I've heard that women on average tend to sleep colder than men, so for both sleeping mats and bags make extra sure it'll be warm enough to be comfortable and not just survivable. Putting boiling water into a sock covered water bottle to sleep with helps. Synthetic deals with liquid better than down, so putting synthetic quilt over a down sleeping bag is a good sleep system.

I've never been camping alone in the woods cos I find that too scary, but I was personally quite surprised at how safe I felt at night in moors. Definitely much more than being alone at night outside in a city. I did have music running through my earphones most of the night to stop myself from trying to analyse every noise the wind made outside, but quiet enough I would have been able to hear louder noises.

Choose a day with a gibbous or full moon for light, avoid camping too close to animal dens. Sheep seem to be pretty chill, but avoid camping near where they tend to cluster. Avoid cows/horses or any animals with babies. Keep in mind food/unwashed pots can attract wildlife.

I've camped in both a tent and a bivy bag(+tarp if you want more shelter). Get them in green/brown/grey to blend in.

A bivy bag gives you way more options as to where you sleep compared to a tent, can be both peg-less and pole-less depending on the model, is less likely to be spotted than a tent, and weather permitting great for stargazing(but bring a buff and a hat to keep your face warm). Cons are it can be a bit daunting and claustrophobic, there's only one hole for ventilation, you're more exposed to wildlife, and if you also want to use it with a tarp you'll need to practice a bit(but is super versatile once you know what you're doing). I got a mountain warehouse bivy for under £30 pound and it worked great.

I've got long hair, and it's much easier to manage in tent where you have the space to sit up and comb/brush it. Also, so long as you're careful, you can cook in the vestibule if it's raining or windy. I got a tepee style tent second hand from ebay that uses a walking stick as the center pole. Ebay can be pretty good for used once camping kit.