Chorleyanalytics

Useful Information/ warning about a Vale of Glamorgan walk

Incident number: 1026

Response ID: 308,535,620

Date of incident: 31.03.23

Location: Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. Using the Vale Trail route 9

Status: More than 10 people with no dog

Our reporter stated “The cows started staring at us and snorting and then advanced towards us and surrounding us. They came very close, then another cow started running towards us, but headed off the cows that were surrounding us. It was terrifying. We thought we’d be safe because it was a public walkway printed on the Vale Trail Website on the Councils main website. I reported it to the Vale of Glamorgan Council and asked that they could reroute the walk as I explained the cows were aggressive, it took some time for the council to acknowledge and they explained that the farmer was not getting back to them, they did say that they would warn the public by stating that t the walk includes cattle on the route, I contacted them again to say it was not enough and they said that they had contacted the farmer again and written a letter, but the farmer had not replied. There would have been room to segregate the cows from the public to keep the public safe. Check out www.valeofglamorgan.co.uk and select valetrails route 9

Please! Please! Please! Segregate the cows from the public. Walking the Vale Trails should be safe and a place for walkers to enjoy. The farmer should have placed notices of vulnerable times of the year when cows might have been particularly aggressive/protective, but no warning was provided.”

Another Belstone Dartmoor encounter

Incident number: 1018

Response ID: 308,473,978

Date of incident: 19.10.24

Location: On Dartmoor above Belstone. On a path used by other walkers going downhill into valley to cross a stream.

Status: A group of 3-5 people with Dog on Lead on PROW

Peter’s story which was reported to Dartmoor Councillors

“We were walking on Dartmoor having entered the moor from Belstone. We passed various cattle without incident. We decided to use a path going down to a valley bottom in order to get back to Belstone. On a very narrow part of the path we were suddenly aware of cattle behind us led by adult cow. We stood aside on bank to let them through, me on the other side of the path from the others. We had no means of escape. The lead cow bellowed and started attacking me with feet and head. I fell in to scrub and then fell over an edge in to an area lower down which probably saved me from serious injury from the cow. My friends screamed at the cows and my partner hit the attacker cow repeatedly with her coat. The cows then turned and went off. I had grazing to my legs under my jeans and bruising I think to my ribs in my back. I managed to walk back to the car at Belstone.”

He adds “Warning signs should be erected, although we couldn’t have predicted the attack and we weren’t being followed by cattle when we took the path going downhill. As it was on Dartmoor I assume the cattle can’t be confined.”

A popular route near to the visitor Centre at Dalby Forest – should cows with calves be on the footpath?

Incident number: 1016

Response ID: 308,293,345

Date of incident: 30.06.24

Location: From Thornton le Dale, through Ellerburn, up through Dalby Forest

Status: Two people with no dog on PROW

Bex’s story

“Myself and my daughter were hiking back through Dalby, from the visitor centre, returning on the same route we had hiked in on earlier. We attempted to go through field we had come through, but there were cows with calves all over the path and everywhere, so we hung back to discuss whether we would be safe. I walked in a little way to see if we could pass by beneath trees and bushes, but there were cows and calves under there too, and suddenly one of the calves ran towards us as if to follow, so I returned to my (adult) daughter, and one of the cows started stamping and moving towards us, so we quickly returned to gate and made our way through, and returned the way we had come, back towards Visitor Centre, and made our way back to Thornton le Dale on another route.

It was a scary experience, and I believe the farmer should fence their cows in, as this is a very popular route, and who knows what might happen. I believe we did the right thing, turning around that day.”

Two incidents reported recently from 2022 without dogs on PROW

Incident number: 1014 and 1015

Dates of incidents: 1.5.22 and 18.8.22

Jessica was walking as a couple near Taunton on 1^st May 2022

“We walked into the field and the group started walking towards us then running towards. We escaped just in time by going over a stile”

Matt was running on his own near West Haddon in Northamptonshire om 18^th August 2022

“I was running on a footpath. A couple of calves were startled and the herd turned on me. Tens of cows converged and stampeded me. I ran to the edge of the field and stood behind a barbed wire cordon. I had to climb into the next field to escape. I narrowly escaped being seriously injured or killed. The cows in this field are still very wary and aggressive. Other users of the footpaths have raised the issue on the village social media but have been shot down. I don’t have issues with any others herds in the area and have walked and ran through livestock for decades without similar incident.”

