Near-miss Stories – Page 9

Is it unreasonable to expect electric fences on footpaths?

Incident number: 967

Response ID: 306,987,531

Date of incident: 13.07.24

Location: Nera Steyning Sussex (W3W: glossed.dumplings.odds)

Status: Loan walker on PFP with dog on lead

Neil’s story

“I entered the field via a stile on a signposted public footpath with my springer spaniel, who is 7 years old and has never had the remotest interest in livestock of any description her entire life, and this day was no different, and thus she was off the lead as usual, but close to me as usual, carrying a stick. I noticed the herd at the far end of the field (250-300 metres) clumped directly on the footpath route and essentially right in front of the next stile. I put Jem on the lead and began to walk gently in a very wide arc around the other edge of the field and we were about 100 metres from the first style when I noticed them moving towards us at what seemed a fairly regular walking pace. I became anxious about 10 or 15 seconds later when I noticed a couple at the head of the herd break into a slight canter and definitely in our direction, which then very quickly escalated into a run that the rest of the herd followed with. I quickly unclipped Jem and sprinted with her back to the stile we had come over. By the time we jumped back over it, the cows were almost upon us and running at what I would describe as stampede pace and they were snorting and mooing very aggressively. My heart was in my mouth and the dog was also quite scared. I am an experienced country walker and live nearby in the village of Henfield. I always respect cows and give them as much room as possible but have never been this aggressively pursued before by them. Really very frightening.”

Neil thinks

“Where there are a herd in a field with a public footpath running down one side of the field, but no easy escape (hedges on all 4 sides), I don’t think it is unreasonable for the farmer to have to place an electric fence along the line of the footpath. I know this wouldn’t stop them if they really wanted, but they would probably be wary of it having been zapped by it already a few times and would not come to near it. – Maybe? ! Also, if the herd are know to agitate easily – which the farmer should be aware of – then appropriate warning signs should be used on the stile access to the field.”

Hurdling a gate to avoid cows

Incident number: 962

Response ID: 306,985,898

Date: 05.05.24

Location: Near Brockhampton Herefordshire ( What 3 Words ///asleep.dated.pods on a footpath heading East towards Hollington Farm)

Status: Loan walker without dog on Public right of way

Rob’s story

“I was walking alone along a footpath from Lower Bolstone Wood towards Hollington Farm. As I entered a field I started walking alongside the hedge towards the other side. Then a group of cows came running towards me from the left hand side. The hedge was too high and overgrown to climb over or through so I ran to the other side of the field and hurdled the gate just before they reached me. There were approximately 20 of them and it was very frightening”

Emma meets cows with calves at Sycamore Gap

Report number: 986
Date of incident: 15/8/2019
Location: Sycamore Gap

Group of cows with calves. Dog on a lead. Family walk.

Report: “We were on the main footpath leaving Sycamore gap in Northumbria – the walk we were following was on a National Trust printed leaflet. When we got into the field I could see the cattle all crowded around the footpath and the stile, they were huge – looked like highland black cattle – huge horns. I sensed for some reason we may have trouble, possibly because of an earlier incident (described later,) and told my daughters if there were any problems to jump over the wall to the next field. I said this as sort of a joke but then as we approached one cow in particular looked troubled by the dog (who was on a short lead and perfectly calm,) she started following and virtually cornered myself with the dog, and terrifyingly when about 4 foot away, put her head right down and started scraping her front leg as if about to charge. I noticed there was a ditch with long grass, chucked the dog and myself in it (which effectively hid the dog) and walked slowly along, this thankfully seemed to confuse the cow, but it felt like a very very close call.”

“I contacted the National Trust as didn’t know what else to do. They said they would talk to the farmer involved but who knows. A few years previous to that in the Lake District we walked through a field of jersey cows, I always remember but couldn’t quite believe it, but do now, we had no dog then but they were definitely bothered by our then around 5 year old daughter – who was just with me on the path , they started gathering pace but thankfully I was near the stile by this point and got her over quick – I think it could have been nasty if we had been further away as they gathered speed – hope this helps wish I had thought about reporting to the HSE or yourselves – it didn’t occur to me until I saw the guardian article.”

Additional comment: “Really troubled me that this was a leafleted walk you can pick up at the National trust places, these cows were aggressive as with calves , this was quite a small field , it was the dog that was worrying them TBF – but based on other incident with young child I was really worried about families in that area as well.”

Steve P meets cattle on the Dales High Way

Report number: 985
Date of incident: 3/9/2024
Location: On the Dales High Way, arriving in Appleby, Cumbria.

