Risborough Walker

Kay’s tale of charging cows

Incident number: 873

Date of incident: 18.05.24

Site: In fields between Rugeley Trent train station and Colton

We were walking along a public right of way and entered a field close to a farm. The field was empty. We only got half way across the field when a herd of very aggressive cows appeared from the farm yard and charged us, we ran. This happened in a further 2 fields and on one occasion, both myself and my husband had to throw ourselves over a gate. My husband hurt his neck.

We were fortunate in that, although we are in our late 60’s, we are fairly fit, but if there had been a child with us, then it could have been a very different story. We were with a younger couple, who had a dog on a very short lead and we always kept to the field edge where we could.

We have been walkers for years and we have noticed that:-

1. The cows are getting more and more aggressive

2. Farmers are less tolerant towards walkers.

Although it cannot be proven, we suspect that when we entered the first farm, the Farmer saw us and let the cows in on purpose. The field was definitely empty when we entered it.

We are encouraged to exercise more and there is nothing that we would enjoy better than to take our Grandchildren out into the countryside. But there is always the fear that we will come across a field with cows in. Farmers clearly do not want people walking across their fields (on a public right of way) and are succeeding 100% in deterring us.

I know that Farmers are usually insured but I don’t care about compensation. I would like to not be injured or killed somewhere where I have every right to be. If we ever go on a country walk again (looking unlikely), then we will not be going in a field with cows in it but will find an alternative route which might not be on a public right of way. And if we are trespassing, then so be it.

I have reported this to the HSE.

Kay comments:
“I would welcome a law to be passed which says that Farmers should not put cows in a field where there is a public right of way, or they must put a fence up separating us from the animals.”

Cows and calves!

Incident number: 870
Date of incident: 27.05.24
Site: Between Boscubben and Trendrine Farm on the footpath between Zennor and St. Ives in Cornwall

We were a group of 3 adults and 4 dogs, we noticed cows with calves in the field ahead of us, so as we approached the field, we started to put the dogs on leads.
One cow charged to the front very aggressively. We tried to circumnavigate the field, with the herd following us round being very frisky. The cattle were too aggressive so we had to give up and double back.

I am not risk averse, but to proceed would have been foolhardy. A dogless couple aborted an attempt just after we had tried, but succeeded after we had left the scene suggesting the dogs were the spark for the cow’s aggression.

We were not injured but badly frightened.

Killer Cows comment: The Health and Safety Executive strongly suggests that farmers do not put cows with calves in fields where footpaths pass through. HSE recognise the risk and English law states that farmers have a duty of care towards those who walk across their land.

This occurred in an area where there are many walkers, surely there should be clear signage to an alternative cattle-free route if the farmer cannot manage to fence off the footpath.

Surrounded by cows – I was terrified!

Report number: 862

Date of incident: 22.05.24

Site of incident: Frome, Somerset, Whitcombe Field

Type of cows: A bull with cows, mostly Friesians.

Description: I was walking on the footpath through the field in the evening on my own. There was a group of cows, trotting through the field in the opposite direction to me so I thought I was safe. I approached a bench to sit down as I was calling a friend. One cow spotted me and started running towards me so I stood up on the bench and tried to shoo it away with loud noises and hand gestures.

Soon the rest of the herd were alerted and started to run towards me until I was surrounded by about 30/40 cows and one bull. They were gathered so closely together and moved right up to my legs that I couldn’t find a way out of the herd. I was terrified!! One of them started head butting me and pushing me so I was afraid I would fall off the bench. Others were licking and chewing my clothes. I trued to scare them by shouting and shooing but they wouldn’t move.

I called my partner and a friend to come and rescue me but they took some time and in the mean time I thought my life was at risk. I ended up calling emergency services but luckily my partner arrived and created a distraction so the herd dispersed and I walked away physically unharmed. These cows might have simply been inquisitive but their behaviour was dangerous and I felt so lucky not to be injured or killed. I feel like I need to report it to the farmer so that they take steps to keep other walkers safe as I wouldn’t want anyone to go through something similar.

Charged at by a bull

Report number: 847

Date of incident: 08/05/24

Site of incident: On the footpath up the river from St Nectan’s Waterfall, Tintagel, Cornwall. Coordinates 50°39’58.6″N 4°42’32.2″W. WhatThreeWords; ///disarmed.nipping.perfected.

There was a dairy bull in the field with multiple bullocks.

2 people no dogs

We are seasoned and experienced hill walkers. We approached the field on well worn path along from a much loved popular waterfall. We made sure to keep talking as we approached as to not startle bullocks (visible). As we entered the field the younger bullocks backed off. The dairy bull immediately started with aggressive body language. I picked up a large stick and tried to continue to follow the path with confident but non threatening body language. The bull charged us. I attempted to be assertive so raised the stick and held my ground. The bull continued to charge us, just stopping short of hitting us.

