Category: near misses

Incident number: 1188

Response ID: 316,490,515

Date of incident: 25.08.25

Location: On a footpath between Otterburn and Malham Kirby.

Status: Lone walker with no dog on PRoW

Lisa’s story

I came into the field and walked alongside a wall. There were no signs to say there were cattle in the field and I didn’t see them until I walked round a bend. They were mainly laying down rather up the hill. I felt uneasy as they seemed interested in me even though I wasn’t close to them so looked for ways to escape if needed (there was a stone wall with barbed wire on top but I could see a few places that I could climb if needed) I carried on walking keeping an eye on them and they all started to stand up. One or two started to walk towards me so I turned back, then a couple of them started running. I managed to run towards the wall and get over it before they got to me. There were probably about 20 or more right at the wall I’d just climbed over. I wasn’t sure if there was a way of them getting into the field I was in and could go back the way I’d come in as they were now all blocking that route. I walked through the field I was in towards a road and got out that way.”

Lisa says that she will inform the HSE and that there needs to be clear signs on the fields.

Incident number: 1187

Response ID: 316,490,377

Date of incident: 31.01.25

Location: Footpath in Swansea (Fforestfach/ Gowerton) (///finely.stable.love)

Status: Two people with dog on the lead on PRoW

Chloe’s account from last January

“Entered field via style – cows were present on far side of field. Dog on lead and very well behaved, no barking or threat. Cows charged from far end of field and pushed us into hedge. Cows pawing ground while we left field the same way we came in (slowly). Could not pass field, no detour possible due to layout of land and other cow fields. Had to backtrack and could not complete out walk. Very scary, did not seem like they would stop when charging – I believe they only stopped because we were pushed basically inside of a bush.”

She adds “I wish cattle would not be kept on public rights of way. They should be fenced off from the footpath.”

Incident number: 1180

Response ID: 316,325,882

Date of incident: 14.08.25

Location: Trail north of Llyn Gwynant campground in Snowdonia

Status: Two people walking without a dog on PRoW

Chris’s Story

“Several cows were spaced around a narrow trail. Calves were nearby. One began mooing aggressively and approached us. I shouted and waved at it and it backed away. But as we passed it tried to come up behind us. More shouting and waving allowed us to move on. We then reached a lone cow slightly down the trail who moved aggressively towards us. We started moving slowly off trail and I took out my hiking poles. It charged by wife and I jumped in front waving the poles and shouting. It stopped and retreated, allowing us to carry on. We ran into a father and son heading down the trail and warned them. Hopefully they were ok.”

Incident number: 1103

Response ID: 314,407,411

Date of incident: 11.05.25

Location: Near Amroth church in Pembrokeshire  (what 3 words: pave.haggling.searching)

Status: Couple with dog on lead on PRoW

Sharon’s story

“We walked through the field from the woodland end and couldn’t see any cattle. They were lying down at the road end. One young one got up as soon as it saw/heard us approaching. We were still some distance away but they were clearly interested in us and others got up and started to approach. Most were young and not sure what sex. One older cow was snorting at us and coming closer. Our dog was on the lead but did bark at the cows as they were behaving quite aggressively. I tried waving my arms and shouting to make them move away but they just kept coming. I told my partner to let the dog go. This distracted the big cow a bit and we continued across the field. My partner managed to get through the gate with the dog but the big cow followed and my exit was blocked. Thankfully she turned away long enough for me to get through too. It was incredibly scary. The big cow was almost within arms reach when we let the dog go. I’m sure she wasn’t going to back off as clearly protecting the youngsters even though we hadn’t attempted to approach them.”

Sharon adds “Aggressive cow should not be on a public footpath or provide fencing, electric or permanent, to ensure safety of walkers”

Incident number: 1102

Response ID: 314,378,168

Date of incident: 09.05.25

Location: In between Easton, Hampshire and Winchester Hampshire, near Easton Lane

Status: Couple with dog on lead on PRoW

Chloe’s Story

“We walked into the field and kept close to the fence as there were cows near the footpath gate. Our dog was on short lead next to us. We tried to walk quickly through to the next gate but at least 5 cows started stamping and charged us. I had to climb under a barbed wire fence to avoid being hit by a charging cow. The dog’s lead slipped out my hand and the terrified dog tried to get back to me but being charged by cows. Eventually the dog got under fence, cows pushing up against the fence to get to us.

The dog was unharmed thank goodness. He came close to being trampled multiple times but is young and very quick.”

