Near-miss Stories – Page 2

River crossing to avoid cows in the Cotswolds

Incident number: 1195

Response ID: 316,692,712

Date of incident: 08.09.25

Location: Between Bibury and Coln st Aldwyns

Status: Lone walker with no dog on PROW

Sarah’s story “I was walking through a field by myself. I saw a herd of cows (could not see calves) sat/stood by the gate I needed to go through. I did not get very close to them at all (and am already wary!) but decided to make a u-turn and not disturb them. As I turned, I heard one cow moo. They then all started and it sounded very loud and aggressive. They then started to run towards me, mooing all the time. I ran for some time in complete fear and panic. My only option was to get into river to get away from them.”

Sarah wants “Signs saying that there are cows in field and cows removed from public footpath”

New Year’s day attack on experienced mountain leader in Snowdonia

Incident number: 1193

Response ID: 316,567,827

Date of incident: 01.01.25

Location: Snowdonia path from Maes Cwm to Moel Eilio (Grid reference SH 572 590)

Status: Between 3 and 5 people walking on PRoW with dogs on leads

Eryri Local’s story

“We were walking along the bridleway traveling south east towards Maes Cwm to ascend Moel Eilio. We were near to the stile before we saw them which was 20m away. I wanted to turn back as we had 2 dogs with us but my friend had been past them recently and thought we would be OK. We continued on quietly keeping the dogs close. My dog was attached to my waist harness with a canicross bungee lead which I failed to release before one of the cows charged us. She kept ramming into myself, my dog and my friend. My friend let her dog loose but my dog was trying to get away but as he was attached to me I was being dragged around and I was unable to release the carabiner whilst the cow continued to charge and headbutt us. I don’t quite know how we managed to escape without being knocked to the floor and injured. We managed to run to the gate and climb the stile to escape. He is an ex cattle dog so knows how to behave around cattle. I wrote to the council who claimed to have gone there to look. My friend went that was a few weeks later to find the cattle had been fed directly on the bridleway and he retreated as they were starting to approach him. There is no safe alternative around that path to avoid cattle when they are loose there.”

They continue “I have a deep phobia now of cows causing me a lot of issues with my outdoor work as a Mountain leader. This is a local route to me that I used to run frequently now I have to do a large detour over Snowdon if I come across cattle on the path from Moel Eilio which they are now frequenting (Maes Gwm)

Malhamdale escape over a wall.

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.

Scary incident near Gowerton Swansea

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.”

Chased by bullocks on footpath at Mickla Bridge Alvington

Incident number: 1186

Response ID: 316,445,138

Date of incident: 24.08.25

Location: Footpath at Mickla Bridge, just SE of Alvington (what 3 words exist.tentacles.tubes)

Status: Lone walker with no dog on PRoW

Kenny’s account:

“I crossed the railway line to the south on the footpath. I was aware of bullocks in the field north of the tracks but to the west, so I thought I was crossing into an empty field. After moving 20m along the footpath there bullocks stampeded across from the neighbouring field (I wasn’t aware the gate was open and a bridge allowed them to cross Cone Brook). They quickly started to surround me but, luckily, the barbed wire fence around the brook gave me space to get behind and I took cover, the bullocks remained pressed up against the fence. After 10 mins I crossed back into the field, shouted and hit the nearest bullock with a stick to clear some space. I moved quickly about 25m up the path where I was able to get through a gate onto a different path that crosses the old stone bridge. The bullocks chased after me and pressed on the gate. I then had to take a detour on the new path to Kerrin Lane as the bullocks would not leave and I didn’t think I could make the 100-odd metres to the next field on my original path to Alvington.”

Cattle Safety replies “We are very glad you have survived this ordeal and please could you report the incident Tell us about a health and safety issue – Contact HSE”

Cows crowding around us on the Pennine Way near Bellingham

Incident number: 1185

Response ID: 316,421,828

Date of incident: 22.08.25

Location: Bellingham, Hexham Pennine Way ///soup.chitchat.spill

Status: Two people with dog on lead on PRoW

Sarah’s story

“We were walking quietly and calmly through the field on the right of way with our dog on a short lead. The cattle were very interested and started crowding around us and our dog. We let our dog off the lead as we became increasingly concerned for our and our dogs safety as there was also a bull present. The cows chased our dog. Our dog came back to us, we managed to slow the cows down by shouting and waving our arms. We slowly managed to back out the field by shouting at the cows to stay away and walking backwards to the gate.”

Sarah adds “I would like to see cattle be separated off from footpaths.”

