Cattle Safety

Guy’s frightening story on the Tyne and Wear Heritage Trail

Incident number: 829

Response ID: 300,231,660

Date: 21.03.24

Location: High Spen, Tyne and Wear (grid ref: NZ 13484 60569)

Guy was walking with on a circular country walk with a friend and his dog. Part of the route included the Tyne and Wear Heritage Trail, a major rambling route clearly marked on the OS App and signage. “We followed the path and the dog was on a lead at all times. While descending towards a small stream (the Coal Burn see map reference), we were mobbed by a herd of around thirty cows and at least one bull at grid location NZ 13484 60569 (Strothers Farm, High Spen). Some of the cows were visible across the field when we entered, but others and the bull were in another field we couldn’t see, through an opened gate. One cow pushed me over a barbed wire fence resulting in a lot of bruising (I will go to A&E if I have further symptoms). We called the farmer for help, who said they were not her cows but promised to contact their owner. Apparently the cows had recently chased other walkers. However nobody came to our aid and when we spoke to the farmer later on she had not been able to contact the owner of the herd. I understand the incident was on her land. We were hemmed in by the animals, some less than a meter away, for around an hour (trapped around 10:30, first call for help, after I was butted, at 10:38, police officers arrived at 11:27). Eventually we had to call the police and four officers eventually arrived and distracted the herd in order to rescue us. Although we were extremely grateful for their help and professionalism, this was not a good use of their time. It was also a very frightening incident. I’ve never known anything like it, after many years of enjoying the countryside. We were both terrified. To my mind, this represents dangerous, reckless farming. A document from the Ramblers Association appears to summarise the law https://www.ramblers.org.uk/what-we-care-about/rights-way-and-cattle. None of the recommended health and safety guidelines for farmers listed there appear to have been followed”

Stopped walking on a public path due to cattle encounter

Incident number: 826

Response ID:

Date: 30.06.23

Location: Public walk behind Otter (before reaching Spriddlestone ) in Brixton, Plymouth, Devon

May’s Story: I was walking on my own without a dog when I saw a group of cows on the public walk that goes across the field, so I tried to walk around them. Good luck I wasn’t too close because suddenly two red cows started running towards me. I ran back to the gate as fast as I could and the cows crashed hard into the fence. It was very hurtful and I’m traumatized.

May says “I don’t go back to that route no more. It’s scared me senseless even just seeing a sheep nowadays. The farmer shouldn’t have cows and calves on public walk at the same time.”

A run that had a scary end

Incident number: 825

Response ID: 296,105,674

Date: 20.12.23

Location: Between Lewes and Kingston, East Sussex

Rachael’s story:

I was running on my own without a dog on a public right of way. I saw some bullocks on the hill. They appeared very restless and were locking horns and sparring. Despite giving them a very wide berth, a large horned bullock ran at me, stopped two feet in front of me, snorting and pawing the ground. It was terrifying. I honestly think I’d have been attacked if I hadn’t looked away and very slowly walked whilst making soothing noises. I heard it following me, still angry and snorting but eventually it got bored and turned back. I was very scared and have reported this incident to the local authority.

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!”

Trampled

Response ID 294,721,170

Report number 820

When: 24/11/23

Where: Meadow Lane, Yoxall, Burton on Trent (52.7570756, -1.7784786)

My mum and I were walking on a public footpath with dogs on leads. There was a group of cows with calves on the other side of a large field, they were a way off and we weren’t concerned as our dogs are very well trained, they are used to cattle and ignore them. The cows charged towards us, we instructed our dogs to sit back from us – which they did. One cow got to my mum, pushed her over to the ground with its head and began trampling her. I then did my best to fight it off but it kept throwing me off with its horns so it could continue trampling.

Wayne’s run to escape

Response ID 293,950,292

Report Number 817

When: 12/11/23

Where: Middleton in Teesdale

https://explore.osmaps.com/pin?lat=54.62293999898196&lon=-2.0963386011188163&zoom=16

There was a group of cows with calves in the field, at the far end.

I had my dog on a lead as we walked through the field.

I was on a public footpath, walking through the field and a group of possibly 20 cows charged across the field towards us. They attacked my dog initially, throwing him into the air and then turned on me throwing me to the ground. They then tried to trample on both of us while we were on the ground.

I was able to get up and I ran, they chased us for 1/4 of a mile.

My dog is sore and possibly bruised.

