Response ID 310,136,770
Incident number 1044
Date: 16.11.24
Site: On the path across the fields between Long Dale and Weaddow Lane near Elton, Derbyshire. Peak District National Park – Derbyshire Dales District Council. ///potential.comic.clusters SK 19246 60923
Type of cow: Group of Cows and bullocks. 2 walkers, dogs on lead.
Helen’s report: “The cows were in a large group near the footpath gate into the field. There was a feeder near by and some were eating from it. We entered the field with our three dogs on leads and kept to the footpath by the wall to go round the cows. They started coming towards us and we spread our arms wide and shouted for them to go away. They then charged towards my sister and her two dogs and pinned her against the wall. My dog had an orange coat on and they didn’t seem interested in her but, lead by two aggressive cows the others started jumping up on their back legs and surrounded my sister and her dogs. One cow head-butted her twice and was stamping its front legs trying to get to her dogs who were hiding behind her legs.
She started screaming and I ran back and shouted at the cows who did run back a bit. We quickly let all the dogs off the leads and I picked up my dog and she picked up her old dog. The cows then all started charging towards us and her young dog ran off down the path. The herd of at least 30 cows (who we think were bullocks but can’t be sure as we were in shock at the time) all charged off after her dog at full pelt. We followed down the hill as fast as we could to try and get to her dog, who is less than a year old. After about half a mile the cows all ran up across the field and my sister checked her dog tracker and saw the dog was ahead of us and had run up to the top of the field. She whistled her dog and it ran back to her. I had gone through a gate down the footpath track and she passed me her dog over the fence and walked back up to the gate to come down the path. We weren’t injured but at one point I did think the cows were going to kill my sister. She was so upset thinking they were going to kill her dog, and then worried that the dog had run off and would be lost and traumatised.
The dog that the cows were trying to get to was quite traumatised and was shaking like a leaf when we retrieved her.
I haven’t yet reported this incident but I am going to look at reporting it to the ramblers association and The Local Authority as we are very concerned that it could have caused very serious injury and could happen again to someone else.”
Category: Near-miss Stories
Concerned walker “those cows should not have been grazing in the area open to the public.”
Response ID 310,135,896
Incident number 1043
Date: 16.11.24
Site: Colyton, Devon. Walking by the river just outside of the town.
Group of Heifers, 2 walkers, no dog.
Report: “We were walking on a footpath along the riverside at around 16:00. There was a large herd of heifers, two were head butting each other in the middle of the path. There were lots of cows 20-30 in a large open field/space. We were cautious and trying to gauge their behaviour. One cow came running down the hill. We walked quickly around the edge of the field to avoid the animals. The cow moved aggressively towards us. We climbed over the fence and into a scrubby woodland patch. The cow did stop but was mooing and other cows came up to the woodland area. We scrambled through the scrub/woodland and came out onto a parallel road running above. We were lucky and made good decisions, giving us time to escape. It would have been very differing we had young children and/or a dog.
We are experienced walkers and have grown up in rural areas. In my opinion, those cows should not have been grazing in the area open to the public. It is far too close to Colyton and other people may end up having a more dangerous experience.”
Killer Cows comment: This is a near miss and could easily have resulted in a serious attack, we recommend that all incidents are reported to the Health and Safety Executive https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/tell-us-about-a-health-and-safety-issue.htm plus inform the local MP and Devon Council https://www.devon.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/report-a-problem/map/map_src/prow/
Welsh Coastal path close call – saved by a dog
Response ID 309,843,934
Incident number 1041
Date of incident: 9/11/24
Location: Welsh Coastal path between Pembrey forest and Kidwelly https://w3w.co/inspector.lecturers.provoking
Description: Two of us were heading back after a long walk about 5pm, it had gotten dark. We met 2 young men coming towards us who warned us that cows had charged at them and they were now trying to find another way home, they did not have a dog with them. We had already walked 13 miles with less than 1 to go till we got to the car, plus we thought they might have been exaggerating, so we continued on.
