just reloading! Fortunately the route took us through an area I knew so I was able to find more loos later - and tell everyone else where they were!

One of the teenage boys needed to go and simply went against a wall in full view of us all. The group leader phoned the schoool and arranged for him to be collected and taken back to school for inappropriate behaviour!

Public urination is not specifically mentioned in central legislation but can be prosected under Section 5 of the Public Order Act as disorderly behaviour:

(1) A person is guilty of an offence if he—

(a) uses threatening abusive words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour ...

within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress thereby.
...

(3) It is a defence for the accused to prove—

that he had no reason to believe that there was any person within hearing or sight who was likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress.

That’s the difference between peeing in the street and peeing in the countryside.

Without evidence about the specific context in cases where people have been fined, it’s just meaningless noise. Sometimes people are prosecuted under local bye laws but again context is all.

I would hate for all this silliness over fines to deter people from enjoying the countryside. So long as one is discreet, careful of who else is around, it really isn’t an issue.

Wyllow3, where no-one goes, well you go there, what makes you think know one else does!

I’ve bobbed in all the best places whilst rambling in the Lakes, Dales & other lovely walking areas. Last year in Canada, found a secluded place to bob. Mid-wee, I noticed a sign warning of bears - I made a hasty retreat!

Colls

Bea65

‘Wild Weeing’ can be a public disorder offence.. if it alarms/offends a member of the public.. know a lady who walks 2 dogs and was cautioned when she was reported and filmed .. beware..
If we see a male exposing himself by taking a ‘leak’ he can be fined and put on Paedophile Register ..

Just how ridiculous is this, if correct. Words fail me!

Hmm not ridiculous..worked in police service 18 years 🙈

I often wonder how Julia Bradbury and other such presenters manage when they are recording their walking programmes.

I always duck behind a hedge. Once on the moors though there was very little coverage and I squatted behind a tiny gorse bush as there was nobody in sight, only for a whole group of hang gliders to fly right over my head!! I had started so I finished and just hoped I didn’t bump into them later!!
Seriously though we have done a few long distance walks and there is no choice but to find a hedge etc. I think you would have to be very unlucky to be fined.

I walk regularly with a group and we all just hang back when necessary and use nature’s facilities - never think twice about tbh