Report No: 927
Date of Incident: 10/08/24
Location: Bottom of Cader Idris (just up from steps), Wales
2 people, no dog.
Account “We had walked up the steep steps on the Minfford Path route at the foot of Cader Idris, to a large open area with no cover. A cow with calves charged at me and my partner, we had driven two hours to go walking and turned back.”
Tom also adds:- “For public footpaths it should be illegal to have cows with calves roaming across them.”
Incident number: 923
Response ID: 305,591,997
Date: 03.08.2024
Location: Chinnor Oxfordshire (What 3 words ///recruiter.cello.trudges)
Gary said “I was walking on a public footpath with my dog on a lead. Cows followed despite staying a good distance then started to close in and as we got to the metal gate they charged, some crashing into the gate behind us”
Incident number: 917
Response ID:
Date: 25/7/2024
Location: SA79EA (Swansea, Birchgrove)
Steve said he was walking on a public footpath in the above postcode along a narrow lane. He was forced to walk directly through a group of cows and was badly frightened. “The cows and calves are loose in a narrow lane fenced on both sides . It is not possible to pass without walking through the herd . The animals are spooked and some will run in any direction trying to escape”
“The animals should be contained in a fenced and gated field and not be allowed to roam in a narrow lane It is much easier to avoid any contact with them in a larger area”
Incident number: 913
Response ID: 305,066,633
Date: 22.07.24
Location: Chailey Commons
Lizi’s story
I was walking on my own with my dog on a lead along a public right of way. Cows began charging towards me (and dog, quietly on lead) from an adjoining field. I moved slowly towards the hedge hoping they’d come through and pass, but they continued to charge towards me. The bull came round the corner and charged at me with horns down. I had to scare it away. All other cows came round and surrounded me, staring at me. I managed to get out of the field through the gap they entered, but they then proceeded to head towards a different gap back towards my direction, whilst all still staring straight at me.
Fortunately Lizi and her dog were unharmed but obviously badly scared.
Incident number: 909
Response ID: 304,951,617
Date: 17.07.24
Location: On Welsh Coast Path midway between St Brides and Rumney Great Wharf, Near Cardiff.
Elaine’s Story
“I was walking along the ridge, on a PROW, with the sea wall on my left and the ditch to my right when a large herd of cows were walking towards me. I very quietly walked past most of them as I had nowhere to move to. Cows were also in the ditch and on the slope. However, one cow started to charge at me and I had nowhere to go. Scared for my life I just stood frozen and shouted “No” as loud as I could several times. Eventually it turned away. This happened twice with this herd. Further on, near to where the path turns right towards Cardiff another herd exited the field they were in and came up onto the path! Again, one cow started to charge at me and I repeated the shouting and I was left staring into the eyes of a cow who wouldn’t move. Fortunately, I saw a worker in a field in a civil and I waved to him and shouted and to his credit he ran across the field and up to the path to rescue me. He kept the cows away so I could pass. He said they wouldn’t have hurt me, but I wasn’t taking any more risks. On both occasions I had nowhere I could move to get out of their way. I have never been so frightened in my life, and this has put me off walking alone.
I would like livestock to be kept away from National Trails. I understand it’s difficult when a path goes through a farmer’s field but when a National Trail is developed the livestock should not be allowed to wander onto it.”
Report number: 901
Date of incident: 5/7/24
Site of incident: Three of us were crossing the Public right of way (PROW) on Coton Mill Farm land heading from Old Gayton Gorse to Mill Lane (OS Grid Reference: SJ 9783 3116) We were following the Pathfinder Staffordshire Outstanding Circular Walks Walk number 19: Milwich and Sandon Park.
Report: It was getting dusk and we were trying to return to Milwich where we had parked. We followed the PROW using OS Maps app and guide book. The field was quiet initially but around half way across we climbed to the top of a slope and were spotted by large young cows from the other side of the field. They were a distance away and we’re seasoned walkers with plenty of experience. We stayed close together and walked quietly and consistently.
It started with one bullock taking notice and like an excited puppy started enthusiastically making it’s way towards us. It was joined by more and more until we had a sizeable number behind us. I turned to face them and they stopped and leaned slightly back with heads low and pensive. I softly said hello and we continued to walk slowly, quietly and made sure our youngest member was protected. They lunged forwards a few times but held back…. playing.
It was really scary, especially when they started to get in front of us also. We did manage to cross the stile safely – but it felt like forever to complete the crossing. They didn’t hurt us, but maybe that’s because we have some experience and were extremely careful with our movements. When we completed our crossing we had the entire herd stood looking at us from the other side of the fence.
We need better marked PROW’s as the signs were appalling in this area apart from the farm on Old Gayton Gorse who had painted the way markers and stiles in high vis paint, which I thought was brilliant. The other farms however had very poorly maintained infrastructure and paths marked, slowing our progress considerably. Cattle were clearly used in multiple areas. We had encountered cattle earlier in the walk but they were young females and weren’t a problem.
If it wasn’t for access to GPS crossing that field where we were surrounded could have been very, very dangerous as it wasn’t clear exactly where our safe exit was.
Report number:900
Date of incident: 3/7/24
Site of incident: The field near Warlies in Waltham Abbey
Report: We were aware there are cows in this field with baby’s but I have done this walk for years with no problems.
Two of us were walking, we couldn’t see the cows as we began, we always give them a wide birth, the dog was on a long lead but all of a sudden as we came down the hill the cows were in view. They were a large herd, with calves, cows (with horns) and heifers. I put the dog on a short lead. We stopped looked at the cows, they were just looking, and so we carried on walking as we’ve always done.
