I hate walking on my own

Crossed posts SueL - great minds think alike!

I always feel there has to be a “purpose” to a walk - either the dog, serious exercise (Nordic poles!) or the scenery, or for company.

After we lost my childhood dog, my father would sling his 35mm camera round his neck when he went out for a walk - occasionally took pictures too!

I don't know if this would help but I found that when my husband and I separated I found I was self conscious walking round local parks on my own. One day I decided to take my
camera with me and somehow it felt so much easier walking round taking photos. I was a "photographer" not a "woman on her own".

Have a look at the walking4health groups. I belong to one that meets several times in the week for a one hour social ramble, most people go once a week, some only once a fortnight. Very good fun, led - so safe and very easy - they measure them in one - (easy) to 3 (can be muddy and a bit tougher) boots !! I suggest a 1/2 boot walk at first

I walk with 3 friends, all at different times, plus with my daughter when she has time .... and it is nicer to walk and chat. However, once a week I do go alone, and I have set Trail around our village where I feel safe as many others do the same.

Oh I agree, I love walking and used to walk miles in the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales when we lived in the UK. I lost my husband last year and the trouble is that wherever I go it is very painful by myself and it's difficult to find somewhere locally that I didn't walk with him. I have thought about a dog but don't want the responsibility.

I walk on my own most days although DH comes along some times. The walks are always different routes around our village and are very boring but necessary for exercise. I'm currently writing another novel so I spend the time planning what is going to happen to my characters. This morning I decided to kill one of them off so tomorrow I'll work out how it's to be done. Well, it passes the time even if it is weird.

Not at all, I love walking on my own and can't really think of anywhere I wouldn't go. Used to love walking my old dog across the fields and woods and I do miss him now he's gone. I'm never happier than when I'm on my own.

I downloaded, 'Cranford' then old recordings of 'Round the horn'. They helped a bit. Made me laugh out loud at times which must have been disconcerting to passers by.

Don't remind me !
A neighbour and I had promised ourselves that rain/hail or snow we would do a daily walk around the block with her dog. I was quite excited at the prospect of keeping on the move and had geared myself up with this ongoing exercise.
Then the unthinkable happened----her dog died. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Sorry about the dog obviously but if that wasn't Sod's Law I don't know what was.

She wouldn't walk without her dog and I won't walk around the block on my own, people would think I'd gone crackers altogether seeing me go past their windows in all weathers.

Thank you for all your replies. It is nice to know I am not the only one who hates walking alone.
This morning I was intending to drive to another village for a walk but the weather turned for the worse. It has brightened up now, so I will set off soon. The variety of a different village will make a change.
I am not sure about earphones. I prefer to observe sights and sounds. And I definitely do not want to get or borrow a dog, though I have often thought it would give my walks a purpose.

I suppose if walking with a dog could be something you'd consider, Cabbie21, there is no need to have our own
There must be many people who are unable to take their dogs for a walk for whatever reason so you could borrow one. Many local COVID help groups were offering to dog walk for those who were shielding, they could perhaps offer some advice.

You then have the pleasure without all the rest that dog-owning entails.

I walk alone since my husband died, and have found it really beneficial since lockdown. Mostly it's just a walk of under an hour around the village and lanes, but sometimes I drive to the coast to walk. I take a stick if necessary, and my phone, which has both OS maps and Google maps to help if I get lost.

I have no inclination whatever to get a dog, and it seems wrong to me to get a dog just because you want to walk. If I want a walk, I don't need a pet to justify it - humans need exercise too.. I call them my "dog-free" walks - no messy poop to deal with, no worries about the dog pestering other walkers or worrying livestock. Getting a dog is a much more complicated business than just having a walking companion.

Could you put a notice up somewhere..shop window, park notice board...asking for ladies that would like to walk..

Our area's U3A has quite a range of walking groups established - to suit all walkers, from gentle strolls to rugged treks. As other GNs say here, it really could be worth you looking at your local U3A?

I don’t find walking alone interesting but have combated it by listening to my music it’s get me paced and I don’t notice the time passing
Contrary to what Annsixty says I can definitely hear other noises ie traffic, people coming by and aren’t deaf to the outside world I think the lady she refers to could have been attack from behind headphones or not if someone didn’t want to be heard I have the grandkids creep up on me and make me jump out of my skin before now

I walk alone every day but I admit it’s better with company. I listen to music and take the same route most days I’d o meet the occasional dog walker but not many people walking.

If you can't find another villager to walk with then try to walk with a purpose, rather than aimlessly walking around - this might stop the lonely feeling.

For example, if it takes you 30 minutes to walk around your village, aim to do it in 25 minutes; walk clockwise one day, anti the next; one side of the street outwards, other side on return, and so on.

I'm lucky that most of my walks are with my best friend but as I walk every day and she has GC duties I do sometimes walk alone.

Another vote for dog walking if you can “borrow” one for a nice walk. A neighbour might be glad of the help. I walk my daughter’s dog one day a week when she’s at work. I walk about 3 miles and I find I end up in conversations with complete strangers. Dog walkers seem to be a very chatty breed!

Is there a neighbour with a dog who’d enjoy walkies with you, OP? (You’d have to be prepared to pick up poo, though.)

I do a (mostly) daily round-the-block walk on my own. Except for the last bit the roads are generally very quiet. I don’t go regularly with dh any more, because he always wants to go further than I do, always wants to go at route-march pace - and nearly always wants to go just as I’m thinking about starting the dinner!
(Before anyone asks why I’m always cooking, he always does the clearing up, which suits me fine.)

I know just what you mean. I need a purpose to walk or it doesn’t feel right. When I had the dog that was my purpose. Now I no longer have the dog I don’t really walk. Maybe you should get or borrow a dog?
I also belong to a walking group but we haven’t restarted walking have stopped due to Covid. It was great we used to walk and chat. So perhaps there is a group near you that has social distancing in place. As it’s outdoors it should be relatively safe. We used to drive places to walk so not on for us.

I go for a walk as a chore really. That's since lockdown. I used to enjoy it but now it's just a job to be done. I don't walk in lonely places. I like to meet dogwalkers and often used to chat to them and pat the dogs. No more alas. I download comedy programmes from BBC and listen to them.
Also every now and then I go for a walk with a neighbour but that usually features a long sit on a bench while we chat.
I sympathise with the OP. I'd walk with her if I could!

Parks are your best bet, you are on your own but there are other people walking. I wouldn't go anywhere too quiet like woods. I wouldn't enjoy joining a group as I'm not a sociable person, plus they always seem to be professional walkers. A dog would be ideal and I'm seriously thinking about that.

U3A have different groups which are at different levels, eg Strollers, Striders etc.
And, as kittylester says, there are often Walking for Health groups which are, of necessity, slower.

Although I haven't joined the local Walking for Health group as I have no wish to be shepherded across the road like a school child by someone I know!

Cabbie21 I’m similar to you, so I listed either to music or radio from my phone on headphones. I just walk around the village we live in, it’s well populated, it gets me out and I note gardens and the change of seasons on my way. Either that or the local rec, this always has other walkers, usually with dogs.