Risborough Walker

Henry wants more protection for walkers so they can cross fields safely.

Report number: 979
Date of incident: 30/6/2017
Location: ///Leopard.Riverboat.Soonest. Between Stanton Prior, BA2 9HT and Bath Spa University campus,

Group of cows involved, black angus, red angus, Angus/Hereford cross, lone walker, no dog

Report: “I had passed through the field the day before and observed the cows were very alert and territorial, despite there being no observable calves. On that occasion I decided to leave the field through a fence as I was uncomfortable walking further. The day of the attack I was walking in the opposite direction, from Stanton Prior to Bath Spa University, where I was a student. I entered the field via the footpath and saw the cows on the far side of the field, approx. 400m away. With so much distance between us I felt reasonably ok about walking through, despite my encounter with them the previous day. However, as I continued to walk, keeping a close eye at all times, they gradually began to notice my presence and turned towards me. I kept walking as they were still far away, but then the herd began to move in my direction. I had already picked an exit point to get to if needed and I began to slowly move in the direction of the gap in the hedgerow by the fence. As I was moving away they began to run towards me in a long line, with one cow breaking off and running down the fence line. I was able to get over the fence just before the cow reached me. Had I not been aware of the herd’s previous behaviour and picked an exit route, I’m not sure I would have made it away unscathed. The hedgerow was thick and there were long stretches without exit points. The method the cattle used with one running along the fence line and the remainder spread out and running towards the fence line would have made outrunning them very difficult. I had no dog, was moving cautiously and always keeping distance. In other words this was totally unprovoked and potentially very serious. I filmed the entire encounter as I was so concerned something might happen.”

“I informed the farmer who didn’t take the incident seriously and told me how nice the cows were. This incident totally changed the way I walk in the country, especially around livestock. I will not enter a field with cows again as a result of this.”

Henry comments ” there should be more signage, more communication that this can happen to anyone, not just dog walkers. More exit routes in fields. Ideally more protection for ramblers/walkers so they can cross fields in safety. I used the route as my commute to university and work. Without crossing the field, my walk increased from 20 minutes to 1hr. I had no other method of transportation.”

Raced at by bullocks

Report number: 978
Incident date: 5/9/2022
Location: Berry Pomeroy – walking on public right of way path from the village up through huge field to head towards castle.

Lone walker, dog on lead.

Report: “The field from the village is huge and slopes up so you cannot see when entering if livestock are in there. It’s a circular walk from Berry Pomeroy village to the castle and back. As I got to the brow of the hill I saw a huge group of (what I presume were) bullocks They were a long way off but when they saw me they came racing down and started bombing me and hitting the hedge around me and my dog. I was about 20m away from the gate so I ran for it as they were getting more aggressive. I just managed to get through the gate and they ran into the gate after me (colliding with it.) I was terrified. Stupidly I didn’t take my dog off lead.”

“I had to get a friend to drive to collect me as the only way back to village was along a well-used B road that people use as a rat run to Paignton/Torbay and that has no footpaths. The bullocks were still at gate when my friend picked me up an hour later from the castle. I’m surprised no one has been killed in that field. A notice should be put up to warn hikers! I’ve never gone back.”

Cows give chase

Report number: 977
Date of incident:30/8/2024
Location: Lugwardine, field next to river Lugg, Herefordshire

Group of cows, no dog, 2 people.

Report: “We entered the field and didn’t see the cows immediately as they were at the other end and around a curve in the path. When we saw them I got my son to walk nearer to me. We couldn’t see the exit on the path so we stopped and decided to keep well away from the herd and cut across diagonally away from them. Then they stopped eating and all looked at us, then started to run at us, still a distance away. I told my son to run and I was more of a jog and they chased us but when we went back around the curve in the field they didn’t keep up the chase. I knew cows could be dangerous but never actually had an incident like this, scary with an 8 year old.”

