Stories – Page 30 – Cattle Safety

Near miss: Sue and her husband

Now, we are both very wary of entering a field with cows.

In 2010, my husband and I were in our late 50s and were walking along a footpath somewhere in Somerset. We came to a field containing cows, and my husband walked diagonally across the field ( I walked round the edge ).

A large cow started to follow him, and I urged my husband to hurry to the stile at the edge of the field, as I didn’t like the look of the cow. The cow then made as if to mount my husband, rearing up, just as he got to the stile. Luckily he escaped unharmed.

Cows are VERY big, and we found the incident very scary.

A second incident, at another time in north Devon, involved my husband being rushed at by a large number of young bullocks and totally surrounded. No harm was done, but this incident was also very scary.

My husband was raised in the country and worked on farms in his youth, so he wasn’t in the least bit scared of cows – as I was – until these incidents. Now, however, he’s completely changed his mind and we are both very wary of entering a field with cows in it. Unfortunately, this has impacted on any walks we may want to do in the countryside, as we always have to ask – “Will there be cows?” If “Yes” we think again or make sure we keep to the edges and can quickly climb over the fence!

I do feel very strongly that farmers whose land includes a public footpath should NOT have cows there, or should put up a walkway through the field, protected by an electric fence, for legitimate walkers to use.

Featured story – Brenda’s tale

My injuries were severe. All my ribs were fractured and I had a punctured lung.

I was a fit and active 68 year old, a keen walker and solo caravanner, walking twice a week with the U3A. Then I met a cow, and my life changed… Continue reading “Featured story – Brenda’s tale”

Elizabeth had to run for the gate.

They were going full-out. I yelled and jumped, and waved my arms.

In May, 2017, I was walking with a friend along the Serpent’s Trail through the South Downs. We were somewhere near Petworth, and had strayed slightly off the trail because we misread a sign. Continue reading “Elizabeth had to run for the gate.”

Kathleen ran to rescue a trampled boy

The cow trampled down the grandmother, and was trying to kill the boy.

In May 2015, I was walking with my husband along a footpath through a field behind Redhurst Cottage, Wetton Mill, near Ashbourne, Derbyshire

We walked past a group of cows and met a small boy with his grandmother walking in the opposite direction. I heard the grandmother say, Continue reading “Kathleen ran to rescue a trampled boy”

Mike’s story: housebound after an attack

I was housebound, unable to move or walk, and in considerable pain for two months

I was walking alone on a footpath in Somerset, 1st September 2017, and had nearly reached Chardstock, when a large herd of bullocks made a bee-line for me. Continue reading “Mike’s story: housebound after an attack”

Simon meets a rogue black cow.

We noticed scattered cattle, and then one black cow began behaving strangely.

In August 2016, my wife and I were walking on Dartmoor near Sticklepath (grid reference SX 625925). We noticed scattered cattle, and then one black cow began behaving strangely. Continue reading “Simon meets a rogue black cow.”

The Americans ran for it!

My wife ended up with a bruise on her forehead and a black eye.

In 2014, my wife and I were walking on a marked trail near a golf course, near Bungay, in Suffolk.

The trail cut across a field for about 200 yards. We noticed there was a group of about 30 cows to our right at a distance of 50 yards, and three or four cattle/bulls to our left at about 100 yards. There were no calves in the field. Continue reading “The Americans ran for it!”

Jumped over a wall to escape from bullocks

I resorted to prodding the bullocks on the nose.

It was May, 2016, and the two of us were walking near Trefnant, in Wales. About 20 black and white bullocks approached us, and pinned us against a dry stone wall and bushes. Continue reading “Jumped over a wall to escape from bullocks”

Hugh’s story: trampled by the herd

I know I was LUCKY, because I would have died if the dog had not slipped her lead.

In May, 2010, I was out on a routine country walk in the Yorkshire Dales, with my wife and our young dog. We noticed the dog’s collar was becoming a little tight, so we loosened it a notch. Continue reading “Hugh’s story: trampled by the herd”

Charged by bullocks, and a lucky escape

My husband barely got through the tiny opening, before the bullocks hit the gate full on.

In 2010, I was crossing a field with my husband. We were on a public footpath in the Duddon Valley, near Seathwaite Village, Cumbria (Grid Ref: SD 2278096094). We didn’t have a dog with us. Continue reading “Charged by bullocks, and a lucky escape”

Another cow attack, in County Durham

Another cow trampling attack on a public footpath.

On the 5th October 2017, just a few weeks ago, Lianne Hutchinson was out walking her dog on a public footpath near Darlington. Suddenly, a cow barged through the fence and attacked her.

Continue reading “Another cow attack, in County Durham”

Mary’s story: scared at Stonehenge.

We picked up the dogs and ran.

In April 2014, we visited the stones at Stonehenge, and decided to walk back using the footpath rather than the road. There were two of us and we had our two small dogs, who were both on a lead.

There were a herd of heifers over by the fence in the far corner of the field. As we walked towards the gate, the herd started to move rapidly towards us, pushing us close to the fence.

We headed towards a gate – but it was locked. We picked up the dogs and ran to get to another gate, and managed to escape without being harmed.

I reported it to English Heritage (who manage Stonehenge} when they asked for feedback on our visit. This was at a well-used tourist site. The path should be separated from the cows… we were badly scared.