Category: Spoiled walks

Leaping over a stile to escape cattle on Oxfordshire

Incident number: 1209

Response ID: 317,262,717

Date of incident: 15.10.25

Location: Between East Hagbourne and Blewbury in Oxfordshire (What 3 words ///gala.flopped.charities)

Status: Lone walker with dog on lead on PROW

Helen’s story

“I needed to cross the field to get home… no close alternative route. I walked with the dog on the lead on the public footpath and the cows started walking towards me. I stayed calm and tried to make my self big and loud, they stopped. This went on a few times and then they all started running at me. I let the dog off the lead and ran to the stile behind me. I had my foot on the first step when they reached me so I had to launch myself head first over the other side so not to hit by them. I injured my face, bruising to my nose, grazes on my forehead, small cuts on my hands and have a significant bruise on my inner thigh. My thigh is very painful so I will possibly have to attend minor injuries just to rule out any hairline fractures. Very shaken and upset afterwards. Took a long time to walk home with injury.”

She adds “A separate footpath. I have seen many people running from cattle in this field and it’s a real danger.”

Cotswold Way walk cattle blocking exit routes.

Incident number: 1208

Response ID: 317,248,049

Date of incident: 10.10.25

Location: On The Cotswold Way. On the approach to Winchcombe just before Puck Pit Lane GL54 5JQ

Status: Two people with dogs on lead on PROW

“We were walking on The Cotswold Way. The two of us entered a very large field with two very quiet, placid dogs, both on leads. Due to the steep topography of the field we couldn’t see the cattle initially and also couldn’t see the direction of the path and where the exit gate was. It was a very large area, consisting of two connecting fields which were not very visible and the exit gate was not very obvious. As we headed over the top of the first field we then saw a small group of young, black bullocks eating at a trough. We couldn’t see where the path went but decided to give the cattle a wide berth and, as they were busy eating, they looked docile and ok to walk past at a distance. As we continued, the field then dipped down towards a dividing ditch and then into a second connecting field. We then noticed one of the cows at the trough had taken an interest in us and was walking quickly towards the bridge over the ditch to the second field. We were lower down and had to cross the ditch without a bridge as we were avoiding the cattle. We still didn’t know where the exit gate was and where the path went. As we crossed the ditch into the second field we then saw a second group of black young bullocks but they seemed far enough away in the corner but then we realised they were close to the exit gate which we could now see. However, these cattle started mooing which I knew was a bad sign. At the same time the bullock who had taken an interest, was now running into the second field towards us and was now bringing the first group with him. We were both really scared but tried not to panic. We walked quickly but quietly. By this time the second group were becoming increasingly interested. We were terrified by this point but just managed to push our dogs under the barbed wire and clamber over the gate before the cattle got to us. At this point the gate was surrounded by both groups of cattle. We had reached safety just in time but we then saw two runners in the field coming towards the gate. They stopped and looked very apprehensive. We tried to distract the cattle and kept them looking at us rather than the runners and they were eventually able to get through them and over the gate. We knew there were more walkers behind us on the Cotswold Way route and we just hope they managed to get through these fields ok.”

They want “More rights of way paths fenced off from cattle, especially routes that are regularly walked, such as The Cotswold Way and other long distance trails. These incidents are becoming more and more common and are really terrifying.”

How these people were not more seriously hurt is a miracle!

Incident number: 1207

Response ID: 317,241,171

Date of incident: 14.10.25

Location: West Calais Hill, Canterbury. (What 3 words Utensil.strapping.definite)

Status: Two people with dogs on leads

Our reporter’s story

“The cows spotted us across the field and came at reasonable pace towards us, we gave them a wide berth with the dogs on short leashes, and as we funnelled to access the gate to exit the field a cow behind me pushed me to the ground, face first, and the group proceeded to trample me and my dog. I let go of the dog, he escaped to the next field. I proceeded to be thrown about under the herd, the ground was wet so I was sliding across the floor keeping myself face down. My brother sent his dog to the next field and pushed himself into the trampling cows to get them off of me, they retreated.”

“ I experienced many bruises to limbs and back from kicking, and a lot of blood, facial swelling, nose trauma and broken lip, bruised ribs. The dog was stomped on but is not currently showing any signs of injury, he is being monitored closely.”

They add “The farmer owns many alternate non public access fields, it would be reasonable for the use of public access fields to be a last resort. More apparent warnings that cattle are present. Water troughs to be far from public access gates. Alternative means of escape, as we got stuck after the attack in a small gated area between two adjacent herds. And ideally an apparent method of contact in the case of an emergency.”