Attack on Offa’s Dyke National Trail

It seems that cattle are getting more and more aggressive. Often you simply cannot walk safely along a public right of way.

Report number: 845

Date of incident: 30/04/24

Site of incident: Grid Ref SO 236 406 on the Offas Dyke path (a national trail) south of Hay-on-Wye

1 person, 1 dog on lead

“I was walking my dog along the Offa’s Dyke Path south of Hay. I walked from Cusop as far as Upper Danyforest where I turned around and retraced my steps.

At around 8:35pm I crossed the footbridge (SO236 406) and entered the field beyond. I saw a group of cattle near the house called Pant Barn. I hadn’t been aware of cattle in the field on my outward journey, but they may have been out of sight behind Pant Barn. The cattle were moving up the field away from me and didn’t pay me any attention so I proceeded along the footpath towards Forest Rd. I had only gone around 100m when a group of 8 cattle broke away from the main group and started charging directly towards me and my dog. I immediately let my dog off his lead and made some noise to try and stop the cattle and shoo them away. The cattle slowed but then started coming very close, bucking and kicking. I was terrified. I gave my dog a command to ‘go to the gate’ and thankfully he did as instructed and ran towards Forest Rd. The cattle followed him charging and bucking and kicking. Meanwhile I ran in the opposite direction back up the hill to the footbridge. I could see my dog had ducked into the stream to avoid the cattle so I recalled him and he joined me on the safety of the bridge. I know that if my dog is scared he won’t always follow commands, around half of the time he’ll come and hide behind my legs instead. If he’d have done that tonight I think there is a very high chance I would have been trampled by the cattle.

Unharmed, but frightened

I have reported this to the Health and Safety Executive, the local authority and Brecon Beacons National Park.

I’d like to add that I’ve lived in the area all my life, I’m a qualified Mountain Leader, I do a lot of walking in the countryside. I like to think I know how to behave around livestock, but recently particularly on the Offa’s Dyke path around Hay it seems that cattle are getting more and more aggressive. Often you simply cannot walk safely along a public right of way. I feel like I had a very near miss with this incident and that it’s only a matter of time before someone is injured or killed. Yet the authorities are powerless to do anything.”

Chased by cows and shocked by fences

Report number: 843

Date of incident: 03/05/24

Site of incident: Grid: SO8176544273 Latlng: 52.09649 -2.2676 Hanley Castle, Hanley Swan, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, England, WR8 0EE

Family group, 1 dog on lead

“We were walking on a public path, and arrived at a fork with the possibility of taking a public path in a field with no cows or another public path in a field which had cows in it. However the small bridge to the field with no cows was blocked off by a strange, thick coiled line which I thought could be electrified although there were no signs. As some of the cows were feeding and another group was in the far corner of the field I decided we should take this public path as it was tight into the side of the field and relatively short. Unfortunately, two thirds of the way across the cows caught sight of us and began to chase us. We ran and when we arrived at a single line of fence I lifted it for my children to get through only to find it was electrified and got a shock. Again no warning signs were present. After this we managed to get out of the field.

No medical help needed, but frightened and electric shocked

I think there should be warning signs for cows and electric fences and an easier way to seek recourse for incidents such as this.”

Unexpected near miss

Report number: 842

Date of incident: 2/5/24

Site of incident: There is a R.O.W. path through a field between Tanyrallt cottages, Llanllyfni (Caernarfon), which leads down onto Lon Ddwr (by Bro Silyn).

I walk this route most days as our daily dog walk, and the dog is always on a lead. There are signs on the gate warning of the consequences of dogs worrying sheep. Today I got halfway across the rather large field, when the dog starting behaving as if he were afraid, and when I glanced over my shoulder, there were two cows rapidly gaining pace and heading towards us a little too fast. At this stage both myself and the dog were really scared, we tried to walk as quickly and calmly as possible, without running, and feel that we made it to the gate with moments to spare. They were so close at this point that we could have touched them, so I don’t know what their intentions were. An elderly or less fit person may have been in serious trouble, especially due to the lack of warning signs!

No injuries, but both man and dog very frightened.

Daniel’s story: Unprovoked attack, the outcome could have been much worse.

Report number: 841

Date of incident: 30/4/24

Site of incident: One of the fields that sits on Draycott Old Road in Draycott in the Moors, Staffordshire.

1 Person, no dog.

I was out for a walk in my local area as I do every evening. I always use the public footpaths, taking me through a number of fields, one of which can tend to have cattle in it. I have never had any problems in the past, however, last night was different.

After having gone over a stile and walked 5-10 meters from it, I realised there was a cow behind me to my left that was initially hidden by the hedge. This cow immediately moved towards me and got between myself and the stile, so I had nowhere to go.

