Stories – Page 18 – Cattle Safety

Mags just wants to walk a footpath in safety

Incident number: 877
Date: 31.05.24
Site: Field next to the Gate hangs Well pub, Syston. Near Lewin Bridge; roundabout where A607 & A46 cross.
I was on my own, no dog.

I’d planned the walk as it involved specific canal features, which I really wanted to see. I approached the field from the pub garden and I could hear the cows mooing and bellowing. When I went to the first gate to enter the field, they were staring at me, & the leader of the mob had head erect and kind of “alert” ears. From previous experiences, they give you a cursory glance, if that, and ignore you. I did think something wasn’t right, but told myself not to be silly. (Doesn’t matter now, as I’ll never enter a field of cows again. )

The cows were down the other end of field. I was crossing obliquely, away from them, from waymarker to waymarker. Suddenly one cow walked towards me, then the others followed. I went through a gate to exit their field and continue the walk, the cattle gathered round it watching me leave. Unfortunately, I couldn’t continue along the track as it was far too muddy, so I had no choice but to return. One cow was still in the gate, but moved when I got there. When I got through, they all started mooing and following me and I was almost surrounded. The cattle at the back started running, moving towards the gate I needed to get through to get out of that field, but luckily I just reached it before them. When I was through, they all stood blocking the gate; I haven’t been so scared since being followed on a towpath a few years ago. I thought I was going to be trampled to death. I will never enter a field with even one cow again.

It’s a waymarked public footpath, mentioned on maps and in walking guides. You can’t avoid crossing that field if you want to do that walk.

Mag’s final comment: Every field of cows that’s on a walking route should have a phone number so you can contact the farmer. On a previous occasion a gate on a walk near Kenilworth Castle was completely blocked by a herd of cows. I was going to turn back, but a couple came and shooed them away – with difficulty, and we all walked through together. But that’s it now; I’ve had it with cows and am reverting to my previous policy of not entering if there’s even one cow. I’ve been lucky twice, and won’t be so lucky again, I’m sure.

Very frightened by cattle

Incident number: 875
Date of incident: 30.05.24

Site: Llyn Eiddwen, Bronnant, Ceredigion | The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales nature reserve
Group of cows with calves present in field, large brown ones, not Jersey but similar colour.

I had two border collies with me, both were on leads as I entered a field by this nature reserve which leads down to the lake. There were no animals present in the field as far as I could see. I assumed the field was a part of the nature reserve as it led down to the lake, which the reserve is named after, there was nothing at all to indicate it was not part of the reserve.

I went down to the lake and stayed there for about five minutes. When I turned around a group of cows and calves had surrounded the gate, the only exit. I had no choice but to go and walk through them as there was no other way out. They had not been evident at the start and must have come over the brow of the hill.

I was terrified but hoped they would scatter when I approached them. They did move away slightly but then two of them approached me, they were very large, the dogs were barking at them. I was very scared and just moved past as fast as I could and ran to the gate and managed to open it and get through. I was shaking and terrified, I have never been so scared. There were about six or seven cows and several calves.

My dogs are safe but both were very frightened.

There were NO warning signs, private property signs or any indication whatsoever that there were cows or that this field was not part of the reserve. When I got home I did a lot of checking and that field is NOT part of the Nature Reserve – however is is RIGHT NEXT to the parking space and appears to be the way to enter the reserve.
I have reported this to Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales who are responsible for the nature reserve.

Comment: I was horrified by this, I’ve never been so scared in my entire life. It is criminal there is no notice up on a wildlife trust nature reserve, what if I’d had young kids with me? There was no other way out apart from up a steep boggy slope or possibly going all the way around a lake but there appeared to be a barbed wire fence halfway along. It is NOT good enough. Thanks for running this website – someone has to do it.

We threw ourselves over the gate!

Incident number: 874
Date of incident: 18.05.24
Site: SX868968
Type of cow: Group of heifers
No dog

We entered the field carefully closing the gate behind us. As soon as the gate was secured the cows started mooing and moving towards us. We quickened our pace and one cow started bucking excitedly close by. They followed us closely at a distance of about 1 metre. I talked to them calmly throughout, trying to reduce their aggression. We reached the opposing gate, very closely followed by the cattle, we didn’t have time to open it and threw ourselves over, my partner bruising her leg on the hurried descent.

Injury: Not injured but badly frightened

Kay’s tale of charging cows

Incident number: 873

Date of incident: 18.05.24

Site: In fields between Rugeley Trent train station and Colton

We were walking along a public right of way and entered a field close to a farm. The field was empty. We only got half way across the field when a herd of very aggressive cows appeared from the farm yard and charged us, we ran. This happened in a further 2 fields and on one occasion, both myself and my husband had to throw ourselves over a gate. My husband hurt his neck.

We were fortunate in that, although we are in our late 60’s, we are fairly fit, but if there had been a child with us, then it could have been a very different story. We were with a younger couple, who had a dog on a very short lead and we always kept to the field edge where we could.

