1. Home
2. Blog
3. 5 Reasons We Love Solo Walking: Discover the Joy

In the midst of all the marketing noise that surrounds the 14th of Feb, we wanted to deliver a little antidote to all the commercial messaging and the overwhelming focus on romantic couples – by expounding the joys of solo walking.

This one isn’t for all the lovers out there. This is for you and you alone. Read on and discover why we love leaving partners, friends and family behind once in a while and heading out solo to explore the world on our own two feet.

Time for reflection and clearing your head

For many at the RAW team, one of the most appealing aspects of solo walking is the opportunity to let your thoughts wander and take you wherever they want to go. Sometimes, this results in an introspective walk and on other occasions it means following those flights of fancy and thinking big.

Either way, walking alone is an opportunity to escape the noise surrounding us during much of our everyday working lives. Whether you’re escaping constant conversation, a non-stop barrage of notifications or just the hustle and bustle of the noisy urban environment, this is a time to check-in with yourself and give your mind the peace and quiet it sometimes needs to think straight.

From the Romantic poets to Friedrich Nietzsche, more than a few writers and philosophers have credited solo walking as a source of inspiration and a great way to reset the brain and get a fresh perspective. We often find that we return from a solo walk re-energised, ready to go with a plan of action. There’s something about that fresh air and getting the blood pumping that really inspires!

Connecting with nature

Of course, solo walking doesn’t have to mean losing yourself to your private thoughts. It can also be a fantastic exercise in observation and help us connect with the natural world around us. Walking solo often presents us with moments of real wonder and beauty – whether it’s a bird of prey swooping low overhead or the sun emerging from between the clouds to light up the hillside. These moments are easy to miss when we’re distracted by company. And they tend to hit even more spectacularly when we’re on our own and enjoying a wholly personal experience.

Freedom, independence and self-confidence

For many people, walking solo is all about freedom and independence. There’s something incredibly satisfying about not needing to rely on others to explore the natural landscape and celebrating that sense of self-sufficiency. In modern society, we’re often surrounded by groups of people and necessarily rely on help and support from others.

While this assistance is invaluable – we all need our support networks and no-one should be expected to deal with all of life’s challenges on their own – demonstrating your independence and self-sufficiency every once in a while is really validating and beneficial. It can do wonders for your confidence!

Complete control over your walk

We love the control you have over solo walks. When you’re heading out in a group, you often have to compromise. Some people want to do this route, others want to try another. Everyone walks at slightly different paces and expects to cover a certain distance. There are a lot more stops and starts, and it’s difficult to find your own rhythm. It’s also a lot harder to indulge a whim.

When alone, you can take a different path to the one planned, cut your walk short or extend it, ignore all the historical points of interest or spend hours exploring every detail. It’s entirely up to you. This kind of control fosters a sense of discovery and encourages improvisation, it enables you to create the adventure you want to have and change it at a moment’s notice.

Getting to know your local area

Solo walking also gives you an opportunity to explore your local area in greater depth. We’re big fans of micro-adventures at RAW, and love the idea of exploring your local landscape and discovering all its hidden footpaths and secret woodlands. There’s something pretty special about getting to know the area you call home on foot and we would encourage everyone to get their local OS map out and see what walking opportunities there are within a 5, 10 or 15-mile radius of your home.

While you can do this with friends and family, you don’t have to wait for them to go out adventuring. In fact, these micro-adventures are a great way to build your confidence and start working towards longer solo walks that take you further afield.

A few tips for safety

While we definitely want to encourage you to embrace solo walking, safety is a crucial consideration. With this in mind, we compiled a few top tips to help you stay safe.

1. Plan your route

We would always recommend planning a basic route before leaving. This will help ensure you’ve accounted for daylight hours and returning home before nightfall.

2. Be aware of your surroundings

We always recommend making sure you’re aware of your surroundings and know what’s going on around you. That means avoiding things like headphones that prevent you from hearing approaching vehicles or animals.

3. Make sure you’re well-equipped

Always carry with you essential walking items, such as water, snacks, a first aid kit, and your phone. Your equipment will depend on the type of walk you’re doing – summiting Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), for example -requires a bit more equipment and forethought than a two-hour walk through local woodland – so think ahead and plan accordingly.

4. Get your clothing right

Clothing is equally important, and solo walkers should always consider the weather before setting out. Wear appropriate footwear that provides a good level of support, carry waterproofs if necessary and make sure you’re not going to be too cold. Check out our suggested kit list for an idea of the equipment you need.

5. Tell someone where you’re going

When heading out for a solo walk, it’s always good practice to tell someone where you’re going and how long you expect to be. This is especially true of longer walks that take you into more challenging terrain.

6. Use safety technology if possible

If possible, consider using safety technology like GPS tracking apps or location sharing so people know where to find you should they need to.

Come walking with us!

We understand that not all walkers are ready to hit the trails on their own just yet. If you’re interested in solo walking but want to build your confidence in a friendly and supportive environment first, we recommend checking out our Group Walks on Ben Nevis, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) or Scafell Pike. They tend to be attended by solo hikers and are an excellent way to meet like-minded people and prepare for walks in smaller groups or all on your own. Come and join us and try them for yourself!

Alternatively, take a look at the Mountain Skills courses. They’re the perfect way to ensure you’re equipped with all the walking skills you need for solo adventuring.