Cattle Safety

Trapped on a tow path near Arundel

Incident number: 876
Date of incident: 18.05.24
Site: Tow path next to river Arun – going north from Arundel/Burpham on side of North Stoke- last field leading out to the Gurkha Bridge. In the past I have come across a very similar scenario in the field on the direct opposite side of the Arun (same farm/farmers?) but that time was able to turn round immediately as I could see them from the stile)

Description: I got half way across the field and met group of heifers on the path (about a dozen). The river was to my right and flood plain to my left so I had little choice but to continue or turn back (4 miles detour to where I was going!) – they looked bit lively so I decided to turn back.

My dog is a small puppy and just stayed by my side. As I walked back the whole group started following then trotting after us and some of them bucking whilst also fighting between them to get to the front – with about 5 yards left I decided I had to leave the dog and slip down to the river (very tidal!) or run.

I decided to sprint (luckily at 65 I’m pretty fit). I hurdled the stile with the whole herd inches behind me. Of my 65 years this was one of the scariest moments in my life! I took some photos of the heifers from the other side of the stile. I then had to walk the whole 4 miles back to where I started as the only other bridge is in Arundel town centre.
I had no injury but was badly frightened.

Comment: I normally don’t have problems with cows in a field as long as you can avoid them/take a wide berth and can exit the field in an emergency. Both these experiences were on tow paths where you are very vulnerable with nowhere else to go that is safe. My previous experience I mentioned in this area was over a year ago so clearly heifers being on the tow path in this area is not uncommon.

Jim and his friends met an aggressive herd

Report number: 844

Date of incident: 28/04/24

Site of incident: https://w3w.co/anyway.daffodils.laptops, Stanford Bishop, Malvern Hills

No Dog, 4 people

While attempting to walk on a footpath near Stanford Bishop (exact location was ///anyway.daffodils.laptops https://w3w.co/anyway.daffodils.laptops ) on Sunday 28 April at 2.40pm we were charged by a herd of bullocks and bulls and had it not been for a telegraph pole which we were able to use as a shield we would surely have been in more danger. We had entered the field on the signed footpath via the stile (in poor condition) from the west. We were sat down by a telegraph pole just eating some sandwiches when the cows (young bullocks we assume) started approaching. They seemed very interested in us so we got up. A couple were very skittish and were jumping and kicking in the air. A few kind of charged us only backing off at the last moment as we tried to stand our ground by the pole for safety. We eventually had to leave the field via the way we entered because the herd were not backing down and we were afraid of not having any safe way out of the field. So we sadly had to do a complete turnaround and find an alternative route.

There were four of us in the group, middle-aged men, no dogs with us, all seasoned walkers and were all shocked by how aggressive the herd was. We did nothing to antagonise them and despite trying to shoo them and stand our ground it was clear we would not be able to cross the field safely. I think less experienced walkers might have suffered a different fate. The herd did not want us back.

We weren’t injured, but frightened

We’d like better signage, and ideally fencing being required by law so that designated public footpaths are safe to use in the country – other farmers have clearly taken far more care and attention over such things than this one.

Mags just wants to walk a footpath in safety

Incident number: 877
Date: 31.05.24
Site: Field next to the Gate hangs Well pub, Syston. Near Lewin Bridge; roundabout where A607 & A46 cross.
I was on my own, no dog.

I’d planned the walk as it involved specific canal features, which I really wanted to see. I approached the field from the pub garden and I could hear the cows mooing and bellowing. When I went to the first gate to enter the field, they were staring at me, & the leader of the mob had head erect and kind of “alert” ears. From previous experiences, they give you a cursory glance, if that, and ignore you. I did think something wasn’t right, but told myself not to be silly. (Doesn’t matter now, as I’ll never enter a field of cows again. )

The cows were down the other end of field. I was crossing obliquely, away from them, from waymarker to waymarker. Suddenly one cow walked towards me, then the others followed. I went through a gate to exit their field and continue the walk, the cattle gathered round it watching me leave. Unfortunately, I couldn’t continue along the track as it was far too muddy, so I had no choice but to return. One cow was still in the gate, but moved when I got there. When I got through, they all started mooing and following me and I was almost surrounded. The cattle at the back started running, moving towards the gate I needed to get through to get out of that field, but luckily I just reached it before them. When I was through, they all stood blocking the gate; I haven’t been so scared since being followed on a towpath a few years ago. I thought I was going to be trampled to death. I will never enter a field with even one cow again.

It’s a waymarked public footpath, mentioned on maps and in walking guides. You can’t avoid crossing that field if you want to do that walk.

Mag’s final comment: Every field of cows that’s on a walking route should have a phone number so you can contact the farmer. On a previous occasion a gate on a walk near Kenilworth Castle was completely blocked by a herd of cows. I was going to turn back, but a couple came and shooed them away – with difficulty, and we all walked through together. But that’s it now; I’ve had it with cows and am reverting to my previous policy of not entering if there’s even one cow. I’ve been lucky twice, and won’t be so lucky again, I’m sure.

Very frightened by cattle

Incident number: 875
Date of incident: 30.05.24

Site: Llyn Eiddwen, Bronnant, Ceredigion | The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales nature reserve
Group of cows with calves present in field, large brown ones, not Jersey but similar colour.

I had two border collies with me, both were on leads as I entered a field by this nature reserve which leads down to the lake. There were no animals present in the field as far as I could see. I assumed the field was a part of the nature reserve as it led down to the lake, which the reserve is named after, there was nothing at all to indicate it was not part of the reserve.

I went down to the lake and stayed there for about five minutes. When I turned around a group of cows and calves had surrounded the gate, the only exit. I had no choice but to go and walk through them as there was no other way out. They had not been evident at the start and must have come over the brow of the hill.

