I was knocked unconscious.
On the 3rd of July, 2017, I was walking with my husband along the Calderdale Way. We were close to Norwood Green, Halifax, in West Yorkshire. There were no warning signs about cattle on display, and we didn’t have a dog with us.
A group of Limousin cows were lying down in the far corner of the field. We kept as far away as possible to the right hand side of the field. The cows started to stir, but we kept walking calmly. Continue reading “Attacked by a Limousin cow”
We were trapped between a herd of cows and a ten-foot fence.
In April, 2019, I was walking with friends through Tyneham Village, in Dorset, with my dog (Rosie) on a lead. We followed the footpath from the village to go up the hill and back onto the top, and to head back to the car park.
A group of cows became very interested in us. My dog was well behaved and on the lead – but the cows came close and I became frightened. Continue reading “Zoe’s story: trapped by cows”
It was so scary for everyone.
One of the mother cows ran at me…
Suddenly, all the cows started coming towards us.
On the 30th May 2020, our family was walking on a public footpath through a field behind the Barton Abbey estate, in Oxfordshire. We noticed a group of cattle – a bull with cows and calves – were present in the same field. Continue reading “Rebekah’s story: encircled by cows.”
I ran away as fast as I could.
On the 22/5/2020, two of us were walking through a field along a footpath. This was between Cumnor Rd, Wootton, Oxfordshire and the old part of Wootton, near Boars Hill, Oxfordshire.
Continue reading “Heiferlump: a walk spoiled by an aggressive cow.”
I scaled the fence as quickly as I could, but it was coated in barbed wire.
On the 12/5/2020, I was running on my own along a public footpath near Aylesbury, when I had a frightening encounter with a herd of cows. Continue reading “Laura’s story: injured during an escape from a field of cows”
My dog was injured by an electric shock from the fence.
On the 5th of May, 2020, I was walking with my dog on a lead along the Reservoir Walk, near the Welford Reservoir in Northamptonshire.
I saw a group of cows in a field, and they had calves with them. Before we reached the field, the cows saw us coming and walked towards us (led by one particular cow). They walked quickly and were making quite a lot of noise.
Continue reading “Christine’s story: turned back by cows”The electric fence seemed inadequate for cows.
On the 3rd May 2020, our family was walking along a footpath just south of Forty Acre Farm, in Alveston, Gloucestershire. We saw that a herd of cows had been moved into a field directly south of the farm.
Continue reading “An unsuitable electric fence and an unusable footpath.”The bulls ran straight at me
On the 1/5/2020, I was walking on my own on a public footpath, close to the B4102, just south of Fillongley, North Warwickshire. When I entered a field, along the footpath, I saw about 10 large bullocks (I think they were about 2/3 the size of a fully grown bull and quite large).
I sprinted for the footpath with 4 or 5 cows running after me.
On Tuesday 21st April 2020 I was running along my normal route toward St Columb Major, (Parish/path no./link no. : 415/2/1) near Trenoweth Manor Farm, in Cornwall.
Continue reading “Andrew’s story: a runner chased by cows.”First reported death this year of a walker killed by cattle in the UK
[We are sad to report the first death this year of a walker killed by cattle in the UK.]
On the 30th May, a couple of elderly walkers were strolling through a field near Ingleborough, when they were attacked by a herd of cows. Tragically, the man died of his injuries. The woman was severely bruised, but survived.
According to the outdoors magazine ‘Grough‘, the walkers had two small terriers with them. According to other reports, the cows had calves which they may have been protecting. Read the BBC news report of the incident, which was also reported in the Yorkshire Evening Post.
While hundreds of people are dying every day from this horrible Covid-19 virus, it is easy to forget that the peaceful fields of England can contain hidden dangers too.
As the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions begin to ease, we urge people to be careful, and continue to report cattle attacks to us.
You can read some of our advice for walkers here.
Header photo by Gary Butterfield on Unsplash
Cattle Safety 