Steve took an obstacle course option to avoid cattle on public footpath

Incident number: 1184

Response ID: 316,374,502

Date of incident: 24.08.25

Location: Public footpath off A489 at rear of Montgomery Water next to Ditch/River Camlad

Status: Lone walker with no dog on PRoW

Steve’s account

“I entered the field from the stile and the public footpath was shown on AllTrails as being diagonally across the field. As I got further into the field I could see there was cattle and for me to reach the exiting stile I would need to go close to them. I decided to head closer to the boundary with a low fence and a ditch to my left. As I carried on walking I could see at least one of the cattle was a young bullock (horns) and it had stopped grazing and was looking towards me. At this point I realised that I couldn’t reach the entrance before the cattle could reach me and I decided to clamber onto the other side of the fence with the steep ditch still to my left. As I walked on this side of the fence the cattle started to approach me. I carried on on the other side of the fence but it then became apparent that my right of way was blocked by a wooden rail fence which allowed the cattle to reach the water . I turned back and started retracing my steps and the cattle were now close to the fence. I had only one escape route which was to descend the steep bank and cross the ditch and clamber up the steep bank on the other side which is what I did. I had cuts and scratches from brambles on my legs, as I was wearing shorts, and soaking muddy boots. I didn’t really know if cattle were on the other side but it turned out to be sheep. I then decided to continue along the ditch on the other side to run parallel with the public footpath to see if I could pick up the footpath further along. However I then came across another field which contained cattle, They looked like Jersey’s. I decided not to enter and walked inward and along the boundary field that contained the sheep. This eventually brought me out near a farmhouse and I was able to ask permission to go through the farmyard and back to the main road. I explained what had happened and the reason why I was on the farmland. The individual I spoke to explained that the land with the bullocks on wasn’t his land and after asking if I was OK directed me in the direction I needed to go to reach my destination.”

Several aggressive cows charging walkers in Snowdonia

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.”

Bullocks far too interested in a walker to feel safe

Incident number 1179
Date: 12.08.25
Site: The estate of Garthgwynion, in Llynfant valley, near Machynlleth.
Group of bullocks
1 person, no dog

Report: “I was about to cross the last metal gate, before continuing the Welsh Coastal Path from Machynlleth to Borth, (which passes through the estate of Garthwynion,) when I found a group of bullocks assembled on the other side, right in the middle of the path. I whistled loudly with my emergency whistle, and waved my arms frantically while shouting, and the animals got scared and run away a few meters from me, enough to let me cross. As I was passing in front of them, one of the animals decided to come towards me at a fast pace, soon followed by the rest of them. I sped towards the entrance gate of the estate, which fortunately wasn’t too far away.”

“No injury luckily, but it was a frightening experience.”

Close call near Ilminster

Report: 1175

Date: 2/8/25

Location: Near Ilminster, Somerset. Exact location: lined.otter.trout

1 person no dog

Report from Matthew: “I saw cattle were in the field but I managed to sneak into the field and walked quietly around the edge without them noticing but as I was nearing the exit, the herd noticed me and charged – very fast and making a lot of noise! I continued walking quickly (not running) and narrowly made it to the gate and got through just before they reached me. Scary.”

Surrounded by cattle in Warwickshire

Report: 1174

Date: 2/8/25

Location: We think the path we were on was the Hanson Track, Warwickshire. If you are driving down the A3400 out of Shipston, you take the turn right signposted to Tidmington that leads to Ditchford Road – it’s a field on the right marked as a public footpath just beyond High Furze and opposite a footpath on the other side.

2 people no dog

Report: “We entered the field on the footpath and started walking across, we turned and noticed cows approaching from the other side of the field at speed. We were walking along the edge of the field. The cows closed in quickly and we could not leave the way we came in. We saw another gate and moved towards that thinking we could shut it but we could not as the gate was tied open with pink twine. Cows came through and all surrounded us closely behind the gate. They were making some noises and a few kept trying to creep closer. We were worried that at any point one or some of them could potentially charge or trample us as we were trapped by the wall and an open gate. We stood trying to appear calm for 10 mins but they were not going anywhere and we could not find a number for the farm. “

“The cows kept coming close and we had to sit on top of the gate which wasn’t very high. We felt like we were left with little choice but to call emergency services as we were fearful of walking through the crowd of cattle that had not taken their eyes off us. We were told by emergency services that we had to try and make our way through first by being noisy and trying to walk through them. Although reluctant we felt we had to follow advice and started to yell “move” loudly and clap. A few started to back off and make enough room for us to walk past them. We managed to leave the field safely but were very intimidated as this could have gone horribly wrong.”

“We learned that we may have been given bad advice by being told to be loud.”

“The only signs visible was instructing us to keep dogs on leads and stick to the edges which we did. There was no mention of cattle or how to respond. We also didn’t see the cattle when we entered the field.”

“We ended the call with the police once we exited the field but we don’t think cows should be in a field labelled as a public footpath especially when there are lone walkers and dog walkers. We don’t want this to happen to others who may be elderly or more vulnerable (or less lucky!!)”

Chased by cattle on an exposed part of the Cornish Coastal Path

Report: 1167

Date: 26/7/2025

Location: Coastal path in North Cornwall, near Castle Point, St Gennys

1 person and dog

Report: “The cows ran to me and surrounded me, chasing my dog into a blackthorn bush over the cliff edge and also surrounding me. I stood my ground but had to shout at them to get a way out.

My dog was stuck in the blackthorn, but was lucky to be unharmed, I managed to get her out. She was less than a foot off from going over the edge of the cliff

The cows should not have been on such an exposed path. I am confident around cows so could deal with them. But the incident was very frightening, they were after my dog and very nearly killed her by forcing her off the cliff.”