Tag: bullocks

5 bullocks leaping towards Grace!

Report number: 975
Date of incident: 8/8/2024
Location: ///outreach.cabbies.bullion Nr Burton, Pembrokeshire

Report: ” I was on holiday in this area, so not familiar with it. I followed a public footpath sign, which took me over a stile into a field, my map indicated the exit was at the top middle of the field. I had a sense the footpath was fairly unused, as the access to the stile was overgrown. There was no clear path once in the field, so I stuck to the left edge. At the top of the field there was an adjoining field separated by a waist high barbed wire fence in which 5 large bullocks (I think) were grazing. I saw them from about 50m and slowed my walk and aimed to walk further away from the fence towards the exit at the top of the field – always on the other side of the fence to them. However, my presence startled one of them which then startled all of them and they ran away from me. The field they were in was quite small which meant that when they got to the edge of it they then turned back round together and ran towards the fence separating the two fields we were respectively in. All five bullocks jumped the waist high barbed wire fence into the field I was stood in, about 15m away from me!

This all happened really quickly. I am extremely lucky they seemed to have just been spooked rather than aggressive towards me and so ran across the field in a different direction. I assume this happened, I didn’t see as I was extremely panicked, adrenaline kicked in and I ran back in the direction I came (I am 30yo and fairly fit), it was the only viable exit about 100m away, the hedge was too dense to get through/too high to climb. I was very fortunate to have gotten away uninjured, but, as I watched them jump the fence I mentally prepared myself to be trampled and probably die. I have never been so scared.”

“I didn’t report the incident as I wasn’t aware there was anyone to report to.”

“In this case, a dated sign at the beginning of the footpath to alert me to the risk would’ve been valuable. I would’ve likely not got into the field. I think locals don’t use it, but unsuspecting holiday makers might.”

Lucky Lucy escapes a stampede

Report number: 970
Date of incident: 28/2/2015
Location: Nr Oswestry, Shropshire ///lies.footpath.internet

Report “I was walking along the footpath, on my own, with no dog, at the place previously mentioned. 20 to 30 bullocks were in the field. They were pretty frisky and interested in me and started heading towards me when I entered the field. They followed me along the hedge line but I wasn’t too worried as cattle do get interested in visitors and I knew they would back off if I stopped and approached them. They started to get a bit closer and broke into a gallop. I stopped and jumped towards them to get them to back off. The nearest to me veered away but those behind hadn’t seen my signal and ploughed on toward me. The inertia of the herd left them no choice but to barge into me, knocking me down. Lucky I was next to a barbed wire line and was knocked under it and into the hedge. The bullocks thundered past and it was only by chance that I wasn’t trampled as my head and legs were only inches from their hooves. The barbed wire ripped my clothes and left some quite deep scratches in my back and side and the hedge left me with bruises and scratches. I lay there for a short time in a bit of shock I suppose.

The cattle had wandered off and I got out of the field and carried on my walk. I think I realised a short time later how lucky I was and headed home for a sit down. I suffered barbed wire scratches to my back and scratches from the hedge.

I’ve been around cattle my whole life and thought I understood them. I’d been with stampeding cattle before and they usually swerve if challenged. In this case, the topography and way the herd was closely packed meant that most of the herd didn’t see my challenge and continued their stampede. I would have ducked through the hedge had I thought there was a chance most of the herd wouldn’t see my challenge.”

Lisa asks “Why are farmers allowed to keep bullocks in fields with public rights of way?”

Incident number: 939

Date of incident: 29/8/2024

Location: What3words Patrol.kicks.classmate . Whitehall near Hemyock

Group of bullocks
No dog, single walker

Account: “I started into the field, no cows present. They came from the left at the far end of the field and were just 3 or 4. Soon there were at least 15, I didn’t count. They started to watch me so I skirted away a bit, though they were close to my exit. In a few moments they gathered around me. I kept walking and speaking in as calm a voice as possible. I could hear them trotting behind me and I was quickly surrounded. I just kept going, from the left and slightly behind they all began to run together, like a stampede, but thankfully I attained the gate. A lady renting the house beside the field, owned by the farmer, asked what had happened as she had seen me in the field.

It was terrifying. I had no idea whether they would run towards me, I had no stick to fend them off. Completely upsetting, I felt fortunate to be unhurt.”

Comment: “I still feel very distressed, lucky to be uninjured. I had no help and could easily have been hurt.
Why are farmers allowed to keep bullocks/ bulls in public rights of way? At least without warning. It shows lack of any care for those whose right it is to be there.”

