Walking alone at night

I haven’t been out after dark since the first lockdown and wonder if I ever will. My confidence has been severely eroded, not helped by the needs of a very fragile husband, and somehow walking in our unlit village feels less safe than it did.

I would in my local area. But only near home. I wouldn't walk long distances.

I go out at night quite frequently but only to pubs or restaurants and I always drive or get a taxi. I tend to use car parks attached to the pub or street parking very close by. It’s usually not very late either when I go home, certainly before 11pm. I have never not felt safe, but I’m not walking far, just from car to door.

I don’t think I would park in a little used car park or an out of the way side street though.

I'm not sure we are the right age demographic to ask this, as many will already not be going out alone at night anyway. It's our daughters who should be asked. I would say if I were their age I still wouldn't be wandering around alone at night unless it was unavoidable. But what is 'night' anyway, just after dark or later in the evening? Depending on where you live there may be plenty of people and activity early evening or it may be deathly quiet and lonely. So whether anyone walks alone at night depends on a lot of factors.

I do occasionally but only in my own area

As a young woman I enjoyed a night time walk when it was quiet. Now I'm more likely to be worried about falling over something as my night vision has deteriorated. Granted I've never lived in a big town or city and I am still very much aware of my surroundings. I have never felt threatened when alone though my son now insists on walking me home if I visit him when it is dark! I have pointed out to him the statistics show that young men are more likely to be attacked or murdered than women. Most attacks and murders of women are by partners or ex partners and are more likely to be at home. I think the ratio on the whole is about 70% men and 30% are women. Not only that but the number of murders has been decreasing over the decades, particularly if you subtract the terrorist attacks or the mass murderers like Harold Shipman or the Wests from the figures.

I believe the way the media report the crimes against women is what causes a lot of the fear and is completely out of proportion. Horrible though any killing is we rarely hear big news about a young man dying which is much more common. Please don't get me wrong my heart goes out to all the families that have suffered and for them it is huge whether it be a male or a female.

Maybe I`m a scaredy cat, but I won`t even go into the backyard after dark, even if it`s still fairly early. I`ve never liked the dark, but there have been so many attacks on folk in this town over the last couple of years, I`m worse than ever now.

No, I don’t. My mobility issues mean I’m seldom out alone.

Yes, I go home in the dark from work in the Winter. I walk at least 10 minutes to the car.
I have also walked home from the station at a much later time.

I would walk anywhere in my little town at night. Feel completely safe.

I occasionally go for a local walk in the evening not really bothered by the dark.

Living in a village, any journey beyond the village is a car journey, so I do not walk out at night very much, but it would not bother me to walk out at night on my own and I do, on occasion walk to the post box and back.

DD regularly does the 1 mile walk between her home and the station, after dark, both in the rush hour and much later. She got the last train out of Londn (after midnight) and walked home at 1.00am last Saturday.

Like Grandma2213 I think random senseless murders like that of Sarah Everard and Sabina Nessa hit the headlines because they are so rare, yet every week 2 women are killed by people they know, usually a partner, their deaths are rarely more than a 5 minute wonder in the local media.

Statistically, the most dangerous time, for rape, is early in the morning. I've always gone out and about at any time - and felt perfectly safe. I walk the dog whenever it suits me, twice a day.

The media haven't helped in the perception of risk and danger. Grisly news sells, after all. I agree entirely with Grandma2213.

Never, I'm afraid of the dark I won't even go out to the bin. Peeping Tom when I was 18 frightened the life out of me!

It is pitch black here at night so it would be dangerous to walk even with company!

It also depends where you live - I live centrally and with reliable public transport so have no problem returning home alone at night from eating out, theatre etc. But I always have my wits about me and don't chat on the phone or have earphones in.

Lots of us oldies are out and about socialising, not forgetting many over 60s are still working and have no choice but to be out in the dark.

I rarely go out at night as I don't feel safe.

I remember once going to see a horror film with a friend. Driving home alone a little voice in my head said "what if there is something in the back seat". I was so relieved to pull onto my driveway, until someone's escaped dog suddenly jumped at me out of the darkness. I nearly wet myself.

Well you wouldnt be able to leave the house after 4pm in winter so yes.

I agree with Grandma2213 and with M0nica and all those who say the media whip up the fear.
I was going to go for a shortish walk along the river yesterday but it was already getting dark and I remembered falling a few years ago so changed my mind.
As an art student in London in the 60s, I often had to walk home from the station at night.
I had to pass a cemetery on one side, prison at the top of the road and a psychiatric hospital a few streets away.
It was the footsteps behind which would spook me.....

We live rurally, but less than a third of a mile from a busy main road.

I would be perfectly happy to go for a walk at any time of the day or night around here, but after dark, would prefer to be in the fields so I am not visible from the roads.

Out of sight of casual passers-by in cars, I feel that the biggest danger to me by far is that of falling, but that is true in daylight too, and age 60, it's a risk that I am still prepared to take.

That said, it is actually quite rare for me to go out in the dark (apart from in the garden) - I don't have a dog, so don't have a good excuse, and not surprisingly, OH is not happy about my doing it.

Earlier this year, I did go out after dark a few times to try to spot badgers, having noticed many active setts on my daytime walks. I was unsuccessful, but then realised that with binoculars, I can actually actually see a sett from our bedroom, and as the evenings got lighter, I was able to watch a badger family frequently as they came out to play and forage before dark. No need/excuse to venture out in the dark any more.

I must admit, I would be very nervous about being out alone in the dark in a town or built-up area, once the streets started to empty. That's not something I would do without good reason!

Used to when I was younger, had to walk to work and back, dark mornings and dark evenings, I also had to walk across a park. Now I cringe at the thought.

I avoid going out after dark where I live as I don’t feel safe. However, last year in Brighton it was no problem. I just feel more at home there and there are many young people round and about.

I’m currently looking after one of DD2’s dogs, so I am going out in the dark. Feel quite safe as long as I have my phone in my pocket.

I wouldn't go out at night without my car. I do live in the countryside so it's essential. But even when I lived in town I still would only go out in my car. I had experiences in the past of being followed and being threatened.