We both fell on the floor.
On the 20th August, I was walking with my husband along the Monsal Trail, near Bakewell, Derbyshire.
We came to a stile where 3 bullocks and a cow were standing. We walked calmly in order to pass them – when, suddenly, the cow charged at my husband and rammed its horn into his stomach.
Continue reading “Maxine’s story: rammed by a cow”cornered by herds of cattle
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
I heard thundering hooves…
In August, 2020, I was walking with my partner along a public footpath in the Reabrook Valley Nature reserve, Shrewsbury. We didn’t have a dog with us.
We walked through a field where there were a group of Friesian bullocks grazing. The cattle were about 50 yards away, near the hedge. We walked through a narrowing path leading to a second field, when suddenly I heard thundering hooves coming up behind us.
The cattle ran very fast and passed very close to us in the narrowed section. We were nearly knocked down. I pushed my partner into a wall to get him out of the way.
We weren’t injured, but were badly frightened.
Maybe I should just pack wire cutters?
I was on a public footpath in Anglesey with a companion, and we were headed downhill east from Bod Feddau (shown on 1:25000 OS explorer Anglesey East) through a field at SH593797. We saw some bullocks in the field, and we took a low key detour to avoid the field they were in. We had no dog with us.
There was a connecting gate we hadn’t noticed. The bullocks caught sight of the pair of us and came at us at a gallop. We climbed over a couple of barbed wire fences to avoid them, getting our clothes ripped in the process.
Getting very fed up with similar incidents on Anglesey. Many farmers seem to be obstructing the footpaths with problem cattle. There were approx 25 bulls in this incident and they looked to be at least 10 months old, and possibly Limousin; which seem to be common locally. Getting to the point when I’ll just pack wire cutters to make escape easier and safer.
I’ve reported it to the council but have had no reply.
I was housebound, unable to move or walk, and in considerable pain for two months
I was walking alone on a footpath in Somerset, 1st September 2017, and had nearly reached Chardstock, when a large herd of bullocks made a bee-line for me. Continue reading “Mike’s story: housebound after an attack”
I resorted to prodding the bullocks on the nose.
It was May, 2016, and the two of us were walking near Trefnant, in Wales. About 20 black and white bullocks approached us, and pinned us against a dry stone wall and bushes. Continue reading “Jumped over a wall to escape from bullocks”
30-40 bullocks charged towards him at full gallop on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Last April, 2016, I had a frightening encounter with a group of bullocks in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
I was walking along the coastal path between Angle and Pembroke. It was a public footpath and well signposted. A herd of 30 or 40 bullocks slowly started to walk towards me. Then one broke into a trot and before long they were all charging towards me at a gallop.
There was nowhere I could escape to. The field was very large and long, with a hawthorn hedge and a steep drop into the sea on one side, and a high security fence on the other.
My only option was to run towards the cattle shouting and waving my arms.
Thankfully they stopped and I was able to walk away to safety. I dread to consider what would have happened if I had not decided on this option.
I didn’t see any warning signs when I entered the field, and I didn’t have a dog with me.
Luckily I wasn’t hurt, and I didn’t report the incident to anybody. I do appreciate that farmland is there to be used by livestock, but it was very frightening, and since then I have become very cautious of cattle. They are very unpredictable.
Cattle Safety 