Rebeccah’s run was scarily interrupted by a group of running cows between Sticklepath and Belstone

Date of incident: 13.10.24

Location: Back Road between Sticklepath & Belstone (near Skaigh Cottage) (What three words ///trifle.partners.ambushed)

Status: Lone walker no dog on PRW

Rebeccah’s story

“I was out for a run as usual, and was heading up the road to avoid cows (as recently seen lots on the moor) however, as I turned the corner (on a single track road with houses) there was a group of cows and young cows charging down the road. I had to jump up the bank and hide. I then climbed over the barbed wire fence and crouched. The cows stopped on the road and came towards me. They stood for ages. I was terrified. I stayed still. They then turned around and had their backs to me. They moved up the road a couple of metres but just stopped. I had no clue what to do. I had already been sat there for ten minutes and had no phone signal to call for help. So I eventually braved it, jumped down on to the road and ran as fast as I could back down the hill hoping they wouldn’t chase me. I crossed the cattle grid and stopped. I injured my leg on branches but nothing major.”

Badly frightened on Offa’s Dyke

Incident number: 1012

Response ID: 307,947,666

Date of incident: 08.10.24

Location: Offa’s Dyke path, Lower Gwarthlow Farm, https://explore.osmaps.com/pin?lat=52.549151911985746&lon=-3.1158738261867995&zoom=14.2

Status: Lone walker no dog on PRW

K’s story

“Cows ran over and crowded me from the second I got in the field, not deterred by big stick I was holding. Lots of loud and angry sounding bellowing. They surrounded me and were not backing off as I moved so it was impossible to go forward. I edged back and went around through other fields.”

K wants “Extra fencing along side of field to enable safe access, or housing cows in separate field”

My daughter Rebekah Abigail Ann Morris age 29 years old was killed by cows on the 9th July 2022

Incident number: 294,959,124

Response ID: 821

Date of incident: 09.07.22

Location: Warwick Bridge farm, Warwick Road Littlethorpe, Leicestershire LE19 2JB

Status: Lone walker with dog on the lead

David Morris’s Story

“ Becki was walking on her own with her tiny Chihuahua on the lead when she was attacked and trampled by a herd of cows which included cows with calves of mixed breeds including Simmental, Limousine, Blonde D’Aquitaine, Aberdeen Angus and Limousin. She was trampled at 9.15pm and died at the scene. She was only 29 years old. The pre inquest was 21/12/2023 and the HSE have conducted a criminal investigation and served a prohibition notice on 21/07/2022. The HSE considers that a breach of the above law has occurred which is the Health and Safety at work Act 1974. Section 3 (2)

The farmer knew there was a problem as on the 1st July 2022 kids had been worrying the cattle and he reported it to the police but he did nothing to protect the public at large and our daughter was killed. She had a chihuahua called Zero who was so tiny the cows wouldn’t have even seen him because the grass was so over grown, so they attacked for no reason, or because of the incident with the kids. Becki wouldn’t have even gone anywhere near them with Zero because she would never put her baby at risk he was everything to her.

Becki’s inquest starts on the 14th October with a jury and will last 4 or 5 days.

To say the least we are totally heartbroken our daughter was our world we saw her everyday and spoke every evening before she went to bed, she had a business with her mum so as you can imagine we were so very very close.”

At killer cows we would like to say that we are so sorry for Becki’s death and her loss. We think it is very brave of David and her family to report this to us to warn others of the dangers of cattle.

David and his family add “We want farmers to be held responsible & prosecuted the same as anyone else who lets a dangerous dog or animal injure or kill an innocent member of the public”

This is a picture of Becki and Zero

Have cattle become more aggressive over the last decade? For example, have farmers introduced more aggressive breeds? Our Canadian friends have noticed a change…..

Incident number: 1011

Response ID: 307,774,747

Date of incident: 03.06.24

Location: Mow Cop, Cheshire on a walk from a walk book

Status: Couple with no dog on PRW

Joyce and David’s story: They are a couple from Canada who like to come to England to walk once or twice a year. They had an incident with cattle 10 years ago and since then have become much more cautious.

“We entered a field with a small herd of bullocks (about 10-12) spread out about 40-50 metres away from us. The walk went across the field, but we decided to walk along the fence line to keep away from the bullocks. This was moor land and quite wet & muddy. The bullocks started coming towards us to have a closer look. Initially they stayed on the drier top of the field following our slow progress as we wallowed in the mud at the edge! As we neared the end where we had to cross the field to get to the stile, the bullocks kept coming closer behind us. At one stage they nudged one of us in the rear. We kept calm and kept talking to them. Eventually we got over the style with no further incident. The bullocks appeared to be more curious than aggressive. We could not move fast in the mud & they could have easily harmed us without meaning to.”

They add “We realize that it would be expensive for farmers to fence off the footpaths from cattle. Alternatively, we suggest that farmers create temporary footpaths that take walkers around their fields with cattle with appropriate signage in order to provide safe transit for walkers.”

Spoiled walks that need reporting to local MPs and the HSE

Incident number: 1008 and 1009

Response ID: 307,728,122 and 307,728,706

Dates of incident: 17.07.24 and 08.09.24

Location: South of Newton under Roseberry in Yorkshire and South of Woodstock near Church Hanborough in Oxfordshire

Status: Two people without dog

RE’s story

“We were coming through Cliff Ridge Wood walking northwest direction, came to a lane going west towards Quarry House, soon turned (before the railway) north to walk through a couple of fields on a public footpath, in order to get back to Newton-u-R.