Patricia J wants to raise awareness of the many lesser incidents caused by cattle

Report number: 976
Date of incident: 28/2/2017
Location: Approximate grid reference SD 96391 18581. Part of the Pennine Way at Blackstone Edge, Littleborough, nearest postcode OL15 0LG.

3 walkers, no dog.

Report “We were taking a leisurely walk on the Pennine Way public pathway, along the moors between Blackstone Edge and Light Hazzles Reservoir, with my partner’s elderly mother, who was visiting with us. Although fit for her age, Ruth was in her late 70s at the time. We wanted to show her the view of our cottage from the path, which, there and back, should have been an approximately 20 minute walk.”

“Having shown her the breath-taking view, we had just begun the walk back when we saw the path ahead was now blocked by a large group of mostly horned cattle. The amount of them – around 15 – was intimidating, particularly as many were horned and staring at us. They began to move towards us when we attempted to edge towards them. As they were straddled across the only path between very wild, stony and wet, peaty terrain, we had no real choice except to turn and go in the opposite direction. We ended up walking over six miles to get back to our car. My elderly Mother in law really struggled. She never complained but it was clear she was in some pain and it really badly affected her walking ability for months afterwards.”

“Although this happened some years ago, I believe it’s still relevant to report this incident. At the time we didn’t know who to contact or report it to. There were no warning signs, if there had been, we probably would have avoided the area. neither was there any clear indication of who the cattle belonged to. The moorland there is public and very popular with walkers, so I believe it’s likely there’s been many other unreported incidents. We’ve seen the cows up there, from a distance, quite a few times, including earlier this year (and avoided walking there as a result).”

“Although luckily, none of us were directly injured, our encounter did have a bad and long-lasting impact, particularly on my mother-in-law’s health and confidence. I believe my mother-in-law saw her GP when she returned home, as she was still suffering considerable leg/back pain weeks later.”

“The truly horrific injuries rightfully should make the headlines, but there should also be awareness of the many lesser incidents that go unreported. I applaud your campaign for shining a light on these.”

“I wish there was some sort of law to ensure farmers take responsibility for keeping their animals safely penned in particularly when close to or on public land/paths. We live in a semi-rural area and often encounter loose horses and sheep as well as the odd cow. It’s frightening for us and also terrifying – and often injurious – for the animals concerned. Thank you for campaigning to bring more awareness to this issue.”

5 bullocks leaping towards Grace!

Report number: 975
Date of incident: 8/8/2024
Location: ///outreach.cabbies.bullion Nr Burton, Pembrokeshire

Report: ” I was on holiday in this area, so not familiar with it. I followed a public footpath sign, which took me over a stile into a field, my map indicated the exit was at the top middle of the field. I had a sense the footpath was fairly unused, as the access to the stile was overgrown. There was no clear path once in the field, so I stuck to the left edge. At the top of the field there was an adjoining field separated by a waist high barbed wire fence in which 5 large bullocks (I think) were grazing. I saw them from about 50m and slowed my walk and aimed to walk further away from the fence towards the exit at the top of the field – always on the other side of the fence to them. However, my presence startled one of them which then startled all of them and they ran away from me. The field they were in was quite small which meant that when they got to the edge of it they then turned back round together and ran towards the fence separating the two fields we were respectively in. All five bullocks jumped the waist high barbed wire fence into the field I was stood in, about 15m away from me!

This all happened really quickly. I am extremely lucky they seemed to have just been spooked rather than aggressive towards me and so ran across the field in a different direction. I assume this happened, I didn’t see as I was extremely panicked, adrenaline kicked in and I ran back in the direction I came (I am 30yo and fairly fit), it was the only viable exit about 100m away, the hedge was too dense to get through/too high to climb. I was very fortunate to have gotten away uninjured, but, as I watched them jump the fence I mentally prepared myself to be trampled and probably die. I have never been so scared.”

“I didn’t report the incident as I wasn’t aware there was anyone to report to.”