No dog, lone walker

Report: “I was reaching the end of the Dales High Way, with Appleby now in view. A clearly signposted stile gave access to a field. There was a cow stood directly blocking the stile, with a large herd spanning the field behind it. The cow was clearly refusing to give up any ground. I had to walk further along and scale a tall fence to enter the field. I then waited and then plotted a course to try and avoid the herd. Suddenly, a cow from the group began charging at me without any warning. With no chance of a quick escape, I shouted and clapped loudly. Luckily it swerved and stopped, but was only a few feet from me by that point. By the time I reached the exit, I realised there were indeed young cows amongst them. Although unscathed, this was a very frightening experience and could have ended up badly wrong. This is a well used national walking trail.”

Steve P comments “Large herds with young cows should be kept off public footpaths. There should have at least been an alternative option, like there are in other places in this trail. It is do-able.”

BE: “all fields containing livestock should have signs giving a name and contact number to be used to report an animal in distress, or endangering the public”

Report number: 984
Date of incident: July 2024
Location: Fields near Thorncombe, Dorset

Report: “I walk my dog daily on footpaths around the village. Many of these footpaths run across the middle of fields and there have been several times when I have found cows threatening and frightening. The cows are moved frequently in and out of different fields, so it is unpredictable where they are likely to be. They are also often densely grazed in large numbers. As I have become more anxious about the threatening behaviour of these cows, I avoid entering fields containing cows whenever possible. In the recent case, in July, I had been for a long walk, and when I found there were cows in one of the fields on my way home, I could not see an alternative route and did not want to have to walk all the way back the way I came. The cows initially looked quite docile and not too close to the path, so I entered the field and walked along by the path but closer to the fence. A cow saw me and started to move towards me, then others noticed and followed. I became worried and as they grouped together and picked up speed towards me I ducked under the barbed wire fence and tried to continue on the other side, however this was alongside the river (River Synderford) and the undergrowth stopped me from continuing that side. I luckily found a large fallen tree branch and got back into the field. By waving the branch and shouting I was able to keep the cows back and reach the stile out of the field. I kept my dog on the lead with me all the time, as I didn’t feel it would have helped to let him loose.”

Additional comments: “I think warning signs should be used (though not as a ruse to prevent walkers using footpaths.) It should be made clear that walkers are entitled to go off footpaths and into neighbouring fields if necessary to avoid cows. Electric fences could be used to create safe routes to allow walkers to pass through, or around, fields containing cows. I also believe that all fields containing livestock should have signs giving a name and contact number to be used both to report an animal in distress, or escaped, as well as those endangering the public. It is currently impossible much of the time to know who owns the animals, or which farm they belong to, so you have no idea who to contact.”

Ingrid is chased by bullocks on the South Downs Way

Report Number 983
Date of incident: 22/8/2021
Location: On the South Downs Way, just across the A road between Housedean Farm and Southease, near the top of a large hill.

Group of bullocks (young bulls), lone walker, dog on lead

Report: “I got to a gated field which the South Downs Way ran directly through, where I saw what appeared to be a couple of young bullocks rearing up and bucking when a couple with a dog passed by, the couple were walking slowly, and didn’t appear to be in any immediate danger, so I stupidly opened the gate and tried to walk past, staying close to the fence. When the cows clocked me they suddenly gave chase, and I had to fling myself over the fence to get away from them.”

“The fence was topped with barbed wire and I was wearing shorts, so I tore one of my legs up quite badly and had three long scratches on it for a few weeks afterwards. It was getting dark by the time I reached the bottom of the hill and I was quite shaken.”

“I had to have a tetanus jab and my GP double-checked my scratches.”

Comment re signage “There was a sign at the bottom of the hill, warning of a bull in the field, but no sign on the gate I actually went through.”

Comment by Ingrid “The field that was occupied by the cows covered an extremely large and irregularly shaped stretch of the south downs way, I would appreciate it if farmers could, where possible, keep large herds away from some of our country’s most popular walking trails.”

