I hate walking on my own

I help with walking for health and they are designed for people like you - short walks with company - they have started up again. Ours had become very sociable with people going for coffee after.

I agree with the OP, and suggest if she lives or can drive to a coast/river/canal etc. taking a Camera. This gives you the chance to stop and take photo's or just rest. You need not walk far and can simply return after what ever time seems suitable. Try different locations for variety!

It seems to me that in our area, far more people go walking on their own now, since lockdown began. I often meet other solo walkers and nobody seems to think it odd if you're out walking on your own. My daughter, although working full-time from home, has at least one walk a day now and looks slimmer and fitter as a result. She takes her phone and uses the after-work walk to catch up with phone calls as she walks.

I joined Meet Up and found people posting a gentle walk in the local area now and then, as well as other activities. You can join the website for free and find out what is happening in your area, including walking. www.meetup.com

If you like dogs and want to walk one but not own one, the Cinammon Trust is always looking for people to help out. It's an organisation that helps folk who for any reason need help with their dog.
Sorry if someone has already suggested this. I'm a bit under the weather and haven't read all the answers here.
All the best.

Like you I found walking at the beginning of lockdown a chore. I no longer have a dog so the walks seemed aimless. I do walk with friends once or twice a week but the rest of the time I felt lonely. Then I noticed a butterfly I didn’t recognise so I photographed it. Now I’m on the lookout all the time. Things I didn’t know, trees, insects, birds, butterflies. I was stunned to find out that there were over a hundred different types of bee. Now that autumn approaches there are lots of different fungi, some weird some beautiful. I have several different pocket field guides dependant on the time of year.its amazing what you can learn, so this old dog is learning a few new tricks. Best of luck.

Romola, it's not the dogs that are at fault, it's the owners. I was sent a photo of a very sad dog recently, with the caption " I didn't mean to be a bad dog, you just didn't teach me how to be a good one ". Too many people tar all dogs with the same brush whereas the responsability always lies with its owner. I'm afraid too many people just aren't capable of looking after a dog & some charities, in their haste to rehome them, don't investigate whether their new home/owner is suitable.

My daughter walks a nice dog which belongs to her neighbour who works. She takes the dog out on long walks 3 times a week and gets paid £25. The dog loves it and so does my daughter, as she enjoys the dog's company and does not have
to pay for his food and vets bills.

I used to walk my big alsatian most evenings after work in a nearby woodland. It used to get dark but I was never afraid with a big dog, and rarely saw anyone.

In my area, not many people go walking, even though it’s rural. Women certainly don’t go walking and never alone.
When I need a walk, myself and my friend get a train to a nearby big city and walk on the flat amongst people there.

I did more walking when I lived in London.

Afraid I don't understand the judgement on women who walk alone.
I can't see anything weird or crazy about lone walkers.
I often see people wlking about by themselves in the village i live in.

What I do feel is envy. I haven't been able to go for a walk for 30 years due to ill health and disability.

Trust me you would have far more to complain about if you could not walk anymore so enjoy it while can!

However do not wear headphones as I had a friend was killed out walking wearing headphones, by a man on a stolen motorbike.

Feeling lonely or not enjoying walking on your own is one thing, but I'm surprised that anyone doesn't walk alone because of what the neighbours might think!

I walked round the streets on my own at the beginning of lockdown. Then a friend said she walked her dog every morning..so I now go with them. It's great, an hour or more every day. My friend has found local walks we wouldn't have come across had it not been for lockdown. Every cloud, as they say.

As others have posted borrow a dog. It's amazing what goid company they are and how many people say hello or smile at you when you have a dog. I wouldn't walk anywhere if it wasn't for my dogs and when they eventually leave me (if I don't go first?) I will join borrow my doggie and walk someone else's ??‍?

I walk a dog 3x a week via the Cinnamon Trust. I get to enjoy the company of 'my' dog plus other dogs and their owners without the responsibility of dog ownership. It gets me up and out whatever the weather. I will probably do more when I am not needed as much to help with my grandchildren.

Maybe start a thread for solitary walkers to talk about what they saw and heard and their "walking thoughts" and turn it social that way?

How about a cat?! Ok, so I'm a crazy cat lady, but most evenings I go for a short walk round the block accompanied by my two cats. They get quite upset if I don't go.

Seriously, there are a lot of people walking on their own in my neighbourhood, and no-one thinks anything of it. For myself, I do prefer to have a purpose - post a letter, buy a loaf of bread etc. However, I need to walk at my own pace because of health issues, so I am very careful who I walk with on the rare occasions I go with someone else

I'd do what Franbern suggests. There seems to be a club (or whatever) for everything these days. Or offering to walk a friend's/neighbour's dog is a good suggestion. As long as you're sure it would come back when you called! (When my dog was alive I've never met so many friendly people when out for a walk. I almost wished I was single sometimes.)

Another vote for a Walking For Health Group. Here’s a link to their website, on the right hand side near the top is a place where you can search for a group near you.

www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/

The Ramblers Association has many different levels of walk, with the easiest usually being gentle strolls for the less robust members. www.ramblers.org.uk will help you find your local group.

I don't know about villages but one of the pleasures of walking in a town for me is local history. You can do some on-line research and plan a route then set out to see the things you have identified. Even if it's a route you know well you may still find there are bits of a building you haven't noticed before (particularly if you look up). If you spot something unexpected you can always take a photo and look it up when you get home.

I walk at a fairly local National Trust property. Always feel safe in the parkland - you do have to prebook a ticket at the moment but it is lovely to see it change with the seasons.

I absolutely agree, Grannyticktock about getting a dog just for the sake of walking.
The lane where we live is part of a popular walk, and we are fed up with:
- dog poo on our driveway
- owners letting the dogs off the lead in the lane
- noisy yapping and barking
- dogs disturbing the wildlife in the nearby canal. It only takes one dog to sniff at a nest and the waterfowl abandons it.
- people who hang the poo in a bag on a bush or tree
- dogs which sniff around other walkers

I'm really off dogs altogether, apart from working dogs which are well-trained and do necessary jobs.

Cabbie21 have you given any thought to why it feels so lonely? What you are doing is self care, which is lovely, I expect you are a great person for you to spend time with.

If you don't have a local walking group near you why not start your own, I'm sure there will be other people in your situation who might like to join in. Safety in numbers too.

Search 'Walking for Health' and look on your local council website. The Ramblers Association used to have a group called 'Autumn Tints' for the more mature walker.
Countryfile have a section - www.countryfile.com/go-outdoors/walks/walking-groups-how-to-find-and-join-a-walking-group/
British Heart Foundation
Timeoutdoors
Outdoorduo
Go4awalk

That's just a few from a google search. There are more! Proof, if needed, that you're not the only one searching for someone to walk with!
Also, some people have suggested walking with a dog. Dog shelters are crying out for people to exercise dogs whilst they wait to be rehomed. This way it's not just you and a dog but several people with dogs. You don't just get exercise but you meet up with new people and provide a dog with something to alleviate the tedium and upset of being kennelled.