Near-miss Stories – Page 8

Warning signs were present but cows not seen until too late.

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”

Crawling under barbed wire fence for safety

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.”

Farmer said “Once they smell fear, you’ve had it!”

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”

Very lively cows on popular walk in Cornwall

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.”

A near miss near Abergavenny

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!

Managed to keep cows away using branches

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.”

Longtown Cumbria – We are so glad this walker turned back!

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”

Watch out for cattle on Bowlhead Green to Birch Copse walk

Incident number: 1085

Response ID: 313,994,623

Date of incident: 14.04.25

Location: Field on left hand side off Bowlhead Green Road, Brook, GU8 5UW approx half a mile from A286 junction.

Status: Couple with no dog on PRoW

Godalming Rambler reported

“We were walking on the public foot path goes from Bowlhead Green to Birch Copse. The cows were the far side corner of the field. The foot path goes centrally through the field. We walked half way across the field when the cows started approaching as a herd, as we retreated they began to stampede. We then had to run back to the entrance of the field.”

We are glad that Godalming Rambler was fit enough to run and avoided injuries

Dog saves the day in East Harptree Somerset

Incident number: 1084

Response ID: 313,992,260

Date of incident: 13.04.25

Location: East Harptree, Somerset On a public right of way through field near Nettwood Lane

Status: Two people with dog on lead on PRoW

E Hale’s Story

“A group of around 20 cows or so were to the left of the gate that we needed to go through. We walked away from the public right of way to ensure that we gave them some space. Our dog was not reacting and kept on a tight lead. The cows were watching us and then they started to trot towards us and then began speeding up. Our dog started reacting so we had to let her off the lead. The cows were beginning to circle us but our small dog running around them pushed them back and we were able to run to the gate. Our dog continued to run around them, barking until we were at the gate and then she came back to us when we called her and luckily she was able to get through the cows as they had now surrounded the gate. It was very scary and I am sure that we would have been injured if not for our dog. We have walked through many fields with cattle before and have never felt this threatened and at risk of harm.

Our dog was very agitated following this incident and it took us a while to calm her down. Not sure how she will react to cows in the future now.”

Struggling to avoid a herd on public footpath in Papcastle

Incident number: 1083

Response ID: 313,984,668

Date of incident: 13.04.25

Location: Field in Papcastle on Papcastle to Workington Trail.

Status: Couple with two children with no dog on PRoW

“My partner and our 2 young children were walking a field in Papcastle. We crossed the field before, on the public footpath, and could not see any cattle. On our return, we got to the gate and saw a herd of cows in the field. They turned to look at us and then ran to the gate. They stopped about a metre before the gate and just stared at us. We waited for a while hoping that they would get bored and move along but they didn’t. We had no other route and there was a river to the side of us. We turned around and tried to go up a bank to find another way. As we turned around the cows raced at the gate. When we couldn’t find another route, we went back to the gate and the herd had moved but they had moved to the other gate which would have blocked our way out of the field. We therefore had no option but to walk up the other side of the field to see if we could find another way out. When we got to the top of the field and walked across, we were at the top of a hill, with the cows at the bottom of the hill- but they had moved from the footpath so we thought we would move back toward the footpath. However, the herd stared at us again and when we started walking back towards the path, they all started to run back in that direction (thankfully didn’t come up the hill). We were lucky that we were blocked from their view then by a large tree so we turned the opposite direction and ended up passing our children over a barbed wire fence into the neighbouring field. When we got near to the footpath in the neighbouring field, the cows noticed us again and ran to the fence and gate and one banged its head into the gate. Throughout the whole event, we kept our young children slow and quiet and we did not provoke the cows in any way. I’ve always been wary of cows and now my partner is too- although I’ve never seen cows behave in this way/ it felt like they were chasing/ stalking us.”

Our reporter states

“If the farmer had chosen to add some additional fencing, it would have prevented a metre and a half of grazing along one side of the field. I can’t understand why such precautions wouldn’t be taken. If walkers can’t safely use public footpaths then the UK would be very suffocating indeed.”