All of a sudden about 40 of them ran at us full speed. We ran as fast as we could and jumped into a tiny fenced off area, no bigger than 2m squared. It was a small barbed wire square around a tree. All of them swarmed us butting their heads at the fences and waving their horns around. I have never been so terrified in all my life, at one point I thought we might have to climb the tree. If we made any noise the cows just got more aggressive and loud so we had to stay quiet, they didn’t leave us.
We were stuck in there for a nearly an hour and had to call police to come and rescue us. I can’t believe we actually made it out, only with a few cuts of barbed wire, it was the most petrifying thing I have ever experienced.
I did see a sign that said to be aware of cattle and keep your dog close.
Report number:892
Date of incident: 23/06/24
Site of incident: Close to OS Grid Ref: SY 63456 82538 on footpath going East to West, just south of Tatton Farm near Chickerell, in Dorset
We were walking on a public footpath in Dorset around 16:00 hrs. We had entered a field with a few cows in, so had put the 2 dogs on their leads. The cows were looking at us from a distance, though not approaching. We kept looking back to ensure they didn’t follow. All of a sudden, we became aware of another, different herd of cows ahead numbering approximately 25. We could see the stile we were making for, but the cows quickly surged towards us. My wife, who was very scared began to run with the dog she was looking after. I released my dog so it might follow her whilst I could try to slow the cows down, to allow them to make it to the stile. We are aware of the advice not to run, but it is a natural instinct to remove yourself from imminent danger. I did not run, just walking fast and shouting as loud as I could at the cows, swearing and repeatedly shouting no. This did slow down their approach, but did not stop it. I had now got close to the stile and continued to fend them off while my wife managed to get the dogs and herself over the stile (no doggy door to make things easier!). The herd continued to approach me as I got over the stile and swarmed around it after I had cleared it. I would not necessarily describe the cows as aggressive, although my wife did notice some leg stomping. They appeared youngish and it may just have been exuberance on their part, but the danger of contact with some very heavy animals was very real. This is our second near miss encounter in as many months and I am beginning to wonder whether my dogs (two flat coat retrievers) are of particular interest to cows.
We should not be intimidated out of using public footpaths. Warning signs are not enough. Landowners/farmers need to be more conscious of this issue. After all, they expect us to be sensible and considerate!
Report number: 891
Date of incident: 30/04/24
Site of incident: what 3 words – Unwound.minds.blessing (Near Purton, Wiltshire)
I was walking on my own, with no dog and came upon a field of cattle with young calves on my route. I was on a public right of way.
I knew it was important to avoid walking through the middle of the herd and tried hard to do this. But the herd was spread out and eventually all the cows came together facing me, fronted by the young ones. The cattle began to show aggressive behaviour and would not back off. I fled over a gate and found another way round.
Susan comments that footpaths should at least have warning signs and electric fences to separate them from cattle perhaps.
Incident number: 895
Response ID: 304,260,052
Date: 27.06.24
Location: Two locations near Youlgreave Derbyshire What three words ///point.proclaims.poppy ///distilled.regaining.jukebox
First field had large group of 30 plus cows with calves in the fields surrounding the gate of a popular footpath. We were four people with dogs on leads. Attempted to walk through the gate cows came forward we avoided took a detour over a wall into a different field. Second location no safe route through at all. Every field full of cows. Popular footpath again. Attempted to walk through 40 plus cows charged us. Dogs barked to scare them off they backed off slightly we progressed cows charged at us again. This happened 4 times before we got out of the field.
Report No: 889
Date of Incident: 19/06/24
Location: Footpath near Shireoaks Road, Mount Pleasant, Belper, Derbyshire – GR (as given by respondent) 53.0331277-1.4969888
Dogs 1 on lead
Herd of black cattle
Account by local walker: “The fields are on the valley sides, so it can be a bit steep in places. There are 2 paths parallel to each other that run along the slopes. I could see a herd of black cattle ahead on the lower path, so I kept my border terrier on a short lead & walked along the upper path to get enough distance to could get around the cattle safely. I knew that path goes through & under some trees and was worried some of the herd may also be there, plus it was just starting to get dark, so it would be difficult to see any black cows ahead. I dropped back down onto the more open lower path once I’d passed the herd, not noticing there were more cattle up ahead. I cautiously dropped lower off the path to keep away but they started to look interested & move towards me. I kept the dog on a short lead as I know she would want to protect me if they charged & get trampled on. I threw my arms open & kept ordering them away. A few would stop then others would start coming at me again. I had to do this a few times before they finally stayed put. I honestly thought they were all going to charge. I wouldn’t be able to run away from them. It was very frightening, especially as I was on my own.
It definitely spoilt what I’d hoped would be a relaxing evening walk.”
Local walker would like “Temporary electric fencing to keep cows off paths when they are in the fields – to become legal.”
Report number: 888
Date of Incident: 15/06/24
Location: Coast path (two fields away??), Caerhays, Cornwall, England – no GR given
Account “I am a runner, and I was dressed in brightly coloured clothing. I entered the field, closing the gate, and started jogging. Several of the cows were standing on the path. I immediately slowed to a walk. Deviating from the path would have put me into the middle of the herd, so I kept to the path and tried to stay between the most aggressive cow and the edge of the fence. The most aggressive cow shuffled around to face me. I walked quietly around it but it oriented towards me and starting following me. I had the sense it was annoyed with me. I had to stop three or four times and put out of my hand, shouting ‘No!’ to get it to stop, which it did, flicking its ears. On the last occasion, it walked backwards a bit, and from this point I was able to walk to the next gate, about 50 metres on.”
Cattle Safety 