“We came upon some cows that were blocking the path and going around them wasn’t an option (the surrounding area is wet) so we approached calmly but as soon as they’d seen us they started to approach, some faster than others and they charged then stopped, then charged then stopped. Their behaviour was very threatening. I put the light on my phone and used it to dazzle them and try get them to back off while walking backwards. I had my dog on lead who was calm and controlled initially, but when the cattle had basically surrounded us he started to bark and push them back, we had to continue to walk backwards because every time we turned they would charge. They eventually stopped following us but then we came across another group of about 20-30 blocking the path and had to go through it all again, I’m honestly not sure what would have happened if our dog hadn’t protected us.”
“I absolutely believe that our dog saved us and if something had happened to us we were in middle of nowhere and nobody would have found us for some time.”
Killer Cows notes this attack is on the same stretch of the coastal path as Glyn Austin’s attack – it appears that no safety measures have been introduced.
Rammed to the ground by a cow on Castle Howards estate
Response ID 309,244,045
Report number: 1038
Date of incident : 1/11/2024
Location: Wilburn, Yorkshire on a walk by the castle Howard estate ///harmlessly.fitter.cowboys
2 walkers and baby, no dog. Cows and calves in field.
Account: “My husband and I were walking with our baby in a sling on me. The trail went through a herd of cows so we tried to go around them and as we walked by, a cow starting getting agitated. It then charged us and rammed my husband to the ground. As he backed away on the floor, it backed up and charged him again. We backed up slowly. Another cow came charging towards us looking upset and we walked slowly backwards and it stopped. No injuries (other than a wet bum but no bruising) but still quite scary!”
“I think that farmers should be more responsible about placing their stock where there is a public right of way”
Response ID 308,779,200
Report number 1030
Date of incident 30/06/24
Location: On public footpath above Berry Pomeroy Village, (nr Totnes)
Report: “We were returning from Berry Pomeroy castle to Totnes and took the marked footpath through a field that led down to Berry Pomeroy Village. Although there was a sign to keep dogs on a lead (it was just us two) and cow pats; there were no visible signs of cattle.
We had walked over the ridge and about half way down the field towards the exit gate and spotted around 50 cows (mainly Friesians) standing at the base of the field in the shade. We then noticed a young cow get up by the gate and proceed to walk to the herd who then surrounded it before they all decided to walk up the field towards us. Having walked half way downhill and realising that they were all heading towards us, we realised we would not be able to get down to the gate and needed to turn back up the hill. We calmly walked back up the hill with the herd some distance away but they were moving so quickly that we realised there was no way out – due to the hedge and barbed wire fencing. Just before they got to us we spotted a small gap in the hedge and managed to scramble under the barbed wire and over some more before ending up in nettles that enabled us to get to the adjacent field. Feeling very frightened and stung we got home that way.
Fortunately it was only two of us but had a family or young children been doing that walk or anyone with a dog the whole situation would have resulted in a serious situation. I was terrified. My partner took a video of the incident with them surrounding us at the hedge where we had crawled to.
The Local Authority were really helpful and I also reported it to https://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/tell-us-about-a-health-and-safety-issue.htm regarding a public right of way, but did not hear from them.
We are really keen walkers and love visiting different places. We are close to Dartmoor and I now have a phobia of walking in open spaces when spotting cow pats or cows grazing. In the past I would think nothing of walking around cattle and feeling safe. I think that farmers should really be more responsible about placing their stock where there is a public right of way as these incidents are becoming increasingly frequent. I fully appreciate that farmers are entitled to earn a living but not at the detriment of the public’s safety. We are always fully compliant and respectful of the environment when we are walking and always follow the marked footpaths. These incidents do seem to fall on deaf ears so I would like there to be stricter legislation brought out in order that we can enjoy our environment safely. On an occasion in Dorset we had to take a busy main road back to our camp in the dark as the public footpath went through a field with a huge black bull in it.”
It wasn’t funny at the time… two over 50s sprinting and vaulting!!!
Response ID: 308,506,417
Date of incident: 9.06.2024
Location: The walk was one mapped out by the local pub ‘The Smoker Inn’. According to the photo I took, the location was Wood Tenement Farm, Pinfold Lane, Plumley WA16 9RR.
