Spoiled walks – Page 13

Multiple spoiled walks and near misses – badly scared walkers

Killer Cows receives many varied reports of aggressive and scary behaviour by cattle, and several of our recently reported incidents are posted below. There does not seem to be one type of breed that is safer and we cannot assume that because cattle did not react the last time we walked through their field, they will be equally calm the next. Farmers can fail to spot when cattle are a risk – so how can we notice?

Our reports are split with 50% having a dog present, 50% not. These incidents have happened in quiet rural spots and in areas where there is a lot of public footfall. Each incident results in badly scared walkers; they are no longer able to enjoy the wonderful freedom of walking along a footpath without worrying whether there are cattle in the next field.

The guidance issued by NFU or The Ramblers can work in some occasions, but not in others. Signage doesn’t seem to be updated to reflect whether cattle are present at the time you are walking – so no help at all. Signs warning of cattle in fields don’t absolve the farmer of their duty of care to walkers, but they may deter some walkers – and some farmers may be happy with this result. There are farmers who are actively looking at ways to keep walkers safe and are proactively working with the legislative bodies – we applaud them. Our footpaths give us access to our countryside, we need to feel safe to enjoy them.

Read the varied accounts below –

Simons story – hunted by cattle

Response ID 291,908,092, Report number 792

Date of incident: 12/09/23

no dog lone walker

I was walking on my own on a footpath on the north side of the stream which flows east to Fordingbridge from beyond Rockbourne. I entered the large field by a stile at the east end with the exit stile at the west end. The path was parallel to a fence with stream lower down & brambles & shrubs filling the gap between the barbed wire fence & stream. The field rises on the right but stays level by the fence all the way to the exit stile. It seemed a long way on level ground to the exit in the west.

After a few steps I saw cattle grazing on the sky line near the top of the field. When I next looked one was staring at me. I avoided looking at them & walked a little faster. I looked up after a few seconds and the herd of about 10 cattle were walking down hill exactly towards me. I knew if they started to go faster I would not make it to the end. I quickened without running. I felt the ground vibrating, looked sideways & saw they were running towards me. The barbed wire fence on my left had brambles & thick vegetation behind it.

High Bentham popular local walk. Cattle charged at us for no apparent reason!!!

19th August 2023

The two of us were walking with our dog on the lead on one of the local footpath routes in a popular spot for both locals and tourists. The bullocks had been occupying a field at the start of the walk for weeks and had always been docile/ not interested on previous walks. We took the normal circular route, passing through the bullocks’ field twice. There were no problems when we set off, they ignored us when we passed through as usual. On our way back, entering the field again, the bullocks were walking towards us, when they all suddenly started charging for no reason! We tried not to turn our backs and run, so we rushed sideways through a stream which luckily they didn’t want to cross for some reason – but they bellowed and stamped as we ran for the exit gate. We had minor cuts and scratches and were traumatised. The incident was not reported.

Incident Number: 754

Response ID: 288,714,163

Several accounts from Pennard, nr Swansea – are visitors safe?

Read the tales of cattle incidents – bitten walkers, charged at golfers, stampeded schoolchildren, scared tourists

The National Trust look after the land around Pennard, Southgate and Three Cliffs Bay, on the Gower Peninsula, South Wales. There is common land across this region and cattle have rights to roam freely over this small tourist hotspot. There is a golf course at Pennard adjoining the common land and the cattle roam across this also.

This is spectacular landscape, Swansea tourist board name this as one of the most photographed areas in Gower. The tourist board suggest several walks that can be taken around here and the Welsh Coastal Path traverses the area. This region sees a high number of visitors.

But neither the National Trust nor the Swansea Tourist Board warn of the dangers posed by the cattle.

We have identified 9 reports of stampedes or threatening and aggressive behaviour by the cattle in this region; our first report is from 2021, but the other 8 are from 2023, all were placed by members of the public onto Killer Cows reporting site. These reports provide evidence that these cattle are behaving in a way that is dangerous to the public. Most of these incidents are not being followed up by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and without our site would not have been connected and the danger may have been missed. We need a central database that people can report all incidents too, so dangerous cattle can be identified before someone is killed or badly injured!

Killer cows believe that all of these attacks and incidents could have been extremely serious. Not one school child, walker or tourist or golfer did anything wrong – surely they should expect to be safe on such a famous, well-frequented, coastal footpath area?

SL Story: a mad scramble

One of us is still suffering from an injured back.

On the 31st July, 2022, we were walking along a public footpath, leaving Slaidburn on the approach to Panes Farm, in Lancashire. We were walking on the public path with our dog on a lead, and were about 200 metres away from the field gate. Half way across the field we could see a group of cows near the gate and lying down.

