I dropped the dogs’ leads – and ran for my life.
On the 26/11/2019, I was walking with my friend along a public bridleway through a field, near Lartington, County Durham. (Grid Ref NZ015168).
We’d already been through several fields of sheep and cattle, with my two dogs, both on a short lead. Continue reading “Sophie’s Story: chased by a bellowing cow”
They all seemed very agitated and a few broke into a run.
On the 3rd October, this year, I was walking on my own in the Lambley Dumbles, Nottinghamshire. I was walking across a field of cattle, using the footpath, when one single cow started to charge for me. Continue reading “Josh’s story: agitated cattle”
More stories from walkers who have met aggressive cattle.
Recently, we have posted a series of reports that describe nasty injuries caused by cattle attacks. Of course, for every person injured, there are many more who have been badly frightened, who have been forced to turn back from a walk, or have had to make a hasty exit from a field of cattle.
Here are three such stories of ruined walks. Continue reading “Three near misses”
It charged, and we ran for our lives.
On the 10th September, I was walking along a public footpath in a field between Bidborough Woods and Southborough Woods in Kent. I was on my own with my dog and saw no warning signs about cattle. There was long grass on either side of the path, and my dog was about 20 feet behind me. Continue reading “Mike’s Story – charged by a cow”
Our footpaths should be safe, particularly in an area promoted as a place for recreational walking.
Recently we published Abigail’s story, where she describes being pushed from cow to cow before being knocked to the ground. (You can read her account of the cattle attack here.)
Since posting the story, Abigail has sent us photos of her injuries. Her leg was badly bruised and required stitching and repeat dressings.
They went for my dog, and then surrounded me.
On the 23rd July 2019, I was walking with my dog on a public footpath along the western shore of Coniston, in the Lake District. We encountered a group of cows on the footpath. They went for my dog, and then surrounded me, pushing me from cow to cow. Continue reading “Abigail’s story: pushed from cow to cow”
I lifted my legs up and started kicking the attacking cows in the face
On the 8th September, this year, I was walking on a public footpath near Ashbourne in Derbyshire. I was on my own with my dog on a lead.
I saw a group of cows were in the field I was about to enter. They were heifers and brown in colour. I normally have no problem dealing with cows, so I entered and began to walk across the field. Continue reading “Andy’s story: knocked down on a walk”
I was knocked to the ground, and repeatedly kicked and head butted
On the 11th August this year, I was walking with my dog on a public right of way, near Shipton under Wychwood, Oxfordshire.
I noticed the cows in the distance, and so I called my dog to my side, put her on a short lead and made her walk to heel. She is a Labrador and is used to being walked around livestock. Continue reading “Lucy’s story: Butted and trampled”
Maybe I should just pack wire cutters?
I was on a public footpath in Anglesey with a companion, and we were headed downhill east from Bod Feddau (shown on 1:25000 OS explorer Anglesey East) through a field at SH593797. We saw some bullocks in the field, and we took a low key detour to avoid the field they were in. We had no dog with us.
There was a connecting gate we hadn’t noticed. The bullocks caught sight of the pair of us and came at us at a gallop. We climbed over a couple of barbed wire fences to avoid them, getting our clothes ripped in the process.
Getting very fed up with similar incidents on Anglesey. Many farmers seem to be obstructing the footpaths with problem cattle. There were approx 25 bulls in this incident and they looked to be at least 10 months old, and possibly Limousin; which seem to be common locally. Getting to the point when I’ll just pack wire cutters to make escape easier and safer.
I’ve reported it to the council but have had no reply.
To my left – field of angry cows. To my right – big metal fence.
On Saturday 13th July, I went on a day trip to Arundel on my own. It was my day off from the summer school I am teaching at and so I welcomed the chance to get out and explore the local area. Continue reading “Steven’s Story: a terrifying encounter”
We ended up retracing our steps and going through private property to find a road.
On the 3rd July, this year, I was walking with a friend along the South West Coast Path. We had my dog on a lead, and we were on an inland section between Abbotsbury and Chickerell, near Clayhanger Farm. Continue reading “Janet’s walk along the South West Coast Path spoiled by ‘inquisitive’ cattle”
A tragic example of how even an experienced farmer can come to grief.
We were very sad to learn of yet another death caused by cattle.
According to news reports, David Thomlinson (73) was working on his farm in Cumbria, when he was tragically killed in a ‘farm accident’ on the 8th June. The incident is still being investigated, but it appears the farmer was handling a young calf and was attacked by the calf’s mother.
David was famous as a livestock auctioneer, and was also a very experienced cattle farmer. Although Limousin cattle have a reputation for being rather aggressive, it was a breed he was very familiar with. In fact, David had bred pedigree Limousin cattle on his farm for the past forty years. In addition, he was a former Chairman of the North West Limousin Cattle Breeders Association and had been President of the British Limousin Cattle Society.
His tragic death is an example of how even the most experienced of farmers can come to grief when handling cattle.
We offer our sincere condolences to his family and his colleagues.
Cattle Safety 