JJ has several bad encounters with cattle

Incident No. 938

Date of Incident. 29/08/24

Location. Perrydale Farm, Sparrowpit, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire, SK178ES

Account “I had decided to walk down the road rather than across the footpath I had taken earlier as I had already been chased by a herd of cows. As I walked down the track I realised another herd was roaming free across the track and was blocking the path. I tried to walk as far away as I could, slowly and calmly. The young cows began to bolt around and as I passed 2 of the young cows began to rear up and run at me. I managed to get behind a wall and out onto the main road, I was so terrified by this.”

“During this walk trying to tick off 3 popular Ethels* I was plagued by cows –

>I was chased or approached in 2 fields,

>completely unable to cross 1 field due to aggressive cows hanging around the stile

>I had to leave a footpath and cross into another field over barbed wire due to a cow that had escaped it’s field,

>paralysed by fear walking down another bridleway because of several cows on a path that were stamping feet at me (thankfully a group of bikers appeared and helped me past)

>and then finally when I tried to choose a longer, less safe route back to the start (including a 2k walk on a busy country road with no pavement) I was chased by these bullocks.

I’m so angry that farmers can take no effort to protect walkers from harm and there is no recourse – even if that harm is sheer terror (have previously been attacked and harmed by cows)”

“I have tried to find contact information for the farmer but can’t find any.”

*Ethels – https://peakdistrictwalks.net/peak-district-ethels-list/ – Killer cows hadn’t heard of Ethels!

A group of bullocks caused an urgent need to locate a safe exit

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.

Jackie was headbutted to the ground

Report number:899

Date of attack: 27/06/24

Site of attack: what 3 words – Chopper.indulges.rates (possibly here) on the footpath from Daymark to Higher Town, St Martin’s in the Scilly Isles.

Report: Two of us were walking a there and back linear route, with no dog. The field had appeared empty at the start of our walk, (although we had noticed a sign saying ‘Cows in Field.’) When we returned to pass through it there were 2 bullocks (I think they were Red Devon) standing by the gate we needed to exit through. We approached giving them as much space as possible. As we passed, one of the cattle put his head low, took 4-5 paces towards me and headbutted me over onto the ground. Once on the ground I thought he was going to continue and trample me – it was an intentional ‘lunge’ and pretty frightening being headbutted and having an animal of that size and weight go for you, thank goodness the bullock moved away after that.

I was scraped and bruised and had numbness and tingling in my arm/hand for 3 days afterwards which I guess was nerve damage from the fall.

If cattle are feisty or mischievous they should not be kept in a field with a PROW. There should be separation. As a consequence, I would be unlikely ever to walk a PROW shared with livestock again which is very limiting. We did nothing to provoke or spook the animal (walking around it, giving as much distance as possible) and had no pets with us. I would be interested to know if others have been attacked here too.

Less confident with cows after a meeting with boisterous bullocks.

Report No. 884

Date of Incident: 8th June 2024

Location: Exminster canal footpath, England. Grid ref SX 295753 88008

1 quiet dog on a lead.

Cattle: Group of bullocks. Chestnut brown.

Account “I was walking across a large field, a long way from the cows, at least 200 feet away. 2 or 3 bullocks ran over, one was bigger than the others and was lowering and shaking his head, stamping his feet and was not deterred by me standing my ground, shouting, waving my arms etc. More joined them and I moved in stages to the edge of the field. My dog was calm and behind me.

I stood still, facing them and the picture was worrying enough for a cyclist to stop on the towpath on the other side of the hedge and ask if I was ok and they offered to stay in case anything happened.

I had to stand still for about 15 minutes as moving made the main bullock run forward in a charging motion. Eventually I stretched my hand out to the bullock, low down, and this seemed to calm things a bit. After about 20 minutes I was able to calmly and slowly walk to the field exit.

I am very confident with cows and have encountered them in fields many times but this was genuinely concerning and could easily have ended very differently.

Final comment – “The field is enormous, at least 30 acres, so these bullocks could easily be fenced off with electric fencing. I appreciate that farmers need to put them somewhere but this is a popular walking area and it feels like a serious accident waiting to happen.”

Blaine meets bullocks on Offa’s Dyke

Incident number: 881
Date: 31.03.24
Site: Over 6 days walking the northern half of the Offa’s Dyke Path. Montgomery to Prestatyn.

Description: A group of five of us started to walk the northern section of the Offa’s Dyke Path, a National Trail, from 26th May to 31st May 2024. We walked on average 14 miles per day over 6 days.

We had to walk through fields of cows and bullocks every day. Some days the National Trail route took us through as many as six fields containing cattle. One of our group was not at all happy with walking through fields with any large animals, so they stopped their walking trip after day 2 as a result.