Sprint to Ugborough Beacon to avoid aggressive cow

Incident number: 1206

Response ID: 317,153,345

Date of incident: 7.10.25

Location: Near South Brent Devon(What 3 words ///nuggets.inspects.owns)

Status: Lone walker with dog on lead on PROW

Reporter’s story

“I was walking my 7 month old golden retriever, there were some cows about 150 away to the left. Passed several cows and had no problems. The cow started making a move towards us, we went the other way and it galloped straight up to us in a standoff. It started snorting and shaking its head then went for my dog, my dog lashed back in self defence which stunned the cow. We made a swift getaway having to run through unpathed bogs.

Once we got around 200m the cow appeared to make its way towards us, so we had to full on sprint towards Ugborough beacon to get shelter if it did come again”

Coast to coast walk with cow out of control and three people hurt

Incident number: 1204

Response ID: 317,027,670

Date of incident: 29.09.25

Location: The coast to coast main walking route 1 mile west of Reeth, North Yorks.

Status: A large group of between 6 and 10 people with no dog on main PROW

Coast to Coast Path near Reeth report

“This is the main and very popular coast to coast trail which we were walking west to east.

We had reached Healaugh and the farm adjoining the path: the brown heifer was by the passenger window of the farm jeep, so close that one in our party commented “after food”. The cow spun around, snorted and charged head-down the front three of our party, knocking over all, before wheeling around and charging a fourth who was by the dry stone wall, with a glancing blow. The driver/farm hand had by now descended the jeep and the cow was brought to a standstill only some 5 yards away, still clearly agitated. One female was bruised fairly heavily in the shin area by the cow’s hooves.

The incident came as a shock to us, chiefly because there were no calves involved, nor any dog. “

Update from reporter “I had returned to work but other walkers remained on the coast to coast walk . Apparently, the farmer caught up with them on the path leaving Reeth the next morning: apologies were profuse; allegedly, the cow took 6 hours to move, a vet was called, it may have had Grass Staggers syndrome, he hoped it would have died and he attended the same Richmond school where the deputy head tragically lost his life to cows. Also, the incident wasn’t actually on his land and he has signs up on his clearly marking an alternative non-cattle route for walkers.”

A near miss near Great Barford (Bedford)

Incident number: 1203

Response ID: 317,000,654

Date of incident: 28.09.25

Location: Great Barford. Not far from Bedford. Public footpath near the river

Status: Four people (2 children) with no dog on PROW

Alesya’a story

“We walked on a path near the river. Walked to the end of the field, a group of what appeared to be young cows were quite far away in another corner. We simply walked. No dog. Two young kids (5 and 10). Suddenly we seen cows start to run. There was nowhere for us to run or hide so we stepped to the edge of the river bank near a tree with an intention to jump in the river should cows attack. The cows surrounded us and kept coming so close I even petted one of the cows as I tried to calm the situation down and tried to somehow show the cows we are not a threat. There was one that looked like young bull. We were properly surrounded for about 10 minutes and kids were very scared. Then somehow I managed to convince the most eager cow to let us pass, and we were able to leave.

Very distressing.”

Trapped against a tree in Devon

Incident number: 1202

Response ID: 317,000,253

Date of incident: 14.08.25

Location: At Long Ash near Yelverton Devon

Status: A couple on a PROW

Myra’s story:

“We were walking towards a cow, giving a wide berth so not to be too close on the footpath. As I began walking past, it suddenly started to charge towards me. I ran backwards got trapped up against a hawthorn tree and I  tore my t-shirt.

I am too anxious to walk our dog there now alone. It was a very scary experience. The cows are huge and dread to think if it had made contact the injuries I would have sustained.

I think you should have warning signs put up in the area. I see lots of elderly and young children walking in the area.”

An excessive amount of cows on Angles way path Suffolk

Incident number: 1197

Response ID: 316,726,758

Date of incident: 11.09.25

Location: Angles way path from Wortham Ling near Diss Suffolk.

Status: Lone walker on PROW with dog on lead

 Ben’s account:

“I was Following angles way path from Wortham Ling near Diss Suffolk. It also covers a circular walk that I can’t remember the name of.

Following the signage for angles way we came to a footpath gate. Behind spread out in quite a small field were over 30 plus cows with calves . The cows were all different. Me and my two dogs on leads entered the field and kept to the edge. The first few cows moved away allowing us to move forwards. Then those cows followed behind us. Near the exit to the field was even more cows with calves blocking our exit. At this moment a black and white cow charged at us and tried to ram the dogs. This is when we retreated back to where we came in. At that moment every cow in the field ran over mooing and we were almost squashed into the fence but we managed to get out in time. Before this field there are loads of empty fields and this seemed almost deliberate that the farmer placed them there to prevent people using the path.”

