My First Solo Walk in the Forest

No big deal? It was for me.

A walk in the forest

On Wednesday it was still cold, but sunny and so calm with no wind at all that I decided to go for a walk in the forest. It may not seem like much to you, but for me it was a milestone.

May I dare to admit that it was the very first time ever that I went for a walk alone in the forest? (It might tell you something about some anxiety issues I still have.)

To my surprise, all I felt on my way to the forest was joy, no nervousness, no fear - and I wondered why I had waited so long and what I had always been so afraid of!

Certainly not of the few people I actually met, an old man who left the forest when I went in and nodded to me, a solitary jogger, actually a neighbour of my parents, and an old couple with their grandchild. Oh, and I didn't get lost either. ;)

It was so peaceful, so tranquil, so wonderfully far away from everything, including thoughts of work, problems, decisions or anything else.

I felt so at home in the forest, I felt safe.

It’s a mixed forest, but broadleaf trees predominate, so the forest still wore it’s bare winter outfit. This was by no means boring, but left room for the sun to light up the paths and the grounds.

The drumming of the great spotted woodpeckers echoed throughout the forest. I’ve forgotten how loud they can be, wow, so impressive! I actually heard them before I even got to the forest and thought it couldn’t be woodpeckers, surely, or could it?

I saw them too, at least three of them. So beautiful, I was in awe! Seeing them was my favourite part of the week, to be honest. I don’t know why it moved me the way it did, it just did. I can't remember the last time I saw one of these birds.

I followed the paths through the forest, sometimes along small brooks, and took it all in. The light wind in the conifers, the gentle creaking of the swaying tree trunks. The sunlight illuminating the landscape and creating ever new patterns.

I often paused and just stood on one spot, feeling incredibly happy because I had overcome my fear of taking a solo walk in the woods and was rewarded with such a joyful experience.

I listened to the birds and tried to find out which ones they were. I didn’t recognise that many which I definitely want to change, so I borrowed a book called Birdwatching With Your Eyes Closed: An Introduction to Birdsong by Simon Barnes. The perfect title, isn’t it? Let’s see what it can teach me.

I’ve also found out about one of our local nature conservation groups who take interested people like me on a tour to the cemetary (yes, you read that right) to learn about the songs of local birds. I’m looking forward to that early Sunday morning date in mid-April!

Part of the forest borders the river that runs through our small town. It was beautiful to walk along the sheltered, sunny path at the edge of the wood, watching lively and very busy tits crossing my path between bushes and small trees. I followed the path to a cordoned off area on the river bank where the kingfisher likes to breed. I didn’t see or hear any, maybe it’s still a bit early in the year for that. No matter, I just dived back into the forest and explored a few other trails, found a Nessie-like log frozen in small pond, and just enjoyed myself.

This walk meant a lot to me. Having overcome my decades of fear, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, the woodpeckers, simply walking through the sunny, wintry forest and taking it all in - it was one and half hours of pure joy that carried me through the whole week.

I feel like I'm on a good path to reconnecting with nature. Small steps, sure, but they are working for me.

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Note: This post was edited (shortened) Mar 5, 2026.

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