“In this case, a dated sign at the beginning of the footpath to alert me to the risk would’ve been valuable. I would’ve likely not got into the field. I think locals don’t use it, but unsuspecting holiday makers might.”

HD: “This incident has made me nervous in a place where I previously felt entirely comfortable.”

Report Number: 974
Date of incident: 31/7/2024
Location: handwriting.tortoises.unwraps – Location is somewhat approximate, but I was heading downhill on the public bridleway from the Pennine Way above Moorfield towards the junction with Derbyshire Level.

Report: “I was walking downhill on the public bridleway – a walk I do everyday in the evening during which I have never seen anything but sheep in this particular section – when I spotted a lone cow almost directly parallel to me across the gully. The cow spotted me and began to move at the same pace. When I sped up slightly, as I had begun to feel frightened, the cow matched my speed. This continued until we approached the point where our paths were due to converge. By this point I was rather scared, so I started to run. The cow copied my actions and rushed towards me. I was forced to break into a sprint and head for the gate. The land is very rough there and I stumbled a few times with the cow still on my tail. Luckily I was just far enough ahead to make it to safety. When I reached the gate I threw myself over it and the cow suddenly stopped short and simply continued to stare. My experience is not much compared with the awful ordeals of others listed here, but I was really terrified for a few minutes and I developed palpitations shortly afterwards. It has made me very wary of returning to a walk I had been enjoying as part of my regular exercise for months.

I now make my ascent on the other side of the valley and use Wormstones as a vantage point to determine whether there are any cows present on that day in the way of my descent. If so, I adjust my circular walk and am forced to complete a linear route instead. It has made me nervous in a place where I previously felt entirely comfortable and which was very beneficial for my mental health.

Put simply cows should never be in a field with public access. That is the only solution in my view. Better signage and communication from the farmer can still not wholly prevent injury and death to walkers simply wishing to enjoy the outdoors unmolested. I would also like to see farmers held to account more rigorously for serious incidents.”

Mike is trampled by an aggressive cow

Report number 971
Date of incident: 23/5/2022
Location: swung.fever.quiz nr Cwmoody Wales

Group of cows with calves in the field, they were a Charolais/Limousin cross.

Account: ” I was crossing a field on a public footpath with my dog on a lead. A cow was resting under some trees, spotted me and raced across towards me. The cow initially attacked my dog. I tried to save my dog and was then attacked by the most aggressive cow. I was knocked to the ground and butted by this aggressive cow. I tried to get up a couple of times and was knocked back down. Eventually I managed to get to a round bale feeder and sort refuge where I rang the emergency services for help.

I suffered extensive bruising and cuts to my face and severely bruised or broken ribs, I was assessed by paramedics at the scene and a helicopter landed at the location an ambulance was present also. Plus half dozen police officers. I was advised to go to hospital but refused because of my personal circumstances. I I signed a release form accepting responsibility for my own well-being and was sent home. My dog had a limp for sometime after the attack.”

Lucky Lucy escapes a stampede

Report number: 970
Date of incident: 28/2/2015
Location: Nr Oswestry, Shropshire ///lies.footpath.internet

Report “I was walking along the footpath, on my own, with no dog, at the place previously mentioned. 20 to 30 bullocks were in the field. They were pretty frisky and interested in me and started heading towards me when I entered the field. They followed me along the hedge line but I wasn’t too worried as cattle do get interested in visitors and I knew they would back off if I stopped and approached them. They started to get a bit closer and broke into a gallop. I stopped and jumped towards them to get them to back off. The nearest to me veered away but those behind hadn’t seen my signal and ploughed on toward me. The inertia of the herd left them no choice but to barge into me, knocking me down. Lucky I was next to a barbed wire line and was knocked under it and into the hedge. The bullocks thundered past and it was only by chance that I wasn’t trampled as my head and legs were only inches from their hooves. The barbed wire ripped my clothes and left some quite deep scratches in my back and side and the hedge left me with bruises and scratches. I lay there for a short time in a bit of shock I suppose.