Incident number: 1099

Response ID: 314,338,743

Date of incident:

Location: On the Wysis Way (60 mile trail between Monmouth and Kemble) near Taynton

Status: Group of walkers without of dog on PRoW

NKL’s story

“We all climbed the style, and noticed a farmer in the field with cows around him while he worked. He had a quad bike, and hopped back on – looking like he was leaving… The cows (bulls?) ran behind him. We stopped to allow them to follow the farmer… Hopefully out of the field. The cows noticed us and all started to run at us. We stayed still. But they kept coming. They got with a few meters of us and the farmer then drove between the nearest cow and our group and changed the cows direction. But there were others very close (now what happens with the quad bike and cows I don’t remember) but I must have had time to announce to the others that I was heading to a big wide trunked tree at the same time they’d all had the same idea. We were in the middle of a field with no fence to jump over. But we all made it to the tree and clapped and shooed them away for long enough that the farmer reappeared on his quad bike and said “do you want me to take you to the path on the other side” so with 5 of us and the farmer on a quad bike, we were driven to safety, cows running, and bucking behind us. The Farmer said during this journey “Once they smell fear, you’ve had it” (we weren’t worried till they ran at us). We made it over a style safely together. And the cows stood there all mooing loudly surrounding the style. As we gathered ourselves and walked parallel to the style the cows ran along side us still mooing and bucking. Honestly, we don’t know if they were dangerous, or lively and playful. But didn’t want to find out!” These walkers want “Signs, or fences on popular walking routes. So concerned about the next walkers to enter that field”

Incident number: 1098

Response ID: 314,300,999

Date of incident: 04.05.25

Location: Footpath approaching Rinsey from Trewavas

Status: Couple with dog on lead on PRoW

TT’s story

“We were on a walk in Cornwall and as we approached the footpath we met two walkers who advised us that the cows were ‘very lively’ in the field. As we climbed the high stone and earth stile we could see about a dozen heifers right at the stile. The heifers could only be seen from the top of the stile as it was a solid type. They couldn’t see our dog as she was the other side but no doubt they could hear and smell her. Although we are very experienced walkers and are both very fit and able, we could not see any viable or accessible alternative to the footpath. Had such an alternative been available, we would have gladly taken it. My husband went over the stile first and used his arms to appear big and get the cows away and then I followed. The cows were obviously very inquisitive but also aggressive, running at us and circling behind us. They were definitely not happy about us or our dog (who was on a lead and harness closely under our control). I also tried waving my arms and using my voice to get them to steer clear but they were getting closer and closer and circling us, more were joining from further down the field and we felt at huge risk of being trampled. I saw a small hole in the hedge line which was lined by thorny gorse and I plunged through it dragging our dog and closely followed by my husband as we feared we would not make it safely to the end of the field. We were left shaken and sustained quite deep scratches down my arm and leg but felt lucky that this was all that happened.”

TT adds “I would like to see farmers have to install electric fencing or other management of cows where there are footpaths in fields.”

Incident number: 1092

Response ID: 314,195,119

Date of incident: 25.04.25

Location: Field near Pyscodlyn Farm Caravan & Camping Site on a walk to Abergavenny

Status: 3 to 5 people with dog on lead on PRoW

JB’s story

“There was a group of cows with calves present in the same field. The cows with older calves seemed curious as we made our away across a field. We then noticed a couple of cows trotting towards us. Within seconds the whole herd started charging and we ran towards the stile. It was very frightening as the cows’ faces were very close to my husband as he turned around to shoo them away.

They were snorting and behaving very aggressively. My friend let go of the dog and he saved us because they chased him and we were able to escape.”

All escaped without needing medical assistance including the dog!

Incident number: 1088

Response ID: 314,096,255

Date of incident: 19.04.25

Location: Beaupre Castle, public footpath, St Mary Church, Cowbridge, South Wales.

Status: Couple with no dog on PRoW

Maz’s story

“We were walking on a public footpath near to the visitor attraction of Beaupre Castle. There were a group of heifers in the field,  3 Golden brown, One Black and one older heifer which was white and grey. The cows charged us 5 times and drove us to a fence by the river. I armed myself with a branch and managed to fight them back over 5 charges as my wife escaped to the gate.”

Maz adds “Either secure public rights of way or no cows on public rights of way.”

Incident number: 1087

Response ID: 314,070,431

Date of incident: 16.04.25

Location: Longtown, Carlisle. Coordinates 55.0072081, -2.9745976

Status: Lone walker with dog on lead on PRoW

Scott’s story

“Walking on public footpath with dog on very short lead. Followed by cows so decided to turn back, then charged by 20-30 cows. Managed to get back to the other side of the entry point safely but it was very close to being knocked down by the cows.”

Scott adds

“Changes – warning if cows are in field or dangerous. Ideally, I’d like the public footpath to be fenced off and separate from livestock”