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Incident number: 943

Response ID: 306,653,816

Date: 30.08.24

Location: Near Whitton, Shropshire. (What 3 words besotted.dividing.curving)

I was walking with my dog who was off the lead but walking at my side close enough that you would not have noticed it was not on a lead. We were following the public footpath along the field edge and had seen the cows (about 15 or 20) on entering the field, but as they were 150 or so meters into the field and 30 or so meters in from the footpath and laying down I did not consider them a risk. As we drew level with them several of them stood up and started to gesture that they were not happy about our presence. We moved on quickly and the ones that had stood began to move towards us at a pace that was gaining on us. We picked up speed and so did they until we were running, and thankfully they gave up their pursuit. The dog didn’t seem bothered just surprised to see me move at such a pace; I however was quite shaken and will think more than twice before ever entering a field of cows again.

Tony says “I would like to see all cattle fenced off from public footpaths and bridleways etc. It is insufficient for farmers to consider liability insurance sufficient and there need to be more prosecutions when incidents occur. Many of these public rights of way existed long before the field configurations they now cross and almost certainly the cattle have come after the right of way. It is unacceptable that the public have to face these risks while enjoying these rights of way and must be protected!”

Incident number: 942

Response ID: 306,604,784

Date: 31.05.24

Location: llandiloes Gwestyn Map reference SN887861 approx.

Two incidents in the same place. In both incidents I was walking on my own without a dog.

1. Walked from a public footpath north east of Gwestyn onto the bridleway leading west from Gwestyn. Cattle in the field with the bridleway came running at speed towards me and started to crowd round me. I ran at them and they ran away but came back again. After two or three further attempts to run at them I had to climb a barbed wire fence into another field to escape them. I cut my hand and ripped my trousers on the barbs.

2. A different day, walking east south east from Gwestyn on same bridleway. The cattle were further east from Gwestyn on this occasion. Same problem again. They came running at me, gathering round. I had to climb barbed wire again to get into the next field.

Our reporter says “It should not be legal to keep cattle in the same field as a public right of way. It’s no good specifying breeds etc. There have been too many accidents and near misses. It is too terrifying and lots of people I know will simply not enter a field where there are cattle, meaning they are prevented from using their legal right to walk on any right of way they choose. Farmers should be forced to fence off sections of path or put electronic collars on cattle that control where they can go. Or could hand held cattle scaring devices be developed just like the anti dog devices you used to be able to buy that are (sadly) not seen any more?”

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.

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.”