Category: Stories

Walker charged at by a large herd of cows

Report number: 1110
Response ID: 314,619,335
Date of incident: 20/05/25
Location: ///rabble.trials.admiral Near Keynsham, Somerset. A public footpath crossing a field from Hanham Abbots to Willsbridge
Single walker, no dog, group of cows

Report: “Whilst using the public right of way that crosses the middle of this field, I spotted a large herd of cows at the far side of the field when I crested the hill. At the same time, some cattle at the far side of the herd spotted me and started running towards me. The rest of the herd joined in and I ended up fleeing to the edge of the field pursued by forty to sixty cows, making it over a gate just in time to avoid being trampled. There were no notices or warning signs at either entrance to the field.”

Additional comment: “The best solution would be that the farmer keeps their cattle in a field not used by the general public. Alternatively, they could reroute the footpath to the field edges and fence it off from the cows. As a bare minimum, warning signs should be fitted to the gates at either end of the field.”

The sign warned not suitable for dogs – but it was not safe for walkers

Report number:1109 England
Response ID: 314,585,333

Date of incident: 19/05/2025
Location: Between St Dogmael’s and Cippyn, North Pembrokeshire. What three words: ///received.indulges.sparrows
2 walkers, no dog, group of bullocks

Report: “We were on a public footpath crossing a field, I noticed a group of young cows in the shade, it was a rather warm sunny day, all the cattle were facing away from us at we set across field to the gate on the public footpath. As we walked across the field we were chatting and I didn’t notice exactly at what point we caught their attention but suddenly they were all facing us and coming towards us at a walk then a gentle accelerating run. We were still a few hundred meters from the exit gate, it was definitely further than we could get to before the cattle reached us, so I stopped and shouted at them and waved a stick which worked for a moment, they paused but then one or two started walking then running again. It was really scary, we sprinted for the gate and got over just in time. I feel like we would have been crushed had we been with slower people, kids, elderly infirm etc or had we not noticed them approaching and distracted them for a moment to give us time, we were very frightened.”

Additional comment: “There was a sign warning cows in field, not suitable for dogs. I would like clearer guidance as to what to do and farmers not keeping dangerous cows in fields with public footpaths. I think some farmers do it intentionally to put off walkers.”


Carol and her child had to escape via barbed wire and nettles


Incident number: 1108
Response ID 314,539,408
Date of incident: 17/05/2025
Location: Beal, Goole, River Aire bank

Incident report: I was walking along the footpath with my 10 year old child and my dog on a lead. Cows were on top of river bank, we were on the lower part of the river bank with the dog quietly on the lead. The cows came running at us.

I let the dog off the lead & he ran off & most of the cows followed, we ran to the barbed wire fence. Our dog came back to us & the cows came running & kicking out at us! My 10 year old climbed through the barbed wire which had already been stretched (possibly by someone else trying to escape from the cattle?) I then had to climb through & stand in a ditch full of nettles & brambles hoping the cows would go away. They didn’t so I had to trample the way through with both of us getting stung severely! We then had to make our way through a corn field back to the path. My 10 year old is very distraught!

Nia is surrounded by cattle and very scared


Report number: 1107
Response ID 314,533,472
Date of Incident: 16/05/2025
Location: Bridge, Portreath parish, Cornwall

Nia’s Incident report: “We were in the village of Bridge in Portreath Parish, Cornwall. As you pass the pub there is a hill on your right side that leads to a public foot path through a narrow path with a steep incline either side. You go through a gate to access the footpath and to get out there is a gate at the other end. There was not a sign to say cows were in the field.

We were two women with a small dog on a leash. The dog is not bothered by other animals it just ignores everything. All of a sudden we saw about 4 cows on the high part of the field looking down at us. We were approximately half way down the path when we were completely surrounded by the cows. We walked single file and calmly to the next gate. Some ran toward us and some blocked our path to the gate. We had to manoeuvre around them to get out. They seemed to be very inquisitive and sniffing us and the dog.

We manged to get out safely but it was a scary experience. Knowing all the stories of killer cows. Even seeing the first 4 cows we could not have double backed to go out the way we came, as we were bombarded by them all within a split second. They did not harm us but I was scared.”

Nia adds – “If I was aware of the cows being there before I took this route. I would have avoided it. I would like to know why the farmer does not put up a sign to say cows on the footpath.”