Mandy is charged at by a frisky bullock

Report number: 980
Incident date:1/5/2018
Location: https://what3words.com/rinse.burst.opposites Nr Brading, Isle of Wight

Group of bullocks, lone walker, no dog

Report: “I entered the field (Gander Hill) from the public gate from the Centurian Copse end, onto the footpath, I didn’t know the herd was in the field. After a few minutes I saw them on the top of the hill, there were 20-30 of them, they were frisky. I chose the lower path to keep out of their way as there was not an alternative route. They came nearer but were interested in each other not me, apart from one in particular that was very frisky and watching me closely. They were on the top of the hill, I was below. I should have turned back at that point but kept going, cautiously. Probably they were 100 yards away at least. I carried on for a couple of minutes thinking that I would get to the exit at the other end of the field before them. The one that was interested in me broke away from the rest of the herd and halved the distance between iteself and me in about 10 seconds. It was watching me closing, bucking, agile, dancing almost. The rest of them came a bit closer but were still frisky amoungst themselves and not very interested in me. I was very frightened, rooted to the spot, hands clamped by my side, nowhere to go, I was too far from the edge of the field to get to it and anyway it was a high fence with a lot of brambles and barbed wire. I was scared to wave my arms around or shout at it or move in case I frightened the rest of them into running at me. So I didn’t move at all, just stood stock still. It charged at me. But stopped of its own volition about 20 yards from me, stared at me for a moment and then tossed its head and rejoined the rest of the herd, which then ambled off in the direction of the far gate. I carefully retraced my steps back the way I came and exited the field.”

Mandy comments “Cattle should not be allowed to roam on public land full stop. Where there are farmers fields with footpaths, then those footpaths should be fenced, just basic stock fencing will do. I am happy for footpaths to be sensibly re-routed within the field concerned to allow a sensible solution that protects livestock and humans from unhelpful interactions.”

Henry wants more protection for walkers so they can cross fields safely.

Report number: 979
Date of incident: 30/6/2017
Location: ///Leopard.Riverboat.Soonest. Between Stanton Prior, BA2 9HT and Bath Spa University campus,

Group of cows involved, black angus, red angus, Angus/Hereford cross, lone walker, no dog

Report: “I had passed through the field the day before and observed the cows were very alert and territorial, despite there being no observable calves. On that occasion I decided to leave the field through a fence as I was uncomfortable walking further. The day of the attack I was walking in the opposite direction, from Stanton Prior to Bath Spa University, where I was a student. I entered the field via the footpath and saw the cows on the far side of the field, approx. 400m away. With so much distance between us I felt reasonably ok about walking through, despite my encounter with them the previous day. However, as I continued to walk, keeping a close eye at all times, they gradually began to notice my presence and turned towards me. I kept walking as they were still far away, but then the herd began to move in my direction. I had already picked an exit point to get to if needed and I began to slowly move in the direction of the gap in the hedgerow by the fence. As I was moving away they began to run towards me in a long line, with one cow breaking off and running down the fence line. I was able to get over the fence just before the cow reached me. Had I not been aware of the herd’s previous behaviour and picked an exit route, I’m not sure I would have made it away unscathed. The hedgerow was thick and there were long stretches without exit points. The method the cattle used with one running along the fence line and the remainder spread out and running towards the fence line would have made outrunning them very difficult. I had no dog, was moving cautiously and always keeping distance. In other words this was totally unprovoked and potentially very serious. I filmed the entire encounter as I was so concerned something might happen.”

“I informed the farmer who didn’t take the incident seriously and told me how nice the cows were. This incident totally changed the way I walk in the country, especially around livestock. I will not enter a field with cows again as a result of this.”

Henry comments ” there should be more signage, more communication that this can happen to anyone, not just dog walkers. More exit routes in fields. Ideally more protection for ramblers/walkers so they can cross fields in safety. I used the route as my commute to university and work. Without crossing the field, my walk increased from 20 minutes to 1hr. I had no other method of transportation.”

Raced at by bullocks

Report number: 978
Incident date: 5/9/2022
Location: Berry Pomeroy – walking on public right of way path from the village up through huge field to head towards castle.

Lone walker, dog on lead.

Report: “The field from the village is huge and slopes up so you cannot see when entering if livestock are in there. It’s a circular walk from Berry Pomeroy village to the castle and back. As I got to the brow of the hill I saw a huge group of (what I presume were) bullocks They were a long way off but when they saw me they came racing down and started bombing me and hitting the hedge around me and my dog. I was about 20m away from the gate so I ran for it as they were getting more aggressive. I just managed to get through the gate and they ran into the gate after me (colliding with it.) I was terrified. Stupidly I didn’t take my dog off lead.”

“I had to get a friend to drive to collect me as the only way back to village was along a well-used B road that people use as a rat run to Paignton/Torbay and that has no footpaths. The bullocks were still at gate when my friend picked me up an hour later from the castle. I’m surprised no one has been killed in that field. A notice should be put up to warn hikers! I’ve never gone back.”

HD: “This incident has made me nervous in a place where I previously felt entirely comfortable.”