We have been walkers for years and we have noticed that:-

1. The cows are getting more and more aggressive

2. Farmers are less tolerant towards walkers.

Although it cannot be proven, we suspect that when we entered the first farm, the Farmer saw us and let the cows in on purpose. The field was definitely empty when we entered it.

We are encouraged to exercise more and there is nothing that we would enjoy better than to take our Grandchildren out into the countryside. But there is always the fear that we will come across a field with cows in. Farmers clearly do not want people walking across their fields (on a public right of way) and are succeeding 100% in deterring us.

I know that Farmers are usually insured but I don’t care about compensation. I would like to not be injured or killed somewhere where I have every right to be. If we ever go on a country walk again (looking unlikely), then we will not be going in a field with cows in it but will find an alternative route which might not be on a public right of way. And if we are trespassing, then so be it.

I have reported this to the HSE.

Kay comments:
“I would welcome a law to be passed which says that Farmers should not put cows in a field where there is a public right of way, or they must put a fence up separating us from the animals.”

Cows and calves!

Incident number: 870
Date of incident: 27.05.24
Site: Between Boscubben and Trendrine Farm on the footpath between Zennor and St. Ives in Cornwall

We were a group of 3 adults and 4 dogs, we noticed cows with calves in the field ahead of us, so as we approached the field, we started to put the dogs on leads.
One cow charged to the front very aggressively. We tried to circumnavigate the field, with the herd following us round being very frisky. The cattle were too aggressive so we had to give up and double back.

I am not risk averse, but to proceed would have been foolhardy. A dogless couple aborted an attempt just after we had tried, but succeeded after we had left the scene suggesting the dogs were the spark for the cow’s aggression.

We were not injured but badly frightened.

Killer Cows comment: The Health and Safety Executive strongly suggests that farmers do not put cows with calves in fields where footpaths pass through. HSE recognise the risk and English law states that farmers have a duty of care towards those who walk across their land.

This occurred in an area where there are many walkers, surely there should be clear signage to an alternative cattle-free route if the farmer cannot manage to fence off the footpath.

Surrounded by cows – I was terrified!

Report number: 862

Date of incident: 22.05.24

Site of incident: Frome, Somerset, Whitcombe Field

Type of cows: A bull with cows, mostly Friesians.

Description: I was walking on the footpath through the field in the evening on my own. There was a group of cows, trotting through the field in the opposite direction to me so I thought I was safe. I approached a bench to sit down as I was calling a friend. One cow spotted me and started running towards me so I stood up on the bench and tried to shoo it away with loud noises and hand gestures.

Soon the rest of the herd were alerted and started to run towards me until I was surrounded by about 30/40 cows and one bull. They were gathered so closely together and moved right up to my legs that I couldn’t find a way out of the herd. I was terrified!! One of them started head butting me and pushing me so I was afraid I would fall off the bench. Others were licking and chewing my clothes. I trued to scare them by shouting and shooing but they wouldn’t move.

I called my partner and a friend to come and rescue me but they took some time and in the mean time I thought my life was at risk. I ended up calling emergency services but luckily my partner arrived and created a distraction so the herd dispersed and I walked away physically unharmed. These cows might have simply been inquisitive but their behaviour was dangerous and I felt so lucky not to be injured or killed. I feel like I need to report it to the farmer so that they take steps to keep other walkers safe as I wouldn’t want anyone to go through something similar.

Charged at by a bull

Report number: 847

Date of incident: 08/05/24

Site of incident: On the footpath up the river from St Nectan’s Waterfall, Tintagel, Cornwall. Coordinates 50°39’58.6″N 4°42’32.2″W. WhatThreeWords; ///disarmed.nipping.perfected.

There was a dairy bull in the field with multiple bullocks.

2 people no dogs

We are seasoned and experienced hill walkers. We approached the field on well worn path along from a much loved popular waterfall. We made sure to keep talking as we approached as to not startle bullocks (visible). As we entered the field the younger bullocks backed off. The dairy bull immediately started with aggressive body language. I picked up a large stick and tried to continue to follow the path with confident but non threatening body language. The bull charged us. I attempted to be assertive so raised the stick and held my ground. The bull continued to charge us, just stopping short of hitting us.

A herd of cows charged with no warning!

Incident number: 851

Response ID: 302,275,824

Date: 11/05/24

Location: Rigsby, Lincolnshire

We were a group of 6 people walking through a field along designated public footpaths with no dogs. A herd of young cows charged without any warning or being provoked. We managed to get through gate before anyone was injured but here was a high risk that someone could have been killed or seriously injured.

The reporter of this incident said “Where a footpath goes through a field, either cows are not to be kept in the field or the footpath routed around the side of the field with a suitable fence or barrier to protect the walker”

Avoidance seemed the best strategy

Incident number: 848

Response ID: 302,184,681

Date: 09/05/24

Location: Wiltshire- Walking from Barbury castle to Ogbourne St George and then back along the Ridgeway.