He adds “Just seemed an excessive amount of cows in a small field, no way to avoid them.”

Cows spooking several walkers on Hadrian’s wall trail

Incident number: 1196

Response ID: 316,710,944

Date of incident: 09.09.25

Location: Newtown (Hadrian’s wall)

Status: On published walking route.

Lisa and Richard’s story “It was in a field just before the entrance of Newtown which is part of Hadrian’s wall. The field is signposted as part of the walking route. We walked across the field and it looked like it was feeding time. The field was big but most of the cows had gathered together near the exit of the field. We noticed them starting to quickly starting to move across so we moved to the left as far away as possible. As about 4 started running we tried to keep calm but they ran at pace so we had no alternate but to run to the safety side ditch where they tried to run down at us. We has to climb the metal fence to the adjacent sheep field to escape and I cut my hand. They followed us round the perimeter but we got out safely from the other field. They didn’t seem to then bother 2 women walkers who came 5 mins after us but they had spooked 3 girls ahead of us.”

They would like “That the farmer is involved and a fence is put up or the field next to it with sheep is used instead”

River crossing to avoid cows in the Cotswolds

Incident number: 1195

Response ID: 316,692,712

Date of incident: 08.09.25

Location: Between Bibury and Coln st Aldwyns

Status: Lone walker with no dog on PROW

Sarah’s story “I was walking through a field by myself. I saw a herd of cows (could not see calves) sat/stood by the gate I needed to go through. I did not get very close to them at all (and am already wary!) but decided to make a u-turn and not disturb them. As I turned, I heard one cow moo. They then all started and it sounded very loud and aggressive. They then started to run towards me, mooing all the time. I ran for some time in complete fear and panic. My only option was to get into river to get away from them.”

Sarah wants “Signs saying that there are cows in field and cows removed from public footpath”

Better to be safe than sorry when dealing with potentially aggressive cows in North Yorkshire

Incident number: 1194

Response ID: 316,604,724

Date of incident: 02.09.25

Location: Public footpath between Hartforth and Gilling West North Yorkshire

Status: Between 3 and 5 people with dog on lead on PRoW

Kevin’s account

“We were on the footpath and saw a sign saying “Caution Cows with Calves Can be aggressive”

“We didn’t take the risk of being attacked the cows and calves were laid across a public footpath. There was no opportunity to skirt the field as the field was surrounded with barbed wire and an electric fence giving no opportunity to escape if we were attacked. We took an alternative route to avoid any confrontation”

Kevin adds “We were cautious but had to make a long detour to avoid the cattle. Cows and calves with a sign saying can be aggressive is a frightening statement to make to the public on a footpath between villages, in an area where a recent death in Richmond received significant publicity. Has the sign been put up to stop people crossing the field as a deterrent or as a way of avoiding any blame if something untoward does happen? “

New Year’s day attack on experienced mountain leader in Snowdonia

Incident number: 1193

Response ID: 316,567,827

Date of incident: 01.01.25

Location: Snowdonia path from Maes Cwm to Moel Eilio (Grid reference SH 572 590)

Status: Between 3 and 5 people walking on PRoW with dogs on leads

Eryri Local’s story

“We were walking along the bridleway traveling south east towards Maes Cwm to ascend Moel Eilio. We were near to the stile before we saw them which was 20m away. I wanted to turn back as we had 2 dogs with us but my friend had been past them recently and thought we would be OK. We continued on quietly keeping the dogs close. My dog was attached to my waist harness with a canicross bungee lead which I failed to release before one of the cows charged us. She kept ramming into myself, my dog and my friend. My friend let her dog loose but my dog was trying to get away but as he was attached to me I was being dragged around and I was unable to release the carabiner whilst the cow continued to charge and headbutt us. I don’t quite know how we managed to escape without being knocked to the floor and injured. We managed to run to the gate and climb the stile to escape. He is an ex cattle dog so knows how to behave around cattle. I wrote to the council who claimed to have gone there to look. My friend went that was a few weeks later to find the cattle had been fed directly on the bridleway and he retreated as they were starting to approach him. There is no safe alternative around that path to avoid cattle when they are loose there.”

They continue “I have a deep phobia now of cows causing me a lot of issues with my outdoor work as a Mountain leader. This is a local route to me that I used to run frequently now I have to do a large detour over Snowdon if I come across cattle on the path from Moel Eilio which they are now frequenting (Maes Gwm)