Category: Stories

Managed to keep cows away using branches

Incident number: 1088

Response ID: 314,096,255

Date of incident: 19.04.25

Location: Beaupre Castle, public footpath, St Mary Church, Cowbridge, South Wales.

Status: Couple with no dog on PRoW

Maz’s story

“We were walking on a public footpath near to the visitor attraction of Beaupre Castle. There were a group of heifers in the field,  3 Golden brown, One Black and one older heifer which was white and grey. The cows charged us 5 times and drove us to a fence by the river. I armed myself with a branch and managed to fight them back over 5 charges as my wife escaped to the gate.”

Maz adds “Either secure public rights of way or no cows on public rights of way.”

Longtown Cumbria – We are so glad this walker turned back!

Incident number: 1087

Response ID: 314,070,431

Date of incident: 16.04.25

Location: Longtown, Carlisle. Coordinates 55.0072081, -2.9745976

Status: Lone walker with dog on lead on PRoW

Scott’s story

“Walking on public footpath with dog on very short lead. Followed by cows so decided to turn back, then charged by 20-30 cows. Managed to get back to the other side of the entry point safely but it was very close to being knocked down by the cows.”

Scott adds

“Changes – warning if cows are in field or dangerous. Ideally, I’d like the public footpath to be fenced off and separate from livestock”

Watch out for cattle on Bowlhead Green to Birch Copse walk

Incident number: 1085

Response ID: 313,994,623

Date of incident: 14.04.25

Location: Field on left hand side off Bowlhead Green Road, Brook, GU8 5UW approx half a mile from A286 junction.

Status: Couple with no dog on PRoW

Godalming Rambler reported

“We were walking on the public foot path goes from Bowlhead Green to Birch Copse. The cows were the far side corner of the field. The foot path goes centrally through the field. We walked half way across the field when the cows started approaching as a herd, as we retreated they began to stampede. We then had to run back to the entrance of the field.”

We are glad that Godalming Rambler was fit enough to run and avoided injuries

Dog saves the day in East Harptree Somerset

Incident number: 1084

Response ID: 313,992,260

Date of incident: 13.04.25

Location: East Harptree, Somerset On a public right of way through field near Nettwood Lane

Status: Two people with dog on lead on PRoW

E Hale’s Story

“A group of around 20 cows or so were to the left of the gate that we needed to go through. We walked away from the public right of way to ensure that we gave them some space. Our dog was not reacting and kept on a tight lead. The cows were watching us and then they started to trot towards us and then began speeding up. Our dog started reacting so we had to let her off the lead. The cows were beginning to circle us but our small dog running around them pushed them back and we were able to run to the gate. Our dog continued to run around them, barking until we were at the gate and then she came back to us when we called her and luckily she was able to get through the cows as they had now surrounded the gate. It was very scary and I am sure that we would have been injured if not for our dog. We have walked through many fields with cattle before and have never felt this threatened and at risk of harm.

Our dog was very agitated following this incident and it took us a while to calm her down. Not sure how she will react to cows in the future now.”

Struggling to avoid a herd on public footpath in Papcastle

Incident number: 1083

Response ID: 313,984,668

Date of incident: 13.04.25

Location: Field in Papcastle on Papcastle to Workington Trail.

Status: Couple with two children with no dog on PRoW

“My partner and our 2 young children were walking a field in Papcastle. We crossed the field before, on the public footpath, and could not see any cattle. On our return, we got to the gate and saw a herd of cows in the field. They turned to look at us and then ran to the gate. They stopped about a metre before the gate and just stared at us. We waited for a while hoping that they would get bored and move along but they didn’t. We had no other route and there was a river to the side of us. We turned around and tried to go up a bank to find another way. As we turned around the cows raced at the gate. When we couldn’t find another route, we went back to the gate and the herd had moved but they had moved to the other gate which would have blocked our way out of the field. We therefore had no option but to walk up the other side of the field to see if we could find another way out. When we got to the top of the field and walked across, we were at the top of a hill, with the cows at the bottom of the hill- but they had moved from the footpath so we thought we would move back toward the footpath. However, the herd stared at us again and when we started walking back towards the path, they all started to run back in that direction (thankfully didn’t come up the hill). We were lucky that we were blocked from their view then by a large tree so we turned the opposite direction and ended up passing our children over a barbed wire fence into the neighbouring field. When we got near to the footpath in the neighbouring field, the cows noticed us again and ran to the fence and gate and one banged its head into the gate. Throughout the whole event, we kept our young children slow and quiet and we did not provoke the cows in any way. I’ve always been wary of cows and now my partner is too- although I’ve never seen cows behave in this way/ it felt like they were chasing/ stalking us.”

Our reporter states

“If the farmer had chosen to add some additional fencing, it would have prevented a metre and a half of grazing along one side of the field. I can’t understand why such precautions wouldn’t be taken. If walkers can’t safely use public footpaths then the UK would be very suffocating indeed.”

Farmer had blocked off the foot path leading to my serious injuries from one lone cow!!!!!