Status: Two people without a dog on a PROW
Our reporter said
“When we entered the field the cows were quite a distance away in a far corner, we walked quietly across the field to the next gate (following instructions). The cows started to walk towards us, at first a 2 or 3 then more and more of them, so we quickened our pace. In the end we had to run as they were running after us, we just about managed to climb the fence. It’s possible they were curious but there were lots of them and if one of us had fallen there was a possibility we’d be trampled. These are big animals, lots of them, running at speed. My friend and I are in our 50s, so not really up for a chase and a pole vault over a gate. At the time it wasn’t funny, it was pretty scary and I’d think twice about crossing a field with cows in again.”
Harry thought there was no way the cattle would be allowed to be free if they posed a risk.
Response ID: 308,551,446
Report number: 1027
Location: Walking on Heart of England route just up from Blockley village and in field that runs parallel with the road from Blockley to Batsford Estate.
Account: I entered the field with my Jack Russell in a lead. I walked a few feet away from the stone wall on the very edge of the field. The cows were a good distance away. One cow looked up and stared at me. She went over to her calf and then just ran at my dog. She head butted my dog and scooped her in the air. As my dog was in the air I grabbed her and the cow was bellowing like a mad animal. She turned away and I thought I was safe. But she then ran at me and head butted me in my chest. I stumbled but didn’t fall. I was so near the wall so I jumped over the stone wall and barbed wire and lay in a ditch. The cow stayed bellowing at me and my dog, snorting and glaring at me, in this ditch. I had just about a foot width between the wall and barbed wire and a wire fence on the other side of the ditch.
I managed to get my phone and I rang 999. I honestly thought I was going to die. This cow was just reaching over the wall trying to reach me. The call operator from the fire brigade was great. They asked if I had what 3 words, I didn’t. I lay in this ditch for over 5 minutes, wedged between wire and the stone wall. When I couldn’t see the cow I popped my head up over the wall to see if it had gone.
The cow had walked off, but as soon as it saw my head, she came running over again, bellowing and shaking her head. At one point she followed the wall in front of me, I think she was looking for an opening to get to me. After some time I heard a human voice. I shouted, “help help, I’m behind the wall, are there any cows in the field?” A lady shouted back- ‘no’. So I put my head up again and the cows had moved into the next field. They have free access across 4 fields all on the public footpath. This lady, and her husband helped me and my dog over the wall. I could hardly breathe I was so frightened.
I know the walk as I walk it at least once a week. So I walked as quickly as possible to the gate and onto the road. There I just broke down and sobbed and saw how cut I was from jumping over the wall and barbed wire. The fire brigade found me as I went to the farmer whose cattle they are.
I thought I was safe, as I have lived in the country all my life. But most significantly I thought I was safe as the cows and their calves were out and free to walk all over the Monarch’s Way that is a very very popular walking route.
I thought there was no way they would be allowed to be free if they posed a risk. How wrong I was..”
Harry has reported this to the farmer, the police and the Health and Safety Executive.
Useful Information/ warning about a Vale of Glamorgan walk
Incident number: 1026
Response ID: 308,535,620
Date of incident: 31.03.23
Location: Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. Using the Vale Trail route 9
Status: More than 10 people with no dog
Our reporter stated “The cows started staring at us and snorting and then advanced towards us and surrounding us. They came very close, then another cow started running towards us, but headed off the cows that were surrounding us. It was terrifying. We thought we’d be safe because it was a public walkway printed on the Vale Trail Website on the Councils main website. I reported it to the Vale of Glamorgan Council and asked that they could reroute the walk as I explained the cows were aggressive, it took some time for the council to acknowledge and they explained that the farmer was not getting back to them, they did say that they would warn the public by stating that t the walk includes cattle on the route, I contacted them again to say it was not enough and they said that they had contacted the farmer again and written a letter, but the farmer had not replied. There would have been room to segregate the cows from the public to keep the public safe. Check out www.valeofglamorgan.co.uk and select valetrails route 9
Please! Please! Please! Segregate the cows from the public. Walking the Vale Trails should be safe and a place for walkers to enjoy. The farmer should have placed notices of vulnerable times of the year when cows might have been particularly aggressive/protective, but no warning was provided.”
