Chorleyanalytics

Angelsey Brynrefail circular walk – cows charged at me and my dog

Incident number: 935

Response ID: 306,162,318

Date: 16.08.24

Location: Angelsey: Walking to Mynydd Bodafon from Nan ty sebons across a large field Near Brynrefail

Liz and her dog Rosco were walking along this popular walk when 30 plus cows charged towards them at speed! Rosco had been on a lead and was calm so there was no real reason for them to charge. They moved quickly away from the footpath and managed to find a route away through undergrowth. Liz was very grazed and itchy after trampling through brambles and nettles to reach the path again and obviously very scared.

Liz says “I have problems with cows every week when I walk in Wales or England. They terrify me! They charge at speed towards me! Some farmers fence their cows away from footpath. Wish this was a legal requirement on public paths.

Walk cut short

Incident number: 934

Response ID: 306,153,541

Date: 14.08.24

Location: Fleet Head TQ 948 892 near Little Wakering in Essex.

Jane’s story

“Two of us were walking along the Essex coast path with our dogs on leads. We were on a sea bank and came to a gate. Ahead, through the gate, which is where we wanted to go there was a group of about 25 cows with what looked like older calves. To the left of the sea bank was estuary water. The cows were mainly on the right of the bank with about three on the top. While we were deciding what to do we saw another gate to the side of us about 50m away. We decided to go for that as the cows were mooing and walking towards us. They then started running and making a noise but we got through the gate as they reached us. The two dogs we had were calm and on a lead. We were not harmed at all but had to cut a big section of our coast path walk off.”

The charge line of cows was at least 12 cows wide at the front!!!

Incident number: 933

Response ID: 306,151,398

Date: 18.08.24

Location: Near Rushall Wiltshire (What 3 words outbid.shuttled.insurers)

Paul’s Story

“Two of us were walking without a dog along a public footpath. A large number of young bullocks were in the field (at least 50). They were 80 -100 meters away as we entered the field and started walking downhill towards the other gate but they immediately came closer and then charged at us as we were crossing on the public footpath. The line of cows was at least 12 cows wide at the front. We held our arms out as we walked but they were coming closer and fast. Shouting momentarily deterred the nearest leaders, also clapping, but more of the herd kept coming. They were less than 10m away. I kept walking and shouting and waving at them and my companion, behind me, charged a couple of 2m at them in desperation and finally the herd of cows turned back. We were able to reach the far gate.

The cows need to be separated from the footpath. Large numbers of cows like this are very dangerous.”

Dartmoor: Wheal Jewel reservoir – Cows charged and a lucky escape

Incident number: 930

Response ID: 306,096,962

Date: 16.08.24

Location: On public access land at Wheal Jewel reservoir – Dartmoor

I was walking on my own without a dog through open moor. I saw a group of cows and calves so I gave a wide berth – about 30 metres. The cows charged at me presumably to protect their calves. I jumped into a gorse bush and waited for them to go away. I thankfully only suffered a few minor scratches.

Warning to local walkers in Chinnor to be vigilant

Incident number: 923

Response ID: 305,591,997

Date: 03.08.2024

Location: Chinnor Oxfordshire (What 3 words ///recruiter.cello.trudges)

Gary said “I was walking on a public footpath with my dog on a lead. Cows followed despite staying a good distance then started to close in and as we got to the metal gate they charged, some crashing into the gate behind us”

Millthorpe Derbyshire “We are all so traumatised, never have we felt so scared for our lives”

Incident number: 921

Response ID: 305,399,403

Date: 31.07.2024

Location: Millthorpe, Derbyshire (What 3 words ///crops.flexibly.inert)

Emily’s story

“I was walking along a public footpath across a field with my mum, 6 year old boy and two dogs on leads. The cows just seemed inquisitive coming closer to see who we were. My mum and son began to get a little concerned and then all of a sudden one cow started charging towards us at which point the cow must’ve only been 6 meters away. We were by a hedgerow in the middle of the field, so we dived into those. Then three other cows came head first charging into us. I was protecting us all screaming and hitting them on the head. We backed further into the brambles. The cows were very aggressive and on high alert. Charging around the field and coming back to us to ram us further. With no exaggeration I thought they were going to kill us. We were stuck in this vulnerable situation for at least 45 minutes. We called our family and they rushed up within 10 mins, they found a man sitting with a small buggy truck. My dad and husband distracted the cows at the top of the field whilst the man in vehicle came to our rescue. The cows were charging at another fence trying to get at my dad.”