I was terrified but hoped they would scatter when I approached them. They did move away slightly but then two of them approached me, they were very large, the dogs were barking at them. I was very scared and just moved past as fast as I could and ran to the gate and managed to open it and get through. I was shaking and terrified, I have never been so scared. There were about six or seven cows and several calves.

My dogs are safe but both were very frightened.

There were NO warning signs, private property signs or any indication whatsoever that there were cows or that this field was not part of the reserve. When I got home I did a lot of checking and that field is NOT part of the Nature Reserve – however is is RIGHT NEXT to the parking space and appears to be the way to enter the reserve.
I have reported this to Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales who are responsible for the nature reserve.

Comment: I was horrified by this, I’ve never been so scared in my entire life. It is criminal there is no notice up on a wildlife trust nature reserve, what if I’d had young kids with me? There was no other way out apart from up a steep boggy slope or possibly going all the way around a lake but there appeared to be a barbed wire fence halfway along. It is NOT good enough. Thanks for running this website – someone has to do it.

We threw ourselves over the gate!

Incident number: 874
Date of incident: 18.05.24
Site: SX868968
Type of cow: Group of heifers
No dog

We entered the field carefully closing the gate behind us. As soon as the gate was secured the cows started mooing and moving towards us. We quickened our pace and one cow started bucking excitedly close by. They followed us closely at a distance of about 1 metre. I talked to them calmly throughout, trying to reduce their aggression. We reached the opposing gate, very closely followed by the cattle, we didn’t have time to open it and threw ourselves over, my partner bruising her leg on the hurried descent.

Injury: Not injured but badly frightened

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.

I have never seen cows like this before!!!

Incident number: 853

Response ID: 302,464,247

Date: 16/05/24

Location: Hadlow, Tonbridge

Dudley’s story: “I was walking on my own with my dog. Having walked dogs through cows fields for the last 40 years it was just another walk with a dog, on the lead, through a cow field. As per usual the cows were inquisitive and came up to sniff my dog’s nose, who in turn, licked the cows nose. After a couple of minutes I decided to carry on my walk. Like most days the cows follow us for a bit, about 4/5 of them. But today, as I was trying to leave them, the cow reared up making weird snorting noises!! This was some sort of call to all the other cows in the field and 20 odd more came running over, mainly huge cows with full udders. Their tails were flicking and heads swaying from side to side, they looked very agitated and virtually surrounded us. I shouted at them to move like I usually do, this time they wouldn’t. The snorting cow was still rearing up, like a horse, about 6 feet away and still looking mad! Eventually with lots of shouting and clapping I managed to slowly edge away to the gate, with a slightly pounding heart!! I have never seen the cows like this before!”

Two incidents same day in North Yorkshire Moors on popular walking routes/ Cleveland Way.

Incident number: 852

Response ID: 302,416,861

Date: 12/05/24

Location: Two incidents in North Yorkshire Moors on popular walking routes/ Cleveland Way.

Kevins Story:

“The first incident was in a field in Middleton-on-Leven that leads towards the road to Hutton Rudby, near Middlesborough. The second instance was around the Wainstones whilst walking a stretch of the Cleveland Way. The Wainstones are a place of scenic interest and the Cleveland Way is a national walkway.

The Middleton on Leven Cows: I was on the path from Bullister Gill as it meets with Scarth Wood and then emerges at Middleton on Leven. The field is the public walkway that forms the last part of this stretch. I was hiking through to the N.Yorks Moors. I saw the field and that the cows had young with them. I couldn’t see an alternate route. When I entered the field there were some moos, but nothing too severe. Once I dipped out of sight behind the gorse bushes, following the hedgerow to the exit point, the mooing became more alarmed. They weren’t charging, and were cautiously continuing to approach. I hopped the style without further incident.

The second encounter was trivial for myself personally, however the potential risk of harm or injury from cows is definitely above average. From the opposite hill these cows were visually larger than average,. Once the visible ones had grouped, I made my way to the Wainstones without incident. I thought that once up in the stones the cows wouldn’t be likely to handle the steeper terrain. I was wrong! There were huge hoof prints up through the Wainstones and right along the moortop until the next boundary wall, something like a quarter of a mile or more! Given the isolated terrain, the cliff edges and difficult terrain, plus this being a scenic point of interest and a national hiking route, these cows pose a significant risk. I’m uncertain of the breed, but they were twice the size of dairy cows and could handle mountainous terrain like a walk in the park. The calves cleared 50 metres or so in a matter of seconds. And with such a wide roaming area through gates into different boundaries there is few options for escape. Again no incident here for myself, but the risk assessment of the scenario definitely places this area above the average.”

Kevin wants “Balanced laws and public insurance policies by law for farmers, safe and secure boundaries that protect both cattle and people from harm by law, signs of risks of injury or death to humans by law where boundaries would be difficult or where scenic beauty ruined. All maps and apps to include cattle risks by law, no livestock dangerous to humans to be kept on places of scenic interest, national trails, or public rights of way by law, no livestock dangerous to humans to be kept on land more than half a mile from the farm of ownership by law, and farm ownership and contact numbers to be placed visibly clear on risk associated signs at entry and exit points to the walkways and on all cattlefields as rights to access aren’t always easy to discern.”

A herd of cows charged with no warning!

Incident number: 851

Response ID: 302,275,824

Date: 11/05/24

Location: Rigsby, Lincolnshire

We were a group of 6 people walking through a field along designated public footpaths with no dogs. A herd of young cows charged without any warning or being provoked. We managed to get through gate before anyone was injured but here was a high risk that someone could have been killed or seriously injured.

The reporter of this incident said “Where a footpath goes through a field, either cows are not to be kept in the field or the footpath routed around the side of the field with a suitable fence or barrier to protect the walker”