I have reported this to the Health and Safety Executive, they are investigating.

Lizzy’s story – attacked by a cow whilst walking in Gower Village

Response ID 293,300,682

Report number 811

Date of the attack: 24/10/24

Where: Southgate, Nr Swansea

I was walking along Southgate Road, which is a public road with houses on one side, my dog was on a lead beside me. As I turned the bend a group of 5/6 cows were walking on the opposite side of the road towards me. I moved as close to the houses as possible. The leader cow charged me making loud noises and head butted me to the ground. It was standing over me and I was petrified it would trample me.

I crawled and staggered towards a house where builders were working. The men helped me. I was in a lot of pain and I attended hospital the next morning. I have injuries to my hands and ribs.

There is common land near the village where cattle and sheep graze but these cows regularly roam on to public paths and roads in Southgate village where the public are at risk of injury or death. The farmer doesn’t seem to care.

I have reported this attack to the local authority and the HSE.

Jonathan’s unforgettable visit to Stonehenge 31/03/1972

Response ID: 293,315,471

Report number: 812

This happened a long time ago when I was just 12 years old but remains fresh in my mind like it was yesterday. Two of my older cousins aged 19 and 22, took my brother (aged 10) and I to see the stone circle at Stonehenge. After visiting the circle, we decided to walk back using the field rather than the roadway. We were walking along a well-worn footpath without a dog. There was a group of cows in the middle of the field about 300 feet away. One of them started mooing and we didn’t notice but they started moving slowly towards us.

We did not have an inkling that cows could be dangerous as in the public mind they are considered ‘gentle’ animals. They broached up around us very quickly and had us surrounded. They acted in a very aggressive manner. Luckily, my cousin had a walking stick and waved it at them, shouting. We backed up against the field’s fence and moved slowly along it without turning our backs. Eventually we came to a gate not far away and made a quick exit.

The cows followed us all the way and stood at the gate staring. I can still remember how they looked up close, they are big animals and at 12 years old they looked huge. We were all terrified and shaken & felt lucky to escape unharmed. Heaven forbid if we were not near the fence when it happened. Since that time I have enjoyed many walks in the countryside and have steadfastly refused to walk in any field with cows even if there was a public footpath. I always skirt around them. I do not believe that cows should be allowed in fields with public rights of way or they should be fenced off from the footpath. They are dangerous animals.

We need fences separating cows from public rights of way, warning signs for the public and more public awareness of the danger.

Angela’s story – Aggressive cow attacks walkers in Cheddar Gorge

292,890,420 Report Number 806

Date: 21/10/23

Where: Cheddar gorge , Black Rock walk , grid ref: ST482546 for car park at start of walk

Who was involved: 2 walkers , no dog, single black cow with a calf

We were walking along the footpath and a lone cow and calf were coming towards us. As we passed by, not making any noise and giving them a wide berth, the cow charged at my friend and started to head butt and attack him, pushing him into the hedge with force with repeated head butting.

Charged at by a herd in Derbyshire

Report number: No. 749

Date of Incident 12 08 23

Location: Cliff Farm, Elton, Derbyshire. On public footpath.

Single person, no dog

When I entered the field the cattle and bull were lying down mostly at the bottom of the field a good distance away from me and the footpath. I didn’t see any young with them. As I started walking across the field they stood up and one started making an awful, aggressive sound. I continued calmly, didn’t change direction or pace and kept walking away from them.

There were a couple of cows very close to the footpath, they let me pass without any problem. I heard more noise, looked back and they were starting to walk quickly towards me, so I sped up as the field is quite big. When I looked back again they had start running towards me along with the two I had recently passed by. So I had to run!

I just made it to gap in the wall before the closest one reached me. I dived through and my ankle caught in the gap and fell. I hurt my ankle, shin and knee as I fell. It was a terrifying experience, the gate very close by was wide open and they could have come through there so I was still terrified as I crossed the next field. Thankfully, they stayed at the wall and continued to make aggressive noises.

Additional note – I had walked through another field previously with cattle (grid ref – SK21972 61197) I don’t know if it belongs to the same farm. This was a much smaller field and they had young with them. The cows didn’t mind me walking through, even though I had to walk straight through the herd and I had no issues, however I did notice as I was a good way over the field that there was a massive bull in there too with no signage anywhere. If it’s the same farm, it makes me think it’s a farmer with a bad attitude to walkers and rights of way.