3 incidents – Different counties, different cattle, with and without dog

Each report below details a moment when walkers proceeding along public footpaths were confronted by cattle. Each must be regarded as a near miss as any close encounter can cause awful injuries.

Nicky dropped the lead when the bullocks charged and they ran after the dog allowing her to escape unharmed. Matt was chased by a group of heifers and luckily managed to escape (although it was a mucky and tricky exit.) Heidi’s dog ran off and the cows weren’t interested in chasing her dog – they rammed into Heidi, attacking her several times. These cattle were Belted Galloway – the breed that are used a lot by NT and the Wildlife Trust as they are supposed to be less aggressive!

So the recommendations by others to let your dog off its lead may or may not help you.

All types of cattle, even supposed “gentle” breeds can be aggressive.

Giving the cattle a wide berth and keeping dogs on short leads doesn’t appear to help in these occasions.

Even if you have no dog cattle can harass you. There are recommendations out there suggesting running will only make the cattle more interested in you. But faced by a herd of cows hurtling towards you would you wait and see?

We agree with Heidi, but go one step further – Cows should not be allowed on public footpaths.

Report number: 1309
Date: 22/9/26
Location: Banks of the river Wey on a widely used footpath (between Broadway and Radipole, Dorset)
Group of bullocks, single walker, dog on lead initially
Nicky’s Report: “Bullocks started charging across the field, others began to follow. I had to drop the lead and let the dog run or we would have been crushed. The dog escaped unharmed.”

Report number: 1314
Date: 04/09/26
Location: 51.643340,-2.518658 Rockhampton, Vale of Berkeley, Somerset
Group of heifers, 2 walkers, no dog
Matt’s Report: “Group of heifers chased us from a public footpath. We had to sprint and climb onto a pile of muck and into another field to escape.”

Report number: 1316
Date: 02/10/26
Location: Yarm, Stockton Upon Tees, North Yorkshire
Belted Galloway cows with bull, small group of walkers with dog on lead initially
Heidi’s Report: “We were walking wide of the cows when they started to surround me with my dog. Dog was distressed and slipped her leash. I was rammed from behind 3 times, my dog had run off at this point. Continued to harass me twice more but didn’t knock me over.” Heidi comments – “Cows that have attacked before not be allowed on public bridleways.”