Incident number: 1080

Response ID: 313,939,957

Date of incident: 06.04.24

Location: Field just past the campsite by St Margaret’s Church on Welsh Bicknor by river Wye

Status: Lone walker with dog on lead on PRoW

“The Farmer had blocked off the foot path making it impossible to avoid the field and the calves were not visible until right in the field.

Very large female cow came from nowhere charging at me. She Headbutted me to the floor, and continued stamping on me and headbutting me and either bit or horned the back of my leg. I let go of my dog as soon as I hit the floor and went limp. Attack stopped by 4 men who came to my rescue . And got me off the field. Ambulances to hospital where I stayed 4 days with two broken ribs, punctured lung and a puncture wound on my leg.”

We wish this walker well and hope that she has recovered from both her physical and mental ordeal.

Popular walking route with a very excitable and frightening group of young heifers

Incident number: 1079

Response ID: 313,680,417

Date of incident: 31.03.25

Location: Fields behind the Queen’s Arms in Corton Denham Dorset

Status: Lone walker with no dog on PRW

Gaynor’s story

“I decided not to pass through their field when I saw the cows across the footpath and stayed on the other side of the hedge to find a different way round. Suddenly I heard a loud piercing bellow and hooves stampeding behind me on the other side of the hedge. It was so loud with the cows screaming and bellowing and the hooves charging. I was petrified that further along the hedge the cows could get into the field I was in. They continued making a racket, pushing against the fence and following me. If i’d decided to walk along the hedge line in the same field as them I’d have been trampled – it is a very big group of cows and it was aggressive. I was walking alone without a dog.

There were no signs on the fences along the footpath or the stile which led into the cow field. It’s a popular walk. There should be warning signs!”

“Everyone should be able to Walk safely on a public footpath without fear. My life will never be the same again”

Incident number: 1072

Response ID: 313,179,697

Date of incident: 2020

Location: East Yorkshire

Status: 2 People with no dog

A horrible ordeal back in 2020. The people involved wish to remain anonymous due to the trauma they suffered

“We entered the field, a cow approached me from behind and pushed me to the ground, then the rest of the herd came up and attacked both myself and my husband leaving us badly injured. The group of cows that attacked us were a Stabiliser breed.

I had multiple broken ribs, a fractured shoulder, a collapsed lung, a haematoma on my head and lung, damaged nerves in my leg and PTSD. My husband was airlifted and I went by road ambulance.

This incident has been investigated by the HSE”

Our thoughts go out to this couple as we understand the ongoing trauma that they have suffered. If they wish to discuss this with anyone in our group please contact us via email (you did not leave us a contact email)  or Contact – Killer Cows

Kathy didn’t realise the cows were in the wood

Response ID 311,528,935
Incident number 1069
Date: 18.12.24
Site: Billingshurst, West Sussex. On a bridleway passing through woodland immediately north of the railway line, east of Rowfold Farm
No dog

Kathy’s account: “I was walking along the bridleway, which passed through an area of woodland, with a field of cows immediately east of it. There was a wire fence between me and the herd along part of the edge of the woodland, but part was open to the field. As soon as I came within sight of the animals there was some deep bellowing. Not like an ordinary mooing. I walked maybe 50metres further up the stretch of woodland, keeping an eye on the animals, because the bellowing got deeper and more animals were calling out to each other. It felt very threatening. Then I realised that there were several cows in the woodland, a couple very big, and that even the field I was aiming for to the top left of the woodland had the same cows in it, and they were all looking at me and moving towards me, making the deep bellowing noises. So I turned back the way I had come and found an alternative route. There is no doubt in my mind that had I carried on, they would have attacked me. The ground was very muddy and it would have been difficult to escape quickly.”


Kathy comments: “A public footpath is a PUBLIC footpath and it’s the responsibility of the landowner to protect users from avoidable harm.”

John Stapp has a lucky escape

Response ID 311,481,216
Incident number 1068
Date: 26.12.24
Site: What3Words location vase.learn.test, on the King Charles III England Coast Path https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/england-coast-path-south-east/trail-information/. Cliffe is a nearby village.
No dog


John’s account: “I was walking alone on a planned circular route, starting and ending at Cliffe. A few hours into the walk I was heading westward, to my left there was a steep earth bank leading to a concrete (or stone) sea wall. Beyond the sea wall was the south bank of the Thames Estuary. I passed a couple with a large dog who were heading in the opposite direction. We exchanged greetings and continued on our way. Shortly afterward, perhaps 10 minutes later, I encountered a small herd of cows. I estimate 10 to 15 of them. The cattle were stationary, with some sitting and others standing. I do not recall seeing any calves.
Having previously experienced charging by a large herd of castrated bulls a couple of years before, I was cautious, moving calmly but staying alert. The cows did not trouble me but one cow did begin to walk towards me after I’d passed the group. However, after some moments it stopped. Given that the couple I’d passed earlier did not mention the cows, and the cows hadn’t behaved in an overtly threatening manner, I figured the cows were likely not troublesome. Nonetheless I reserved some wariness.