Without warning, the cattle got up and started to charge towards us. It was then we noticed there were calves in the herd. We scrambled over a gate to get out of the way – which included having to throw the dog over the gate as best we could. My husband slowed their approach by making himself large and shouting at them, but they were still in charge mode – with one being particularly aggressive.

It took us at least 30 minutes of scrambling over drystone walls and gates to reach an alternative footpath. We escaped with only minor injuries, but one of us is still suffering from an injured back caused by scrambling over walls and gates.

In our experience, when entering a field because of the lay of the land it is often too late to realise cows are in the field.

In this case, there were no warning signs. We were lucky there was no barbed wire to scale over which would have made an escape very treacherous.

Farmers should not be allowed to have cows in fields that have a public right of way running through, especially with calves.

Response ID 266187259

Photo from site stock

Dillwyn’s story

The saw us – and charged across the field.

In Febuary, this year, I was walking near St Nicolas in the Vale of Glamorgan, in Wales. I was on a footpath with my dog on a lead.

Richard’s Story: helping a fellow walker escape

Had he tripped, it could have been fatal.

On the 8th June, I was walking on a footpath through Wild Bank Moors, just past the trig point, near Stalybridge. I was on my own and had my dog on a lead.

Sarah’s Story: my dogs were chased by a herd of cows.

I was terrified, and couldn’t find my dog anywhere.

On the 1st June, 2022, I was walking on a public footpath on Hob Moor, near Acomb, with my two small dogs on a lead. A herd of cows came towards me, and I let my dogs off the lead.

Andy’s story: leapt over a fence to escape

Unprovoked attack by cows on The Weaver’s Way

On the 30th May, 2020, I was walking from Acle to Berney Arms along the Weavers Way path. The incident happened after passing through Halvergate and crossing the Fleet river into open countryside.

Keith J’s story: charged by bulls

When they saw me, they charged.

On the 28th August, 2021, I was walking with my partner between Gillamoor, North Yorkshire, to Hutton-Le-Hole. We were on a public footpath crossing farmland.

A Tale of Three Walks: close encounters with cattle.

cornered by herds of cattle

Rod’s story

On the 9th August, 2020, I was walking along a public footpath in Norton village, near Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire (grid reference TL 23241 34541). I was on my own and didn’t have a dog with me.

I noticed the cows as I was walking through the footpath, but they were in a far corner and peacefully grazing. As I reached around midway through the field they began moving towards me. They then blocked my path and one ran towards me. I put my hands up and talked calmly, backing away slowly. They continued pursuing me. I fell over while walking backward and the same one approached again. I ended up backing back to the gate and leaving the field.

My main worry would be if that footpath was used by children, or families with children who didn’t know how to behave around cattle, this incident could have ended much worse.

Respondent ID: 240210409

2. A couple’s story

On the 9th August, 2020, we were walking on a public footpath near Brailsford, Derbyshire, in a field just southwest of the Post Office.

We saw a group of black bullocks standing in the field, so decided to give them a wide berth (c. 70 metres). We have been through this field before, but the cattle have either all been lying down or have been in another part of the field c. 250 metres away. However, today they were standing up.

I noticed that very soon they started walking purposefully towards us. I would estimate that there were approximately 15-20 animals.

I ran to the gate, but my wife isn’t as quick. She picked up a stick, which she waved at them in order to keep them at bay. I went back to help her, and started shouting and screaming at the bullocks to provide a decoy. This helped to distract them, and to allow my wife to get to the gate too.

It was very frightening, especially for my wife.

We did report the incident to the police. Ideally, we’d the cattle to be moved somewhere else so that they are no longer a nuisance to those using a public footpath. Failing that, some warning signs MUST be put up if the farmer doesn’t wish to face prosecution.

Respondent ID: 240210310

3. CS’s story

On the 19th August, 2020, I was walking along a public footpath near Morton, Derbyshire (Grid Reference SK 40048 60921). I was on my own in the field, with my two dogs on a lead.

One of the cows in the field took a dislike to us and started stomping and huffing. Then it got ready to charge!

The herd cornered us. I had to climb through a barbed wire fence to escape, as unable to find another way to safety. The dogs were unharmed, but I had some scratches and bruises.

Respondent ID: 240476237

Chris’s Story: a scary encounter with cows and a bull

The bull appeared in front of the gate… about two metres away.

On the 13th June, 2021, I was walking with a group along a footpath in Eaton Dale, near Alsop en le Dale, in the Peak District (Grid reference: SV 16978 55586)

We came to a field with a waterhole next to the gate. Did a check of the field before entering, and saw there were cows but did not see a bull or calves. They looked like dairy cows.