Another Belstone Dartmoor encounter
Incident number: 1018
Response ID: 308,473,978
Date of incident: 19.10.24
Location: On Dartmoor above Belstone. On a path used by other walkers going downhill into valley to cross a stream.
Status: A group of 3-5 people with Dog on Lead on PROW
Peter’s story which was reported to Dartmoor Councillors
“We were walking on Dartmoor having entered the moor from Belstone. We passed various cattle without incident. We decided to use a path going down to a valley bottom in order to get back to Belstone. On a very narrow part of the path we were suddenly aware of cattle behind us led by adult cow. We stood aside on bank to let them through, me on the other side of the path from the others. We had no means of escape. The lead cow bellowed and started attacking me with feet and head. I fell in to scrub and then fell over an edge in to an area lower down which probably saved me from serious injury from the cow. My friends screamed at the cows and my partner hit the attacker cow repeatedly with her coat. The cows then turned and went off. I had grazing to my legs under my jeans and bruising I think to my ribs in my back. I managed to walk back to the car at Belstone.”
He adds “Warning signs should be erected, although we couldn’t have predicted the attack and we weren’t being followed by cattle when we took the path going downhill. As it was on Dartmoor I assume the cattle can’t be confined.”
Two incidents reported recently from 2022 without dogs on PROW
Incident number: 1014 and 1015
Dates of incidents: 1.5.22 and 18.8.22
Jessica was walking as a couple near Taunton on 1st May 2022
“We walked into the field and the group started walking towards us then running towards. We escaped just in time by going over a stile”
Matt was running on his own near West Haddon in Northamptonshire om 18th August 2022
“I was running on a footpath. A couple of calves were startled and the herd turned on me. Tens of cows converged and stampeded me. I ran to the edge of the field and stood behind a barbed wire cordon. I had to climb into the next field to escape. I narrowly escaped being seriously injured or killed. The cows in this field are still very wary and aggressive. Other users of the footpaths have raised the issue on the village social media but have been shot down. I don’t have issues with any others herds in the area and have walked and ran through livestock for decades without similar incident.”
Rebeccah’s run was scarily interrupted by a group of running cows between Sticklepath and Belstone
Date of incident: 13.10.24
Location: Back Road between Sticklepath & Belstone (near Skaigh Cottage) (What three words ///trifle.partners.ambushed)
Status: Lone walker no dog on PRW
Rebeccah’s story
“I was out for a run as usual, and was heading up the road to avoid cows (as recently seen lots on the moor) however, as I turned the corner (on a single track road with houses) there was a group of cows and young cows charging down the road. I had to jump up the bank and hide. I then climbed over the barbed wire fence and crouched. The cows stopped on the road and came towards me. They stood for ages. I was terrified. I stayed still. They then turned around and had their backs to me. They moved up the road a couple of metres but just stopped. I had no clue what to do. I had already been sat there for ten minutes and had no phone signal to call for help. So I eventually braved it, jumped down on to the road and ran as fast as I could back down the hill hoping they wouldn’t chase me. I crossed the cattle grid and stopped. I injured my leg on branches but nothing major.”
Badly frightened on Offa’s Dyke
Incident number: 1012
Response ID: 307,947,666
Date of incident: 08.10.24
Location: Offa’s Dyke path, Lower Gwarthlow Farm, https://explore.osmaps.com/pin?lat=52.549151911985746&lon=-3.1158738261867995&zoom=14.2
Status: Lone walker no dog on PRW
K’s story
“Cows ran over and crowded me from the second I got in the field, not deterred by big stick I was holding. Lots of loud and angry sounding bellowing. They surrounded me and were not backing off as I moved so it was impossible to go forward. I edged back and went around through other fields.”
K wants “Extra fencing along side of field to enable safe access, or housing cows in separate field”
Cattle Safety 