My walk progressed, however the circular route I had planned was not waymarked, and this return route passed over wetland, and I didn’t want to risk losing time due to not being able to find suitable crossing points over the various water features. With about 90 minutes of daylight left I made the decision to return to Cliffe the way I came, a much longer route but at least it was clear. I had a headtorch and plenty of food and water, and spare layers and so was not so concerned about walking in the dark.

At the What3Words location provided in this report, I encountered the cows again. They were now moving in a single file approaching me. Not wanting to get too close to them, I stood away from the path, and walked partially up the earth bank that adjoined the sea wall. The lead cow stopped and looked at me, then continued to walk along the path. For a moment I thought all was well, but then the cow started to walk towards me. Fortunately there was a short ladder near me, that I could use to climb over the sea wall. I climbed up a few rungs of this ladder to put some more distance between me and the approaching cow. The cow continued to approach; it had left the path and was now walking up the earth bank. 2 or 3 other cows now also began heading towards me in the same manner. I then climbed onto the top of the sea wall. The cows continued to move up the steep earth bank and now began mooing. I shouted at them and banged my walking sticks together to try and scare them off, but this did not deter them. It was at this point I decided to climb over the sea wall onto the side facing the Thames Estuary and began walking along it. I eventually found another ladder and climbed over over the wall; there were no cows in sight and I continued my way back. It infuriates me this was been my second encounter with aggressive cows on a public right of way. I had a lucky escape. Had I not been near that ladder the outcome could have been different.”

John comments: “Thank you for providing a forum highlighting the issue of aggressive cows, there needs to be more awareness of this issue.”

Roger and his wife are charged at near Oswestry

Response ID 311,461,278
Incident number 1067
Date: 26.10.24
Site: Oswestry. Followed route 4 of the ‘Offa’s Dyke Path Circular Walks’ issued by ‘Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail’ and ‘Shropshire Council Outdoor Recreation’. The incident happened by Gwalia Wood which is point 8 on the route map at about 15:45.
2 walkers, no dog


Roger’s account: “We emerged from Gwalia Wood and went into the field where cows were grazing and actually moving away from us on the far side of the field. After walking just a short distance on a diagonal away from the cows and toward the sign posted exit point, we noticed that several of the cows had spotted us and had turned and were now running toward us closely followed by the rest of the herd (probably numbering about 50 animals). At the speed the cows were running we would not be able to retrace our steps the way we had come. I told my wife to run to our left and toward a closed metal vehicle gate. We reached the gate just as the first cow got to within 10 feet of us and I turned and started shouting and waving my arms to drive them back. This action stopped them long enough to allow us to climb the gate and exit the field before they came crowding around the gate. We followed a farm track, circling the wood back to where we had originally been and eventually getting back onto the published route at the hamlet of Bwlch.”
“My wife was in a terrible state, physically shaking and suffering from arthritis in her knee which after running and gate climbing meant she was in considerable discomfort walking back. We discussed the incident that night in the bar of an Oswestry hotel where we dined and were told by a local that the cows in question were well known for pursuing walkers.”

Roger adds: “The public footpath across the field where we encountered the cows is on a diagonal and on a right to left slope. The ground was very soft and we were effectively on the receiving end of a cavalry charge. It would help if the ‘tourist maps/leaflets’ make mention of the possibility of encountering livestock and to provide clear alternative routes where appropriate.”

Roger supplied the photograph of the herd at the gate following the incident.

Roger and his friends are pushed off their walk by frisky cows.

Response ID 311,460,084
Incident number 1066
Date: 14.10.24
Site: Anglesey Coastal Path from Cemlyn Bay to Carmel Head – Llanfairynghornwy near Carmel Head.
Type of cow: Group of Cows: Freisian dairy
No dog

Roger’s account: “A group of us were walking the Anglesey Coastal path, we were watching seals with pups on the beaches below. Having spent some time watching a mother seal and her pup, we started to make progress towards Carmel Head only to find a recently milked herd of cows making their way onto the headland by Porth Newydd at around 16:35. The herd consisted in excess of 100 cows and these were extremely frisky (jumping on each other’s backs) and moving quickly. The farmer had placed feed in numerous areas both on and to the seaward side of the Coastal Path in an apparent attempt to encourage the cattle to deter users of the path (this practice has been apparent in previous years but with no cattle present on previous walks).
The cattle quickly approached us with some of the cows breaking into a run. It was only because of a ditch that we were able to retreat back across and exit the field through a gate that we’d entered through that we were able to escape their attention. The alternative of a 200 metre sprint to exit the field on the far side was never considered to be practical.”

Roger comments: “Placing cattle food on the coastal path to deter walkers appears to be ‘common practice’, it certainly is not an isolated occurrence. I would like to see the Coastal Path and headland in this area fenced off from the grazing area, as one section of the path we walked earlier, near Hen Borth.”

Roger supplied the photograph of the cows beginning to fill the field.