The cow charged at me, head butting me to the ground before rising up on its hind legs. Luckily I was able to roll out of the way before the cow hit the ground and make for the stile. The cow chased me, so instead of using the stile I had to throw myself head first over an almost 5 foot high gate (this was to the side of the stile), landing flat on my back on hard mud that had been dried out by the sun.

I am without serious injury, just a stiff back, sore chest from the head-butt and slightly sprained wrist. My back and wrist injuries were as a result of front flipping head first over the gate. There was no provocation on my part and I did not have a dog with me—the cow was immediately aggressive and came out of nowhere.

Daniel has a question –

I am unsure what is the best thing to do after this attack. I am concerned that if I were smaller, slower or weaker than myself I would’ve been seriously hurt, and I would like to do whatever I can to stop that from happening in this particular field.

Killer Cows comment –

We agree, this situation could have resulted in far worse injuries if someone was not as quick to escape that field. We strongly advise everyone who has had a near miss or minor injury to report the incident to the Health and Safety Executive, they handle deaths and serious injuries and also those occasions where a potentially more lethal outcome could have occurred – and we know (unfortunately) that any attack by a cow is potentially extremely dangerous. https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/tell-us-about-a-health-and-safety-issue.htm

Can We Enjoy a Walk in the Countryside?

You may have heard Adrian Chiles’s radio programme discussing the safety of walking through fields of cattle, if not then head this way – Adrian Chiles – 04/04/2024 – BBC Sounds . Neither the animal behaviourist nor the representative from the NFU on the programme arrived at any conclusions about how we should behave to avoid being attacked by cows. So we ask the question – can we enjoy a walk in the countryside?

This all began because we love walking in our beautiful countryside – and it’s good for us.

The benefits of walking

Natural England has updated the Countryside Code, recognising the significant health and wellbeing benefits of spending time in nature. These benefits are important. England and Wales are blessed with a wonderful network of footpaths, allowing everyone access to our countryside so they can enjoy the benefits to both mind and body that walking in natural surroundings can bring.

But: Killer Cows have received over 800 reports of incidents in the countryside, these are from walkers who have either felt scared or been chased by cattle or, even worse, sustained injuries from cattle – some very severe. Many have been so affected they no longer feel safe enough to walk in the country and so have lost any benefit access to the countryside gave them.

So what do people suggest to do to keep safe?

Spoiled walk in Kielder Forest

Report number 819

Date of incident 15/11/23

Site of incident

55°10.536’N, 2°24.589’W What3words ///scrambles.wiring.urgent

Kielder Forest, Northumberland

No dogs, 2 people

The cows were feeding close to the entrance of the field as we approached the gate. The young cows were spooked by us as we approached and the mother cow was then standing her ground close to the entrance. We did not feel confident to enter the field with her blocking our way.

We were too scared to enter the field and had to reroute our walk.

Killer Cows comment:

“Some farmers elect to place cattle to deter walkers from crossing their land, others are ignorant of HSE advice. We don’t know whether this farmer was deliberately or unknowingly contravening HSE guidance.”

“HSE state in their guidance that cows with calves should not be sited in fields with public footpaths. Also cattle should not be fed close to the footpaths.”

Alison’s spoiled and extended walk

Report number: 818

Date of incident: 11/9/2023

Site of incident: near Tintagel, Cornwall

We were following a footpath through farmland and went over a stile and the next footpath was directly ahead following the hedge line. Unfortunately, right at the other end of the field, directly in front of the stile was the herd of cows.

So as not to spook them by walking directly towards them, we tried to go around. Unfortunately, these cows seemed territorial and were undecided as to whether they were going to allow us through or not.

They started coming towards us which did not seem like curiosity or to see if we had food. There was no where to go and my 14 year old was really scared. I tried talking calmly to them – but it made no difference. They looked like they were on the verge of charging.

In the end I made myself as big as possible with my arm out wide and clapped shouting “Back”. This caught them off guard and we managed to squeeze around them and over the stile. They quickly pursued us to the stile but luckily we were safely over. We had to re-route for the way home.

We weren’t injured, just badly frightened.

“The Bucking Bullock of Bungay”

Report number 815

Date of incident 31/8/2023

Site of incident: On Bungay Common next to the River Waveney on the edge of Bungay town, Suffolk

I had been for a swim in the River Waveney, I went through the gate that is at the end of the footbridge, onto the common, there was a herd of cows about 200m away. I didn’t have a dog.

I started to walk across the field towards the gate on the other side keeping an eye the cows all the time. One spotted me and started briskly walking towards me then bucked twice and started running towards me. I ran as fast as I could to the gate. When I got there the bullock (I think) stopped about 50m away and lost interest in me. Shocking and scary!

“There should be signs put up! This is not a remote area. I found the walk and wild swim in a guide book and the common is on the edge of a busy town so I imagine plenty of people use the common. ‘The Bucking Bullock of Bungay’ should be common knowledge by now!”