Lone walker attacked on the Cornish Coast path

Report Number: 1105

Response ID 314,442,735

Date of incident: 13/05/2025

Lone walker, no dog

Site of incident: Near Cows Beach, South West Coast Path, near Mawnan, Cornwall. What3words location: https://w3w.co/fuzz.paying.connected

Incident report from Robin: I was enjoying the view of the ocean and then became aware of a cow stampeding towards me very aggressively, I put my arms out as it barged into me, I was shoved through barbed wire, rather than being pinned to it and crushed I had no choice but to scramble 10ft down a sheer cliff face full of brambles. I gripped onto roots but most of them gave way. I was stuck as the brambles covered a cliff face full of loose rocks! I was absolutely terrified! The cows stood at the top looking over at me as I struggled. I tried to shoo them away but it didn’t work. I had to perch on a gorse root above 40 foot or more of cliff, I was worried that a cow would fall on top of me. After more than 1 hour they moved slightly on and were distracted by other people walking past on the other side of the field, I then climbed out and escaped, scared that they would charge again.

Comment: I was traumatised, with bruising from being bumped by cow, with cuts from the barbed wire and brambles, mud and slate dust in eyes and a strained back! I think that there should be a fenced off area to prevent the cows walking onto the public footpath!

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.”

Dogs killed and air ambulance called in this historic cattle attack near Ashbourne

Incident number: 1096

Response ID: 314,266,382

Date of incident: 09.07.2019

Location: Near Ashbourne (what3words) ///lavished.gear.birds

Status: Lone walker with three dogs on a lead on PRoW

This Ashbourne resident’s story

“I was walking my 3 dogs in the field when I noticed cattle grazing so I walked calmly & slowly towards them. At this stage I wasn’t frightened as I thought they are harmless creatures but then they all started to walk towards me before I knew it was on the floor being rolled. I became aware of hearing one of my dogs cry so I managed to sit upright amongst the cattle and pull my dogs towards me.

One called Mazy had been trampled to death, Marlee my second had also been trampled on but was alive just unable to move, and my third dog Burty was ok, so I unhooked them all leaving Burty to run away while I try to pick myself and Marlee up from the ground. I had to leave Mazy there.

As I stood up I was knocked again to the floor but I still held on to Marlee. By this time Burty had come back to me so I stood up holding both dogs under my arm as they were all small dogs but once again I was knocked to the floor. Burty ran under a gate that was roughly 10 yards from me, I watched him go as I just lay there thinking that’s it I’m done I can’t move due to having hurt my leg in the first fall.

Luckily two cars were lost in the same field as their sat nav took them both the wrong way so they approached that same gate near where I was laying but they couldn’t see me due to all the cows surrounding me so I managed to put my hand up in the air as I could see a car bumper near to where I was and then they saw me. They too were being attacked by the same cows but they managed to get me in their car and open the gate. I remember a motorcyclist coming towards the cars holding Burty asking if the dog belong to us. Apparently Burty ran out into the main road causing the motorcyclist to stop .

I was taken by ambulance from the side of the field to an air ambulance in the neighbouring field then taken to Stoke hospital. I suffered broken ribs, bumps to the head and cow hoof imprint on my left leg of which after many surgeries I am left with a shark bite image on that leg. At the time of the accident I was wearing a backpack that contained a flask of which saved my life.

I now suffer from PDSD from not only the accident but from losing my two best friends Marlee & Mazy”

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!

Walk needed to be diverted on Purbeck Way – fortunately walkers not harmed but this needs reporting to HSE to protect others

Incident number: 1089

Response ID: 314,115,653

Date of incident: 20.04.25

Location: Purbeck Way, between Corfe Castle and Worth Matravers, Dorset. Grid ref SY 966799

Status: Couple with no dog on PRoW

Purbeck Rambler reports that whilst attempting to walk ta section of the Purbeck way their walk was stopped by dozens of cows and calves blocking a gate entrance.

They report “The cows were of decent size – certainly not newborn with a very muddy slope upwards. This caused a bottleneck with cows moving into copse.

It was way too risky to enter field at that point. Waited half an hour. Bottom gate clear, but at the top of the field, dozens of cows and calves bottlenecked on the footpath, cows on banks either side. Just reporting it because there was no way round them and we had to climb over and under barbed wire to rejoin the Purbeck Way further on.

Still, that led us to wild garlic, so not all bad.”