Wild Trails Wales Guide: Solo Walking
Not everyone has a ready group of friends to go on adventures with. Or, perhaps you spend so much time with people or in a noisy environment that you just want to be alone sometimes. Personally, I like to be spontaneous and my job makes it difficult to plan things in advance. That combined with not having a 9-5 working pattern often means I have to go on adventures alone. I’m fortunate in that I enjoy spending time alone and often crave being by myself in wide open spaces (not so much dark conifer forests!). Solo walking gives me a sense of freedom that you can’t get from walking in a group. Also, when I first started venturing out alone, I found it to be empowering and it contributed positively to my self-esteem and confidence. That said, I completely understand that it can be daunting, and so I’ve put together a few tips for if you’re tempted to head out on your own.
Start somewhere familiar or less remote
Get used to the feeling of walking on your own by first going to somewhere you know, or where there are likely to be other people around. If you’re not confident in finding your way around, try some well mapped or signposted walks with good trails.
Learn the skills you need to keep yourself safe
If you want to head off the beaten track and explore more remote areas, spend some time acquiring the skills and knowledge to look after yourself. Self-sufficiency is one of the most important aspects of solo walking. Read more about learning to navigate here. If you would like to build your skills and confidence take a look at the Find Your Way courses here.
Plan in advance
It may sound obvious, but making a plan, plus one or two alternative plans for your day, can help you feel in control and more confident in what you’re doing. If you’re anything like me and prone to bouts of indecisiveness when you have the freedom of making decisions completely independently, having some solid plans to follow can help halt that internal dialogue of wrangling options, and keep you on track. Read my guide to planning a walk here.
Tell someone where you’re going
Another reason for having a plan, is that you can tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back. Then, should anything happen, somebody knows when to raise the alarm and where to send help! Just don’t forget to get in touch if you’re safely overdue.
Don’t tell everyone where you’re going
Perhaps this is a little paranoid, but if I’m walking alone I prefer not to post my location in advance, or live updates of recognisable locations on social media. If I walk somewhere alone regularly, I vary the times I’m there.
Don’t forget to take breaks and enjoy yourself!
Sometimes when I’m walking alone, I’m guilty of not stopping or rushing to get round. I’m not entirely sure why that is, but it is easily done. Don’t forget to take time to sit and take in the solitude, and the feeling of being alone. Put your phone away for a bit. It’s a really powerful feeling, perhaps uncomfortable for some of us when we’re so used to being surrounded by noise, people or information coming through our devices, but no doubt good for us.