I am uncomfortable walking through fields with anything but the most benign cows. I had an incident as a young teenager where I was unwittingly in an effective “bullfight” with an extremely aggressive bullock! The other three in our party are reasonably confident with big beasts. We are all experienced long distance walkers. If it had just been me and my partner, the walk (and our holiday) would have been abandoned at the first cow field on day 1! She was persuaded to continue, only with promises of surrounding her and “sacrificing” ourselves should the need arise.

Advice to find an alternative way to avoid a particular field is, in reality, often impractical with many field boundaries.

The range of encounters was from cows a long way away in a field paying us no attention, (but even this can concern some, including my partner.) We met cows, no calves present, crowding near gates/stiles having to be gently mo(o)ved and then following us from curiosity. There were cows with calves having to be given a very wide berth. The most scary incidents involved bullocks. We had 6 scary incidents with bullocks over 84 miles of walking. We would enter the field as a group and be immediately surrounded by bullocks getting very close. We would talk calmly to them, occasionally shooing them away, raising and waving our arms. We learned to gradually escalate our responses, as they seemed to get used to whatever we did and overcome their fear! By the time we reached the end of the field, we would be dealing with charges/mock charges to within inches of us.

There was one field, where a group of bullocks were quite enclosed by water/mud/trees, where we did opt to jump a fence. Luckily that was an option as these were very feisty.

We saw relatively few other people walking the dyke (end to end). Those we did meet all shared concerns with bullocks. Having spoken to locals they reported that numbers of people walking the dyke have dropped significantly over the past 20 years. This may be due to relative popularity of other paths but could be due to livestock issues.

A couple of points that I think our experience raises:

  1. Scary encounters with livestock are common;
  2. Such incidents put many people off walking in the countryside (if we’d dropped to only 2 or 3 of us then we would have abandoned our walk). My girlfriend won’t come on the next one; I was a hang-glider pilot in my youth and accepted the risks of death/serious injury. This should not be the case for a walk on a right of way in the countryside!

Comment: I think bullocks, cows with calves and any aggressive animals should not generally be allowed on paths with rights of way. As a minimum the right of way should be protected from beasts of any kind by an electric fence.

    Jim and his friends met an aggressive herd

    Report number: 844

    Date of incident: 28/04/24

    Site of incident: https://w3w.co/anyway.daffodils.laptops, Stanford Bishop, Malvern Hills

    No Dog, 4 people

    While attempting to walk on a footpath near Stanford Bishop (exact location was ///anyway.daffodils.laptops https://w3w.co/anyway.daffodils.laptops ) on Sunday 28 April at 2.40pm we were charged by a herd of bullocks and bulls and had it not been for a telegraph pole which we were able to use as a shield we would surely have been in more danger. We had entered the field on the signed footpath via the stile (in poor condition) from the west. We were sat down by a telegraph pole just eating some sandwiches when the cows (young bullocks we assume) started approaching. They seemed very interested in us so we got up. A couple were very skittish and were jumping and kicking in the air. A few kind of charged us only backing off at the last moment as we tried to stand our ground by the pole for safety. We eventually had to leave the field via the way we entered because the herd were not backing down and we were afraid of not having any safe way out of the field. So we sadly had to do a complete turnaround and find an alternative route.

    There were four of us in the group, middle-aged men, no dogs with us, all seasoned walkers and were all shocked by how aggressive the herd was. We did nothing to antagonise them and despite trying to shoo them and stand our ground it was clear we would not be able to cross the field safely. I think less experienced walkers might have suffered a different fate. The herd did not want us back.

    We weren’t injured, but frightened

    We’d like better signage, and ideally fencing being required by law so that designated public footpaths are safe to use in the country – other farmers have clearly taken far more care and attention over such things than this one.

    A run that had a scary end

    Incident number: 825

    Response ID: 296,105,674

    Date: 20.12.23

    Location: Between Lewes and Kingston, East Sussex

    Rachael’s story:

    I was running on my own without a dog on a public right of way. I saw some bullocks on the hill. They appeared very restless and were locking horns and sparring. Despite giving them a very wide berth, a large horned bullock ran at me, stopped two feet in front of me, snorting and pawing the ground. It was terrifying. I honestly think I’d have been attacked if I hadn’t looked away and very slowly walked whilst making soothing noises. I heard it following me, still angry and snorting but eventually it got bored and turned back. I was very scared and have reported this incident to the local authority.

    C.S story: a family chased by cattle.

    The whole herd moved towards us and began to charge.

    On the 30th July, 2023, my family and I were walking near Denbigh on a signed public footpath which turned across a field, again clearly signposted. I was with my son, daughter, daughter-in-law, and four year old grandson.

    Continue reading “C.S story: a family chased by cattle.”