Near-miss Stories – Page 13

The charge line of cows was at least 12 cows wide at the front!!!

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.”

Dartmoor: Wheal Jewel reservoir – Cows charged and a lucky escape

Incident number: 930

Response ID: 306,096,962

Date: 16.08.24

Location: On public access land at Wheal Jewel reservoir – Dartmoor

I was walking on my own without a dog through open moor. I saw a group of cows and calves so I gave a wide berth – about 30 metres. The cows charged at me presumably to protect their calves. I jumped into a gorse bush and waited for them to go away. I thankfully only suffered a few minor scratches.

Bravery at Hadrian’s Wall

Report No: 929

Date of Incident: 19/09/22

Location: Hadrian’s wall path just west of Cawfield’s Quarry

Account “I was walking Hadrian’s Wall Path when a woman with a dog ran past me towards a gate. She was being chased by a cow with its head lowered. I (stupidly or bravely, I don’t know) stepped between her and the cow to protect them, spread out my arms, and yelled at the cow to stop. It skidded to a halt in front of me, looked me over, then peered around me towards the dog. Once the woman and the dog made it to the other side of the gate, the cow ambled away.

I believe that had I not intervened, the woman or her dog would have been injured.”

Tom was charged at on Cader Idris slopes

Report No: 927

Date of Incident: 10/08/24

Location: Bottom of Cader Idris (just up from steps), Wales

2 people, no dog.

Account “We had walked up the steep steps on the Minfford Path route at the foot of Cader Idris, to a large open area with no cover. A cow with calves charged at me and my partner, we had driven two hours to go walking and turned back.”

Tom also adds:- “For public footpaths it should be illegal to have cows with calves roaming across them.”

Amanda manages to remain calm!

Incident No: 926

Date of Incident: 08/08/24

Location: Near Newbold Astbury, Cheshire. Lat/long 53 08 40 N 002 13 46 W WTW – spoken.kicked.acid

1 person, no dog

Account “I was on a run at about 6p.m. I crossed into the field, which has quite a steep incline, so the cows weren’t immediately obvious. As I came over the brow of the hill I saw a number of cattle. A large bull started to run towards me and cut off the footpath. I moved through an open gateway into the next field and moved behind the hedge. There were also cattle in there. The original bull followed me, along with many other cattle from the 1st field. They surrounded me and were blocking the gateway I had come through. The front ones were about a metre away from me, including the original bull. I remained by the hedge, facing them, with my arms outstretched. I stood for about 25 minutes. Each time I tried to move they followed me. Eventually the original bull started eating (though he didn’t move away) and I was able to walk quickly around the herd and escape over the fence at the bottom of the field.”

Ali and his friend meet a hostile group of cattle

Report No: 925

Date of Incident: 01/08/24

Location: what 3 words melon.mural.tower – near Marston Montgomery, Derbyshire,

2 People, no dog.

Account: “We were walking down a supposed bridleway with our bikes, but it was completely overgrown so we had to push our bikes. There was a field to our right containing a herd of cattle and they were very unhappy with our presence. They were snorting and taking it in turns to faux charge. We were separated by a single waist high wire which may have saved us. We carried on walking calmly and they all ran about 50m further along the field to wait for us, still snorting and distressed. We stopped to discuss what we should do and they all ran back up to us. We decided we had no option but to walk on an adjacent field away from them and got away unscathed. There were no calves that we could see. We were scared by these cattle; we met some cows further along and they were fine.”

Suggestion from Ali – “The path being maintained would be a start. There could be more robust protection if the cows are known to be aggressive”

Millthorpe Derbyshire “We are all so traumatised, never have we felt so scared for our lives”

Incident number: 921

Response ID: 305,399,403

Date: 31.07.2024

Location: Millthorpe, Derbyshire (What 3 words ///crops.flexibly.inert)

Emily’s story

“I was walking along a public footpath across a field with my mum, 6 year old boy and two dogs on leads. The cows just seemed inquisitive coming closer to see who we were. My mum and son began to get a little concerned and then all of a sudden one cow started charging towards us at which point the cow must’ve only been 6 meters away. We were by a hedgerow in the middle of the field, so we dived into those. Then three other cows came head first charging into us. I was protecting us all screaming and hitting them on the head. We backed further into the brambles. The cows were very aggressive and on high alert. Charging around the field and coming back to us to ram us further. With no exaggeration I thought they were going to kill us. We were stuck in this vulnerable situation for at least 45 minutes. We called our family and they rushed up within 10 mins, they found a man sitting with a small buggy truck. My dad and husband distracted the cows at the top of the field whilst the man in vehicle came to our rescue. The cows were charging at another fence trying to get at my dad.”

Badly frightened on Shropshire way footpath

Incident number: 919

Response ID: 305,301,407

Date: 29/07/2024

Location: Lydham Shropshire

Sharon’s story:

“We were walking the on the Shropshire Way footpath through a field and the group of cows started charging towards us. It was very frightening. My husband stood in front of them ‘making himself big’ and shouting at them which just gave me time to get to the gate then he ran for the gate. They ran after him.”

