Blog

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.”

This happens every summer in this area of Derbyshire

Incident number: 960

Response ID: 306,985,266

Date: Repeated dangers over the past 15 years

Location: New Mills, Derbyshire, SK22 4QE SJ989866 w3w inert.cornfield.games

Simon F’s story

“I’ve not put a date in this report – it’s every summer! We avoid this particular farm from May to November each year because of the aggressive bullocks they keep in the fields. The initial incident occurred when we were walking along a popular local footpath to a bench called Peggy’s Pew. The path crosses the field diagonally and the bullocks approached us, cut off the path and began to charge at us. We half held our ground and half retreated until we were at the field wall, which we then climbed to escape. Since then we enter fields around this farm cautiously and if we see the groups of bullocks approaching we turn round, leave the field and go elsewhere. If we are just doing a local walk with no real itinerary then diverting is possible. But this is not always the case for everyone and not the case for us when we’re further afield. It is not just this farm. It seems cows and bullocks are becoming increasingly aggressive. We have been chased near Whaley Bridge and took refuge in a hawthorn hedge – not sure which farm. We diverted and climbed a fence after finding bullocks blocking the track out the field at Woodends Farm above Wood Lanes near Poynton. In the same area at Platt Wood Farm I’ve left a field where the cows packed it out with no spare space and walked through the field parallel. And I see it on Strava too – runners or walkers having incidents. Last week someone’s walk was cut short by cows (Rocks Farm off Whaley Moor) or last summer someone out with their young daughter in a pushchair had to leap a fence with pushchair to avoid cows. But when you read the sad stories on this website, and given the increasing frequency of incidents, I agree with your campaign’s argument that it should be the farmer that is responsible for stopping these incidents occurring and not blocking footpath access with aggressive cattle.”

Cows were different to normal – all black in colour!?!

Incident number: 958

Response ID: 306,985,033

Date: 30.06.24

Location: Near Stoke Gabriel Devon  (What 3 words /// materials.double.survive)

Pete’s story

“The herd were not that far away when I entered the field, but I’m fairly used to walking through fields with cattle in this area. These were different than normal, all black in colour. I walked across the field, dog on lead, and they began to follow as a group. As we neared the gate on the far side, the lead animal started getting very close and aggressive, luckily the gate was near by now, so we just got through as the rest of the herd arrived. Very scary, though no injury.

I would like to see a national reporting site that can be followed up and acted on by HSE – eg warning livestock owners of incidents, dealing with rogue animals.”

Walking back to Combs Valley campsite – badly frightened

Incident number: 954

Response ID: 306,984,422

Date: 06.05.24

Location: Near Chapel en le Frith Derbyshire (What 3 words ///entry.meanders.cried)

KB’s story

“Two of us were walking back to combs valley campsite from the nearby golf course. We didn’t have a dog with us. Once in the same “fenced off area” as the cows, we noticed them dancing about but they were quite far off so we didn’t worry. There was a row of trees which we walked on the other side of from the cows. This meant we didn’t see them coming but suddenly they burst out from the main part of the field and we found ourselves stuck between the trees/bushes and a group of at least 5-7 angry looking cows. The leader of which seemed determined to hit us. My partner wanted to run but I stopped and started talking calmly to the cow, facing it. After an intense face off the lead cow decided to run away and the rest of them followed. We then quickly scrambled to the nearest fence and climbed over it with a tree, scraping ourselves mildly in the process. We weren’t injured but have been both since quite scared of any pasture with cows and now often avoid them and walk on roads. We met the farmer on our way out who said they were young cows and was friendly but also seemed to laugh it off, while we were just so happy to be out of there unharmed.”

Hadrian’s wall – diverted from national trail because of cattle

Incident number: 951

Response ID: 306,983,569

Date: 06.05.24

Location: Approx Grid ref 334592 – Hadrian’s Wall path near Beaumont

JRT’s Story

“Two of us were walking along Hadrian’s wall with our dog on a lead. A group of young cattle charged towards us as soon as we entered the field. They came thundering over and fortunately we were able to leave the field the way we came in. The path – a national trail – was blocked by these animals and we and other walkers had to track back along the road as there was no other option.”

I had to throw myself over a barbed wire fence to escape

Incident number: 947

Response ID: 306,981,823

Date: 23.08.24

Location:    Near South Nutfield, Surrey (What 3 Words ///chairing.erase.straddled)

Matt’s Story

“I was walking on my own without a dog. I entered the field through the kissing gate. Group of about 5 cows and possibly calves nearby which ignored me. Went through the field on RoW to discover it was shut by Network Rail at the exit from the field. I returned along the path, one of the cows ran at me and butted me. I had to throw myself over a barbed wire and hawthorn field boundary damaging my clothing and causing numerous deep lacerations to my legs”

!Warning to walkers on Teeside Way Romaldkirk!

Incident number: 945

Response ID: 306,831,907

Date: 08.09.24

Location: On the Teeside Way going out of Romaldkirk (What 3 words ///faces.crusher.bleaching)  OS Grid NY 99699 22533

RW’s story

“Two of us were walking on a public footpath with our dog on a lead. We approached the field and saw just a couple of cows immediately ahead of us. As we walked up the footpath one particular black cow got very excited and charged at us. More cows and calves (which would have stopped us coming into the field) appeared. The situation degenerated and we were forced up against a wall. My wife with one dog just got out in time over a fence into the adjacent field next to a cemetery. I was knocked to the ground and I managed to get up and help my dog over a 6. Ft stone wall. I then managed to scramble over the fence my wife had climbed over.

I think I have probably cracked some ribs. I’ve played 30+ years of rugby and I know what a severe rib injury is. This is probably up there with the worst of them.

We’re not naive walkers and we understand the dangers of cows with calves. (My wife was bought up on a dairy farm and knows livestock) As there was no sign we hold the farmer solely responsible for this. He should be prosecuted in the same way I’d be prosecuted if my dog attacked someone or his/her livestock. Changes should be made such that farmers include this information about calves by law. This path was the Teeside Way!!! Not some sleepy backwater. I’d like incidents like this to be recorded and published.”

Unprovoked near miss Torver Coniston

Incident number: 944

Response ID: 306,806,682

Date: 07.09.24

Location: Public bridleway heading to Torver Coniston.

Imogen’s story

“Me and my partner were walking to a pub, very short walk from where we were staying. The entire way was a public footpath /bridleway. Around halfway into the walk my dog decided to eat something off the ground and get seeds stuck to his face, my partner was only a few feet in front of me so I called him back to help me. After this I looked up to see a cow around 100 meters away from us up a hill and it just came charging at us with no warning, I was panicking but couldn’t get my words out and trying to get to the gate in front of us with my dog and partner. We managed to get to the gate in time and my partner pushed it through it and shut the gate. The cow mooed loudly and walked off. The field clearly had a wall that had fallen down but the cow could have easily got to us. My dog did not bark or make any movements towards the cow and was on a lead the whole time. This was very scary and I am shook up.”