Once we got onto the field, a group of a dozen or so bullocks started following us, came very close and the leader was jumping in the air as if to charge. We managed to keep them at bay by waving our walking poles and my husband was walking backwards to stare at them. We climbed over a stile to the next field and the same happened again as there was another group of bullocks. We managed to leave the second field unharmed but badly frightened.”

RE reported the later spoiled walk and being badly frightened on another walk South of Woodstock near Church Hanborough in Oxfordshire, going SW from Church Hanborough towards The Green. Fields south side of The Thrift wood and east side of Elm Farm.

RE wants “Separate footpaths from fields where cattle is being kept. Ideally, no cattle to be kept on fields where a footpath is going through.”

Farmers should take responsibility for the safety of walkers and the wellbeing of their cattle.

Incident number: 1007

Response ID: 307,707,670

Date of incident: 18.09.24

Location: SK142589 – Peak District National Park, near Hartington at the very end of Reynards Lane (Biggin Dale end) – immediately adjacent National Trust land.

Status: Two people with no dog on PRW

Leigh’s story

“We were walking on a very popular and busy footpath – well over a dozen groups of walkers, many with dogs, had passed us in the previous 15 minutes; including the farmer himself riding a quadbike. When we came upon a gate adjacent to the footpath there were a large group of distressed cattle that had gathered at the gate, bellowing very vigorously. A number of groups of walkers had gathered there, asking each other what had caused the commotion. We carried walking along Reynards Lane towards Biggin Dale, with the herd of cattle separated from us by a dry stone wall. As we walked the herd followed us. A large bull walked behind the herd and a numbers of walkers passing in the opposite direction commented on the size of him. As we were walking a number of cows were mounting each other, while others were feeding their calves. When we got to the end of the lane, about 200m further on, which then became a footpath, we saw that the farmer had left another gate to the field wide open, along with a gate to another field on the opposite side of the lane. Some cows were crossing the lane, others with their calves were standing in the middle of the lane, completely blocking the way forward. These being the same group of cattle that had been visibly distressed not five minutes earlier, we were very anxious about pushing our way past them. We waited a while until other groups of walkers appeared from the opposite direction, who in turn waited until more groups of walkers appeared. Eventually each group felt safe enough in the presence of others to walk forward, to which the cattle gave way, while still bellowing. It’s a walk we’ve done a number of times before and the gates have never been open. It seemed perverse to us that the farmer had decided to open or leave the gates on either side of a busy path in a national park wide open, especially since he will have been very aware that his cattle were distressed. Was he deliberately trying to cause on incident or scare walkers away?”

Leigh added “Farmers to take responsibility for the safety of walkers and the wellbeing of their cattle. In this instance the herd of cows, bullocks, calves and a bull were already in a very large group of connected fields with a water tank. If the farmer wanted to move them to the fields on the other side of the lane, why didn’t he herd them across? Why did he simply leave the gates open on either side of the lane when it was clear that the path was very busy, many groups had dogs and his herd were clearly distressed?”

Belted Galloway herd including a bull with calves blocking public foot path in Eskdale, Lake District.

Incident number: 1006

Response ID: 307,651,725

Date of incident: 31.08.24

Location: Public footpath from Boot to Doctors Bridge Eskdale. (What 3 words ///positions.forgotten.sweeter)

Status: Two people with dog on lead on PRW

Zoe’s story

“We were walking the Inn Way to the Lakes along this path. The cows bull and calf were all against a gate we needed to get through. They were at a fence so therefore had nowhere to go apart from back towards us. We couldn’t get through the gate as they didn’t move. We had to get in the river and walk down the river to get to the other side of the gate. We did this in all gear and boots so wasn’t ideal!!”

She adds “Farmers to be prosecuted if cattle is not secured. Bulls should not be with cows and calves in public areas”

Zoe was also badly frightened by belted Galloway cattle many years ago in 1999 between Coniston and Tarn Hows

Near-miss on Southwest Coastal Path near Coverack

Incident number: 1005

Response ID: 307,647,490

Date of incident: 12.09.24

Location: South West coast path, Coverack Cornwall. TR12

Status: Two walkers with dog on lead on PRW

Davyd’s story

“Following South West coast path from Coverack to Lizard point Cornwall. Walking along public footpath with dog on lead. Started hearing what sounded like a thundering hoofs. I turned and saw about 20 cattle charging directly at us. We ran as fast as possible to the next swing gate over rocky and muddy ground just making it through in time. The whole heard were headbutting the wood gate still trying to get us. My wife was absolutely terrified as we only just made it out before we got trampled by them. I cannot believe that dangerous farm animals are allowed to be grazing on public footpath especially south West coast path. If we were older and could not move as quickly we could of been trampled to death.”