Risborough Walker

Advice can help but it doesn’t remove the risks

Incident No. 936

Date of Incident. 21/08/24

Location. Witton Weavers Way, Maiden House Farm, Blackburn, Lancashire

Account “This is the second incident in this precise field in 18 months. The first incident I hold myself responsible; I didn’t know what to do in the event of a cow attack and, as they began to approach me, I ran (which caused the whole herd to stampede after me). Luckily, the gate to the field which is usually open to the adjoining field was closed that day, and I dived over it.

After this first event, I was duly rattled and then did a bit of research on what to do if I am ever in a similar situation again.

Bravery at Hadrian’s Wall

Report No: 929

Date of Incident: 19/09/22

Location: Hadrian’s wall path just west of Cawfield’s Quarry

Account “I was walking Hadrian’s Wall Path when a woman with a dog ran past me towards a gate. She was being chased by a cow with its head lowered. I (stupidly or bravely, I don’t know) stepped between her and the cow to protect them, spread out my arms, and yelled at the cow to stop. It skidded to a halt in front of me, looked me over, then peered around me towards the dog. Once the woman and the dog made it to the other side of the gate, the cow ambled away.

I believe that had I not intervened, the woman or her dog would have been injured.”

“I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time”

Report No: 928

Date of Incident: 25/07/24

Location: Newdigate, Surrey, England

Account “I was crossing a field on my own (female 64, very fit) with 2 spaniel dogs on short leads on a footpath. I knew there were cows in the field, couldn’t see a bull, there were some calves but not particularly young, probably about 15-20 cows. I tried to keep as far away from the cows as possible but they started to follow me and gradually caught me up and began to surround me. I let go of the dogs which ran off but the cows did not follow them. One cow pushed me to the ground with its nose and then three or four others joined in head butting me. I curled up in a ball trying to protect myself and stayed still hoping they would lose interest which they did after a while and moved away to a different part of the field.

Tom was charged at on Cader Idris slopes

Report No: 927

Date of Incident: 10/08/24

Location: Bottom of Cader Idris (just up from steps), Wales

2 people, no dog.

Account “We had walked up the steep steps on the Minfford Path route at the foot of Cader Idris, to a large open area with no cover. A cow with calves charged at me and my partner, we had driven two hours to go walking and turned back.”

Tom also adds:- “For public footpaths it should be illegal to have cows with calves roaming across them.”

Amanda manages to remain calm!

Incident No: 926

Date of Incident: 08/08/24

Location: Near Newbold Astbury, Cheshire. Lat/long 53 08 40 N 002 13 46 W WTW – spoken.kicked.acid

1 person, no dog

Account “I was on a run at about 6p.m. I crossed into the field, which has quite a steep incline, so the cows weren’t immediately obvious. As I came over the brow of the hill I saw a number of cattle. A large bull started to run towards me and cut off the footpath. I moved through an open gateway into the next field and moved behind the hedge. There were also cattle in there. The original bull followed me, along with many other cattle from the 1st field. They surrounded me and were blocking the gateway I had come through. The front ones were about a metre away from me, including the original bull. I remained by the hedge, facing them, with my arms outstretched. I stood for about 25 minutes. Each time I tried to move they followed me. Eventually the original bull started eating (though he didn’t move away) and I was able to walk quickly around the herd and escape over the fence at the bottom of the field.”

Ali and his friend meet a hostile group of cattle

Report No: 925

Date of Incident: 01/08/24

Location: what 3 words melon.mural.tower – near Marston Montgomery, Derbyshire,

2 People, no dog.

Account: “We were walking down a supposed bridleway with our bikes, but it was completely overgrown so we had to push our bikes. There was a field to our right containing a herd of cattle and they were very unhappy with our presence. They were snorting and taking it in turns to faux charge. We were separated by a single waist high wire which may have saved us. We carried on walking calmly and they all ran about 50m further along the field to wait for us, still snorting and distressed. We stopped to discuss what we should do and they all ran back up to us. We decided we had no option but to walk on an adjacent field away from them and got away unscathed. There were no calves that we could see. We were scared by these cattle; we met some cows further along and they were fine.”

Suggestion from Ali – “The path being maintained would be a start. There could be more robust protection if the cows are known to be aggressive”

A group of bullocks caused an urgent need to locate a safe exit

Report number: 901

Date of incident: 5/7/24

Site of incident: Three of us were crossing the Public right of way (PROW) on Coton Mill Farm land heading from Old Gayton Gorse to Mill Lane (OS Grid Reference: SJ 9783 3116) We were following the Pathfinder Staffordshire Outstanding Circular Walks Walk number 19: Milwich and Sandon Park.

Report: It was getting dusk and we were trying to return to Milwich where we had parked. We followed the PROW using OS Maps app and guide book. The field was quiet initially but around half way across we climbed to the top of a slope and were spotted by large young cows from the other side of the field. They were a distance away and we’re seasoned walkers with plenty of experience. We stayed close together and walked quietly and consistently.

It started with one bullock taking notice and like an excited puppy started enthusiastically making it’s way towards us. It was joined by more and more until we had a sizeable number behind us. I turned to face them and they stopped and leaned slightly back with heads low and pensive. I softly said hello and we continued to walk slowly, quietly and made sure our youngest member was protected. They lunged forwards a few times but held back…. playing.

It was really scary, especially when they started to get in front of us also. We did manage to cross the stile safely – but it felt like forever to complete the crossing. They didn’t hurt us, but maybe that’s because we have some experience and were extremely careful with our movements. When we completed our crossing we had the entire herd stood looking at us from the other side of the fence.