One Ridgeway walker recalls : “As my dog (border terrier) and I entered the first field along our route, we saw a group of about 20 cows ahead of us but to the left. I decided to keep our distance and walk tightly along the fence line. My dog was quite interested in the cows and wanted to go in their direction, so she was kept on a very short lead. The cows then noticed us and started walking towards the fence line ahead of us, then towards us. They seemed very curious and like they would keep coming at us if we’d stayed the course. Whilst stood facing the cattle, deciding what to do (should I turn my back? Should I go quickly or slowly? Could I jump over this barbed wire if I had to?) the cow nearest us started tail flicking and snorted- I knew this was not a good thing! So we ended up walking back on ourselves slowly, then far down and across the field out of their sight. Then, on the return leg of the journey, in a different field, the adult cows this time first stopped and stared and then all made a beeline for the gate ahead of us we needed to go through! The whole herd congregated there. I’m not sure if they were expecting it to be opened so they could go through? Again, we had to hike far up and across that field, then probably trespass into some other fields (under an electric fence, over a locked gate) to get back onto the Ridgeway.”

Attack on Offa’s Dyke National Trail

It seems that cattle are getting more and more aggressive. Often you simply cannot walk safely along a public right of way.

Report number: 845

Date of incident: 30/04/24

Site of incident: Grid Ref SO 236 406 on the Offas Dyke path (a national trail) south of Hay-on-Wye

1 person, 1 dog on lead

“I was walking my dog along the Offa’s Dyke Path south of Hay. I walked from Cusop as far as Upper Danyforest where I turned around and retraced my steps.

At around 8:35pm I crossed the footbridge (SO236 406) and entered the field beyond. I saw a group of cattle near the house called Pant Barn. I hadn’t been aware of cattle in the field on my outward journey, but they may have been out of sight behind Pant Barn. The cattle were moving up the field away from me and didn’t pay me any attention so I proceeded along the footpath towards Forest Rd. I had only gone around 100m when a group of 8 cattle broke away from the main group and started charging directly towards me and my dog. I immediately let my dog off his lead and made some noise to try and stop the cattle and shoo them away. The cattle slowed but then started coming very close, bucking and kicking. I was terrified. I gave my dog a command to ‘go to the gate’ and thankfully he did as instructed and ran towards Forest Rd. The cattle followed him charging and bucking and kicking. Meanwhile I ran in the opposite direction back up the hill to the footbridge. I could see my dog had ducked into the stream to avoid the cattle so I recalled him and he joined me on the safety of the bridge. I know that if my dog is scared he won’t always follow commands, around half of the time he’ll come and hide behind my legs instead. If he’d have done that tonight I think there is a very high chance I would have been trampled by the cattle.

Unharmed, but frightened

I have reported this to the Health and Safety Executive, the local authority and Brecon Beacons National Park.

I’d like to add that I’ve lived in the area all my life, I’m a qualified Mountain Leader, I do a lot of walking in the countryside. I like to think I know how to behave around livestock, but recently particularly on the Offa’s Dyke path around Hay it seems that cattle are getting more and more aggressive. Often you simply cannot walk safely along a public right of way. I feel like I had a very near miss with this incident and that it’s only a matter of time before someone is injured or killed. Yet the authorities are powerless to do anything.”

Chased by cows and shocked by fences

Report number: 843

Date of incident: 03/05/24

Site of incident: Grid: SO8176544273 Latlng: 52.09649 -2.2676 Hanley Castle, Hanley Swan, Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, England, WR8 0EE

Family group, 1 dog on lead

“We were walking on a public path, and arrived at a fork with the possibility of taking a public path in a field with no cows or another public path in a field which had cows in it. However the small bridge to the field with no cows was blocked off by a strange, thick coiled line which I thought could be electrified although there were no signs. As some of the cows were feeding and another group was in the far corner of the field I decided we should take this public path as it was tight into the side of the field and relatively short. Unfortunately, two thirds of the way across the cows caught sight of us and began to chase us. We ran and when we arrived at a single line of fence I lifted it for my children to get through only to find it was electrified and got a shock. Again no warning signs were present. After this we managed to get out of the field.

No medical help needed, but frightened and electric shocked

I think there should be warning signs for cows and electric fences and an easier way to seek recourse for incidents such as this.”

Unexpected near miss

Report number: 842

Date of incident: 2/5/24

Site of incident: There is a R.O.W. path through a field between Tanyrallt cottages, Llanllyfni (Caernarfon), which leads down onto Lon Ddwr (by Bro Silyn).

I walk this route most days as our daily dog walk, and the dog is always on a lead. There are signs on the gate warning of the consequences of dogs worrying sheep. Today I got halfway across the rather large field, when the dog starting behaving as if he were afraid, and when I glanced over my shoulder, there were two cows rapidly gaining pace and heading towards us a little too fast. At this stage both myself and the dog were really scared, we tried to walk as quickly and calmly as possible, without running, and feel that we made it to the gate with moments to spare. They were so close at this point that we could have touched them, so I don’t know what their intentions were. An elderly or less fit person may have been in serious trouble, especially due to the lack of warning signs!

No injuries, but both man and dog very frightened.