The cattle had wandered off and I got out of the field and carried on my walk. I think I realised a short time later how lucky I was and headed home for a sit down. I suffered barbed wire scratches to my back and scratches from the hedge.

I’ve been around cattle my whole life and thought I understood them. I’d been with stampeding cattle before and they usually swerve if challenged. In this case, the topography and way the herd was closely packed meant that most of the herd didn’t see my challenge and continued their stampede. I would have ducked through the hedge had I thought there was a chance most of the herd wouldn’t see my challenge.”

Scared walker -“Either fence the cattle off from the path or do not put them in a field with a public footpath.”

Incident number: 941

Date of incident: 30/6/2024
Location: Gregynog Estate near Tregynon, Powys. Footpath between Skew Bridge and Gregynog Estate footbridge.

Group of cattle – “I don’t know what. No time to stop and look.”
No dog, single walker.

Account: “I was walking bang on the path. I know because I have GPS. The cows approached me at a trot. I had no stick so I had to wave my coat. They speeded up. It was terrifying. I was so scared I was screaming at them to GO AWAY, waving my coat at them. They just kept running at me from different angles. I had nowhere to go. It is a big field and I wasn’t near any edge.”

Further comment: “Either fence the cattle off from the path or do not put them in a field with a public footpath.”

Lisa asks “Why are farmers allowed to keep bullocks in fields with public rights of way?”

Incident number: 939

Date of incident: 29/8/2024

Location: What3words Patrol.kicks.classmate . Whitehall near Hemyock

Group of bullocks
No dog, single walker

Account: “I started into the field, no cows present. They came from the left at the far end of the field and were just 3 or 4. Soon there were at least 15, I didn’t count. They started to watch me so I skirted away a bit, though they were close to my exit. In a few moments they gathered around me. I kept walking and speaking in as calm a voice as possible. I could hear them trotting behind me and I was quickly surrounded. I just kept going, from the left and slightly behind they all began to run together, like a stampede, but thankfully I attained the gate. A lady renting the house beside the field, owned by the farmer, asked what had happened as she had seen me in the field.

It was terrifying. I had no idea whether they would run towards me, I had no stick to fend them off. Completely upsetting, I felt fortunate to be unhurt.”

Comment: “I still feel very distressed, lucky to be uninjured. I had no help and could easily have been hurt.
Why are farmers allowed to keep bullocks/ bulls in public rights of way? At least without warning. It shows lack of any care for those whose right it is to be there.”

JJ has several bad encounters with cattle

Incident No. 938

Date of Incident. 29/08/24

Location. Perrydale Farm, Sparrowpit, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, SK178ES

Account “I had decided to walk down the road rather than across the footpath I had taken earlier as I had already been chased by a herd of cows. As I walked down the track I realised another herd was roaming free across the track and was blocking the path. I tried to walk as far away as I could, slowly and calmly. The young cows began to bolt around and as I passed 2 of the young cows began to rear up and run at me. I managed to get behind a wall and out onto the main road, I was so terrified by this.”

“During this walk trying to tick off 3 popular Ethels* I was plagued by cows –

>I was chased or approached in 2 fields,

>completely unable to cross 1 field due to aggressive cows hanging around the stile

>I had to leave a footpath and cross into another field over barbed wire due to a cow that had escaped it’s field,

>paralysed by fear walking down another bridleway because of several cows on a path that were stamping feet at me (thankfully a group of bikers appeared and helped me past)

>and then finally when I tried to choose a longer, less safe route back to the start (including a 2k walk on a busy country road with no pavement) I was chased by these bullocks.

I’m so angry that farmers can take no effort to protect walkers from harm and there is no recourse – even if that harm is sheer terror (have previously been attacked and harmed by cows)”

“I have tried to find contact information for the farmer but can’t find any.”

*Ethels – https://peakdistrictwalks.net/peak-district-ethels-list/ – Killer cows hadn’t heard of Ethels!

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.