We need better marked PROW’s as the signs were appalling in this area apart from the farm on Old Gayton Gorse who had painted the way markers and stiles in high vis paint, which I thought was brilliant. The other farms however had very poorly maintained infrastructure and paths marked, slowing our progress considerably. Cattle were clearly used in multiple areas. We had encountered cattle earlier in the walk but they were young females and weren’t a problem.

If it wasn’t for access to GPS crossing that field where we were surrounded could have been very, very dangerous as it wasn’t clear exactly where our safe exit was.

Christina had 40 horned cattle charging at her

Report number:900

Date of incident: 3/7/24

Site of incident: The field near Warlies in Waltham Abbey

Report: We were aware there are cows in this field with baby’s but I have done this walk for years with no problems.

Two of us were walking, we couldn’t see the cows as we began, we always give them a wide birth, the dog was on a long lead but all of a sudden as we came down the hill the cows were in view. They were a large herd, with calves, cows (with horns) and heifers. I put the dog on a short lead. We stopped looked at the cows, they were just looking, and so we carried on walking as we’ve always done.

All of a sudden about 40 of them ran at us full speed. We ran as fast as we could and jumped into a tiny fenced off area, no bigger than 2m squared. It was a small barbed wire square around a tree. All of them swarmed us butting their heads at the fences and waving their horns around. I have never been so terrified in all my life, at one point I thought we might have to climb the tree. If we made any noise the cows just got more aggressive and loud so we had to stay quiet, they didn’t leave us.

We were stuck in there for a nearly an hour and had to call police to come and rescue us. I can’t believe we actually made it out, only with a few cuts of barbed wire, it was the most petrifying thing I have ever experienced.

I did see a sign that said to be aware of cattle and keep your dog close.

Jackie was headbutted to the ground

Report number:899

Date of attack: 27/06/24

Site of attack: what 3 words – Chopper.indulges.rates (possibly here) on the footpath from Daymark to Higher Town, St Martin’s in the Scilly Isles.

Report: Two of us were walking a there and back linear route, with no dog. The field had appeared empty at the start of our walk, (although we had noticed a sign saying ‘Cows in Field.’) When we returned to pass through it there were 2 bullocks (I think they were Red Devon) standing by the gate we needed to exit through. We approached giving them as much space as possible. As we passed, one of the cattle put his head low, took 4-5 paces towards me and headbutted me over onto the ground. Once on the ground I thought he was going to continue and trample me – it was an intentional ‘lunge’ and pretty frightening being headbutted and having an animal of that size and weight go for you, thank goodness the bullock moved away after that.

I was scraped and bruised and had numbness and tingling in my arm/hand for 3 days afterwards which I guess was nerve damage from the fall.

If cattle are feisty or mischievous they should not be kept in a field with a PROW. There should be separation. As a consequence, I would be unlikely ever to walk a PROW shared with livestock again which is very limiting. We did nothing to provoke or spook the animal (walking around it, giving as much distance as possible) and had no pets with us. I would be interested to know if others have been attacked here too.

Walkers and Farmers – we can help each other.

We all know that feeling, looking at a map of an unfamiliar area, trying to plan a route. Walkers enjoy the freedom that access to our footpath network gives them; most walkers are careful to respect the farmer’s land and often help keeping the footpaths clear, they can notify farmers if livestock are lose or look ill. Well tended farms with farmers following HSE guidelines help walkers. We all get to enjoy our beautiful countryside.

Scared out of a field: Twice in as many months!

Report number:892

Date of incident: 23/06/24

Site of incident: Close to OS Grid Ref: SY 63456 82538 on footpath going East to West, just south of Tatton Farm near Chickerell, in Dorset

We were walking on a public footpath in Dorset around 16:00 hrs. We had entered a field with a few cows in, so had put the 2 dogs on their leads. The cows were looking at us from a distance, though not approaching. We kept looking back to ensure they didn’t follow. All of a sudden, we became aware of another, different herd of cows ahead numbering approximately 25. We could see the stile we were making for, but the cows quickly surged towards us. My wife, who was very scared began to run with the dog she was looking after. I released my dog so it might follow her whilst I could try to slow the cows down, to allow them to make it to the stile. We are aware of the advice not to run, but it is a natural instinct to remove yourself from imminent danger. I did not run, just walking fast and shouting as loud as I could at the cows, swearing and repeatedly shouting no. This did slow down their approach, but did not stop it. I had now got close to the stile and continued to fend them off while my wife managed to get the dogs and herself over the stile (no doggy door to make things easier!). The herd continued to approach me as I got over the stile and swarmed around it after I had cleared it. I would not necessarily describe the cows as aggressive, although my wife did notice some leg stomping. They appeared youngish and it may just have been exuberance on their part, but the danger of contact with some very heavy animals was very real. This is our second near miss encounter in as many months and I am beginning to wonder whether my dogs (two flat coat retrievers) are of particular interest to cows.

We should not be intimidated out of using public footpaths. Warning signs are not enough. Landowners/farmers need to be more conscious of this issue. After all, they expect us to be sensible and considerate!

Susan is lucky there was a way round the cows with calves

Report number: 891

Date of incident: 30/04/24

Site of incident: what 3 words – Unwound.minds.blessing (Near Purton, Wiltshire)

I was walking on my own, with no dog and came upon a field of cattle with young calves on my route. I was on a public right of way.

I knew it was important to avoid walking through the middle of the herd and tried hard to do this. But the herd was spread out and eventually all the cows came together facing me, fronted by the young ones. The cattle began to show aggressive behaviour and would not back off. I fled over a gate and found another way round.

Susan comments that footpaths should at least have warning signs and electric fences to separate them from cattle perhaps.