Badly frightened on Shropshire way footpath

Incident number: 919

Response ID: 305,301,407

Date: 29/07/2024

Location: Lydham Shropshire

Sharon’s story:

“We were walking the on the Shropshire Way footpath through a field and the group of cows started charging towards us. It was very frightening. My husband stood in front of them ‘making himself big’ and shouting at them which just gave me time to get to the gate then he ran for the gate. They ran after him.”

Thankfully there were no injuries but the route needs better warning signs

Local lady from Meifod Powys “Cows are quite savage at this time of year!!!!”

Incident number: 917

Response ID: 305,239,967

Date: 25.07.2024

Location: Powys, Meifod

Bethany’s story

“My husband and I entered the field with no dog, following the public footpath. The cows and calves were some distance away and did not appear to take notice of us at first. We were heading toward a gate leading back out of the field and when we were about halfway there the cows started to approach, slowly at first. I turned and raised my arms and shouted and this seemed to slow them down. We kept walking at normal pace. Suddenly we could see the whole herd picking up speed and coming straight for us. We started running toward the gate and somehow made it through just in time, as moments later the first of the herd arrived and were kicking up quite a row, loud enough to bring someone out of a nearby house to see what was going on. We were quite shaken and had to sit down on the verge. The lady who came out hadn’t seen what happened but kindly advised us not go in that field as the cows are quite ‘savage’ at this time of year. Too bad she wasn’t there to tell us that at the first gate.

A sign would’ve been helpful, as if we had realised the danger we would’ve taken an alternative route (although this would’ve involved walking down a narrow lane with blind bends) I think we were extremely lucky to not be injured, or worse.”

Birchgrove Swansea: A warning to other ramblers and horse riders to use caution when using this bridleway

Incident number: 917

Response ID:

Date: 25/7/2024

Location: SA79EA (Swansea, Birchgrove)

Steve said he was walking on a public footpath in the above postcode along a narrow lane. He was forced to walk directly through a group of cows and was badly frightened. “The cows and calves are loose in a narrow lane fenced on both sides . It is not possible to pass without walking through the herd . The animals are spooked and some will run in any direction trying to escape”

“The animals should be contained in a fenced and gated field and not be allowed to roam in a narrow lane It is much easier to avoid any contact with them in a larger area”

Janet’s story: Hospitalised for 10 days

Incident number: 915

Response ID: 305,149,576

Date: 27.07.21

Location: Twixt Hutton le Hole and Appleton le Moors, North Yorkshire

This is a historic event but needs telling to warn others of the dangers involved with cows.

Janet had always loved cows and had done this walk on numerous occasions with her husband and her dogs. They were on a public footpath and saw the cows approaching and realising they were in danger, they released the dogs. One of the dogs was so traumatised that it was only found the morning after. Janet’s husband John was headbutted by one of the cattle and was thrown almost 1.5 metres into the air. They then came for Janet. She said “Shoo, shoo, shoo” which made them back off a little, but then one came and knocked her over. Fortunately she was spotted and helped over a fence by off duty firefighter who called an ambulance. Both Janet and John had multiple injuries including fractured ribs and a punctured lung and were both in James Cook Hospital for 10 days. The Police and HSE have both been involved and legal case has been actioned against the farmer.

“Overall it was deeply stressful, we are lucky to be alive!”

I really thought I was going to die!

One of our members, Jill, appeared on Countryfile last weekend 21st July 2024 with her husband Mark talking about their attack three years ago, near Stockport, Greater Manchester, as part of farm safety week.

She was seriously injured by a herd of cows and older calves. She broke multiple bones and spent two weeks in ICU and a total of three months in hospital.

I don’t know if you realise how traumatic the recall of her story must be for both her and her husband and how brave both she, and other people who tell their story are, to spread awareness in the hope that it will save others from the same fate.

Her full story was also reported in the Manchester Evening News. the link is included below plus a picture of the brave couple in a much happier picture.

I was attacked by a herd of cows. I really thought I was going to die

I ran for my life!

Incident number: 913

Response ID: 305,066,633

Date: 22.07.24

Location: Chailey Commons

Lizi’s story

I was walking on my own with my dog on a lead along a public right of way. Cows began charging towards me (and dog, quietly on lead) from an adjoining field. I moved slowly towards the hedge hoping they’d come through and pass, but they continued to charge towards me. The bull came round the corner and charged at me with horns down. I had to scare it away. All other cows came round and surrounded me, staring at me. I managed to get out of the field through the gap they entered, but they then proceeded to head towards a different gap back towards my direction, whilst all still staring straight at me.

Fortunately Lizi and her dog were unharmed but obviously badly scared.