Thankfully there were no injuries but the route needs better warning signs

Local lady from Meifod Powys “Cows are quite savage at this time of year!!!!”

Incident number: 917

Response ID: 305,239,967

Date: 25.07.2024

Location: Powys, Meifod

Bethany’s story

“My husband and I entered the field with no dog, following the public footpath. The cows and calves were some distance away and did not appear to take notice of us at first. We were heading toward a gate leading back out of the field and when we were about halfway there the cows started to approach, slowly at first. I turned and raised my arms and shouted and this seemed to slow them down. We kept walking at normal pace. Suddenly we could see the whole herd picking up speed and coming straight for us. We started running toward the gate and somehow made it through just in time, as moments later the first of the herd arrived and were kicking up quite a row, loud enough to bring someone out of a nearby house to see what was going on. We were quite shaken and had to sit down on the verge. The lady who came out hadn’t seen what happened but kindly advised us not go in that field as the cows are quite ‘savage’ at this time of year. Too bad she wasn’t there to tell us that at the first gate.

A sign would’ve been helpful, as if we had realised the danger we would’ve taken an alternative route (although this would’ve involved walking down a narrow lane with blind bends) I think we were extremely lucky to not be injured, or worse.”

I ran for my life!

Incident number: 913

Response ID: 305,066,633

Date: 22.07.24

Location: Chailey Commons

Lizi’s story

I was walking on my own with my dog on a lead along a public right of way. Cows began charging towards me (and dog, quietly on lead) from an adjoining field. I moved slowly towards the hedge hoping they’d come through and pass, but they continued to charge towards me. The bull came round the corner and charged at me with horns down. I had to scare it away. All other cows came round and surrounded me, staring at me. I managed to get out of the field through the gap they entered, but they then proceeded to head towards a different gap back towards my direction, whilst all still staring straight at me.

Fortunately Lizi and her dog were unharmed but obviously badly scared.

A group of bullocks caused an urgent need to locate a safe exit

Report number: 901

Date of incident: 5/7/24

Site of incident: Three of us were crossing the Public right of way (PROW) on Coton Mill Farm land heading from Old Gayton Gorse to Mill Lane (OS Grid Reference: SJ 9783 3116) We were following the Pathfinder Staffordshire Outstanding Circular Walks Walk number 19: Milwich and Sandon Park.

Report: It was getting dusk and we were trying to return to Milwich where we had parked. We followed the PROW using OS Maps app and guide book. The field was quiet initially but around half way across we climbed to the top of a slope and were spotted by large young cows from the other side of the field. They were a distance away and we’re seasoned walkers with plenty of experience. We stayed close together and walked quietly and consistently.

It started with one bullock taking notice and like an excited puppy started enthusiastically making it’s way towards us. It was joined by more and more until we had a sizeable number behind us. I turned to face them and they stopped and leaned slightly back with heads low and pensive. I softly said hello and we continued to walk slowly, quietly and made sure our youngest member was protected. They lunged forwards a few times but held back…. playing.

It was really scary, especially when they started to get in front of us also. We did manage to cross the stile safely – but it felt like forever to complete the crossing. They didn’t hurt us, but maybe that’s because we have some experience and were extremely careful with our movements. When we completed our crossing we had the entire herd stood looking at us from the other side of the fence.

We need better marked PROW’s as the signs were appalling in this area apart from the farm on Old Gayton Gorse who had painted the way markers and stiles in high vis paint, which I thought was brilliant. The other farms however had very poorly maintained infrastructure and paths marked, slowing our progress considerably. Cattle were clearly used in multiple areas. We had encountered cattle earlier in the walk but they were young females and weren’t a problem.

If it wasn’t for access to GPS crossing that field where we were surrounded could have been very, very dangerous as it wasn’t clear exactly where our safe exit was.

Christina had 40 horned cattle charging at her

Report number:900

Date of incident: 3/7/24

Site of incident: The field near Warlies in Waltham Abbey

Report: We were aware there are cows in this field with baby’s but I have done this walk for years with no problems.

Two of us were walking, we couldn’t see the cows as we began, we always give them a wide birth, the dog was on a long lead but all of a sudden as we came down the hill the cows were in view. They were a large herd, with calves, cows (with horns) and heifers. I put the dog on a short lead. We stopped looked at the cows, they were just looking, and so we carried on walking as we’ve always done.

All of a sudden about 40 of them ran at us full speed. We ran as fast as we could and jumped into a tiny fenced off area, no bigger than 2m squared. It was a small barbed wire square around a tree. All of them swarmed us butting their heads at the fences and waving their horns around. I have never been so terrified in all my life, at one point I thought we might have to climb the tree. If we made any noise the cows just got more aggressive and loud so we had to stay quiet, they didn’t leave us.

We were stuck in there for a nearly an hour and had to call police to come and rescue us. I can’t believe we actually made it out, only with a few cuts of barbed wire, it was the most petrifying thing I have ever experienced.

I did see a sign that said to be aware of cattle and keep your dog close.