Report Number: 974
Date of incident: 31/7/2024
Location: handwriting.tortoises.unwraps – Location is somewhat approximate, but I was heading downhill on the public bridleway from the Pennine Way above Moorfield towards the junction with Derbyshire Level.

Report: “I was walking downhill on the public bridleway – a walk I do everyday in the evening during which I have never seen anything but sheep in this particular section – when I spotted a lone cow almost directly parallel to me across the gully. The cow spotted me and began to move at the same pace. When I sped up slightly, as I had begun to feel frightened, the cow matched my speed. This continued until we approached the point where our paths were due to converge. By this point I was rather scared, so I started to run. The cow copied my actions and rushed towards me. I was forced to break into a sprint and head for the gate. The land is very rough there and I stumbled a few times with the cow still on my tail. Luckily I was just far enough ahead to make it to safety. When I reached the gate I threw myself over it and the cow suddenly stopped short and simply continued to stare. My experience is not much compared with the awful ordeals of others listed here, but I was really terrified for a few minutes and I developed palpitations shortly afterwards. It has made me very wary of returning to a walk I had been enjoying as part of my regular exercise for months.

I now make my ascent on the other side of the valley and use Wormstones as a vantage point to determine whether there are any cows present on that day in the way of my descent. If so, I adjust my circular walk and am forced to complete a linear route instead. It has made me nervous in a place where I previously felt entirely comfortable and which was very beneficial for my mental health.

Put simply cows should never be in a field with public access. That is the only solution in my view. Better signage and communication from the farmer can still not wholly prevent injury and death to walkers simply wishing to enjoy the outdoors unmolested. I would also like to see farmers held to account more rigorously for serious incidents.”

This happens every summer in this area of Derbyshire

Incident number: 960

Response ID: 306,985,266

Date: Repeated dangers over the past 15 years

Location: New Mills, Derbyshire, SK22 4QE SJ989866 w3w inert.cornfield.games

Simon F’s story

“I’ve not put a date in this report – it’s every summer! We avoid this particular farm from May to November each year because of the aggressive bullocks they keep in the fields. The initial incident occurred when we were walking along a popular local footpath to a bench called Peggy’s Pew. The path crosses the field diagonally and the bullocks approached us, cut off the path and began to charge at us. We half held our ground and half retreated until we were at the field wall, which we then climbed to escape. Since then we enter fields around this farm cautiously and if we see the groups of bullocks approaching we turn round, leave the field and go elsewhere. If we are just doing a local walk with no real itinerary then diverting is possible. But this is not always the case for everyone and not the case for us when we’re further afield. It is not just this farm. It seems cows and bullocks are becoming increasingly aggressive. We have been chased near Whaley Bridge and took refuge in a hawthorn hedge – not sure which farm. We diverted and climbed a fence after finding bullocks blocking the track out the field at Woodends Farm above Wood Lanes near Poynton. In the same area at Platt Wood Farm I’ve left a field where the cows packed it out with no spare space and walked through the field parallel. And I see it on Strava too – runners or walkers having incidents. Last week someone’s walk was cut short by cows (Rocks Farm off Whaley Moor) or last summer someone out with their young daughter in a pushchair had to leap a fence with pushchair to avoid cows. But when you read the sad stories on this website, and given the increasing frequency of incidents, I agree with your campaign’s argument that it should be the farmer that is responsible for stopping these incidents occurring and not blocking footpath access with aggressive cattle.”

Walking back to Combs Valley campsite – badly frightened

Incident number: 954

Response ID: 306,984,422

Date: 06.05.24

Location: Near Chapel en le Frith Derbyshire (What 3 words ///entry.meanders.cried)

KB’s story

“Two of us were walking back to combs valley campsite from the nearby golf course. We didn’t have a dog with us. Once in the same “fenced off area” as the cows, we noticed them dancing about but they were quite far off so we didn’t worry. There was a row of trees which we walked on the other side of from the cows. This meant we didn’t see them coming but suddenly they burst out from the main part of the field and we found ourselves stuck between the trees/bushes and a group of at least 5-7 angry looking cows. The leader of which seemed determined to hit us. My partner wanted to run but I stopped and started talking calmly to the cow, facing it. After an intense face off the lead cow decided to run away and the rest of them followed. We then quickly scrambled to the nearest fence and climbed over it with a tree, scraping ourselves mildly in the process. We weren’t injured but have been both since quite scared of any pasture with cows and now often avoid them and walk on roads. We met the farmer on our way out who said they were young cows and was friendly but also seemed to laugh it off, while we were just so happy to be out of there unharmed.”