Kathy didn’t realise the cows were in the wood

Response ID 311,528,935
Incident number 1069
Date: 18.12.24
Site: Billingshurst, West Sussex. On a bridleway passing through woodland immediately north of the railway line, east of Rowfold Farm
No dog

Kathy’s account: “I was walking along the bridleway, which passed through an area of woodland, with a field of cows immediately east of it. There was a wire fence between me and the herd along part of the edge of the woodland, but part was open to the field. As soon as I came within sight of the animals there was some deep bellowing. Not like an ordinary mooing. I walked maybe 50metres further up the stretch of woodland, keeping an eye on the animals, because the bellowing got deeper and more animals were calling out to each other. It felt very threatening. Then I realised that there were several cows in the woodland, a couple very big, and that even the field I was aiming for to the top left of the woodland had the same cows in it, and they were all looking at me and moving towards me, making the deep bellowing noises. So I turned back the way I had come and found an alternative route. There is no doubt in my mind that had I carried on, they would have attacked me. The ground was very muddy and it would have been difficult to escape quickly.”

Kathy comments: “A public footpath is a PUBLIC footpath and it’s the responsibility of the landowner to protect users from avoidable harm.”

John Stapp has a lucky escape

Response ID 311,481,216
Incident number 1068
Date: 26.12.24
Site: What3Words location vase.learn.test, on the King Charles III England Coast Path https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/england-coast-path-south-east/trail-information/. Cliffe is a nearby village.
No dog

John’s account: “I was walking alone on a planned circular route, starting and ending at Cliffe. A few hours into the walk I was heading westward, to my left there was a steep earth bank leading to a concrete (or stone) sea wall. Beyond the sea wall was the south bank of the Thames Estuary. I passed a couple with a large dog who were heading in the opposite direction. We exchanged greetings and continued on our way. Shortly afterward, perhaps 10 minutes later, I encountered a small herd of cows. I estimate 10 to 15 of them. The cattle were stationary, with some sitting and others standing. I do not recall seeing any calves.
Having previously experienced charging by a large herd of castrated bulls a couple of years before, I was cautious, moving calmly but staying alert. The cows did not trouble me but one cow did begin to walk towards me after I’d passed the group. However, after some moments it stopped. Given that the couple I’d passed earlier did not mention the cows, and the cows hadn’t behaved in an overtly threatening manner, I figured the cows were likely not troublesome. Nonetheless I reserved some wariness.

My walk progressed, however the circular route I had planned was not waymarked, and this return route passed over wetland, and I didn’t want to risk losing time due to not being able to find suitable crossing points over the various water features. With about 90 minutes of daylight left I made the decision to return to Cliffe the way I came, a much longer route but at least it was clear. I had a headtorch and plenty of food and water, and spare layers and so was not so concerned about walking in the dark.

At the What3Words location provided in this report, I encountered the cows again. They were now moving in a single file approaching me. Not wanting to get too close to them, I stood away from the path, and walked partially up the earth bank that adjoined the sea wall. The lead cow stopped and looked at me, then continued to walk along the path. For a moment I thought all was well, but then the cow started to walk towards me. Fortunately there was a short ladder near me, that I could use to climb over the sea wall. I climbed up a few rungs of this ladder to put some more distance between me and the approaching cow. The cow continued to approach; it had left the path and was now walking up the earth bank. 2 or 3 other cows now also began heading towards me in the same manner. I then climbed onto the top of the sea wall. The cows continued to move up the steep earth bank and now began mooing. I shouted at them and banged my walking sticks together to try and scare them off, but this did not deter them. It was at this point I decided to climb over the sea wall onto the side facing the Thames Estuary and began walking along it. I eventually found another ladder and climbed over over the wall; there were no cows in sight and I continued my way back. It infuriates me this was been my second encounter with aggressive cows on a public right of way. I had a lucky escape. Had I not been near that ladder the outcome could have been different.”

John comments: “Thank you for providing a forum highlighting the issue of aggressive cows, there needs to be more awareness of this issue.”