Tag: Cattle charge

Lack of public safety on SW Coastal Path

Report 1223

Response ID 328,818,368

Date of incident 5/3/26

Location South West coastal Path – south of Hartland Quay towards Speke’s Mill. What 3 words “qualified.shave.digested” North Devon coast.

Zoe’s Report: “Arriving at the gate on my return journey I was surprised to see cows there. I entered slowly and both dogs were by my side, but it was clear they were interested and I retreated back behind the gate as they were too dense and close. I waited for 15 minutes (since it was getting dark) and saw they had moved a little way off. I crept back into the field and started walking again, but one of the bullocks spotted my dog who was about 5 metres infront of me – the other was behind me. The bullock started running towards us and the whole herd then turned and started running towards us. My youngest dog sprinted around the outside of the herd and drew their attention away a little, but she then looped back around to me. My older dog who stayed by my side did not run away and now the bullocks were coming straight towards us again and now my exit was blocked as my young dog ran back to me and looped the bullocks back to me. The only place I could go was over the rusted barbed wire rotten matchstick fence and perch on the cliff edge.

This was frightening enough until a bullock stepped over the fence to now join me and my dogs on the cliff edge (150m cliff) the bull then snorted and chased my youngest who ran towards the cliff edge and then skirted around ….back to me. I then crawled along a half metre wide section between fence and cliff with my dogs so the bullock couldn’t follow – I then pushed my youngest dog back out into the field to run away …. As she seemed to be the one they were most interested in. I laid low with my older dog and called the police for help as I truly felt my only exit was taking my chances hanging on to the cliff as the bullocks were snorting and running and sliding on their front hooves towards me.

After another 10 mins the bullock stepped back over the fence and left us, but the herd still surrounded the outcrop of the cliff top. After another 10-15 mins the herd moved far enough away that I felt I could make the gate. Thankfully I found my youngest dog waiting by the gate for me. I was rescued and accompanied back across the field by 2 farmers, one of which reported it wasn’t the first time this has happened and they had been pushing the landowner to put proper fencing in. Especially since he has received money in grants for fencing. Thankfully I’m safe, but totally traumatised and am scared to continue along the SWCP.”

Zoe adds: “I seriously would like to see a decent cow proof fence keeping the cattle away from the cliff edge and giving space to people walking the coastal path. Notices for walkers to be warned of animals in fields and updated. An up to date website that walkers can refer to and plan their walk around fields with cows. I was blocked from walking on my return journey of a long walk and an alternative route would have added on many, many miles at night.”

Pushed against the fence by cattle

Report number: 1127
Date of incident: 2/6/25
Location: Bourneheath. Near Bromsgrove
1 person and a dog

Report: “I entered the field with my dog on a short lead. The cows were some distance away so I was not worried. I always keep to the side of a field when there are cows. When I had been walking for about 2 minutes, they all ran towards me. I let my dog go as I knew this is what you should do. The cows ran at my dog. My dog panicked and ran out of the field. I slowly started to walk to the exit of the field. The cows then ran at me. They formed a semi circle around me. They were all pushing each other out of the way to try to get to me. They pushed me against the fence. I was very scared and was silently crying. I phoned my friend who is a dairy farmer. She told me to stamp my right foot and wave my arm. They moved back so I could gently ease out of the field. Thankfully a member of the public had my dog. My arm was covered in blood from where I had been shoved against the barbed wire. I was so scared. I genuinely thought I was going to die.”

“I honestly feel like I did everything right. I have no idea why they charged at me or wouldn’t leave me alone. After I left the field they were mooing very loudly. It was a terrifying experience.”

Ben was lucky to be fit and able to run and wants paths to be safe for other walkers.

Incident number: 771

Response number: 289,519,286

30th August 2023

The Goyt valley, Romiley

I was walking alone without a dog for an evening walk and headed down a public footpath from Overdale Road to Dark Lane (Goyt Valley). I saw that cows were on the field where they had not usually been seen. I walked a bit more slowly and was under the impression they would leave me alone. As the field path became a wooded path and then went down a relatively steep embankment ,(I was almost completely past them) I noticed a black cow in my peripheral vision come charging at me from behind. I quickly ran down part of the embankment to hide behind a tree. The cow waited at the ridge above and continued looking towards me. By this point it was essentially off the field and on the wooded path. I weighed up my options: I could probably have climbed the tree as I am active and climb a lot, but didn’t know where to go from there. In the end I ran further down the embankment with a view to hide behind another tree further away. I judged (I don’t know how accurately) the cow would have a difficult time running down the steep incline, and there were several other trees to barrier the way. Once it became clear the cow was not following me I ran to the style and got onto the fenced path as quickly as possible. I thankfully came out with no injuries but was extremely lucky to have caught the cow charging at me from the edges of my vision. Once home and safe I shared a laugh at my own expense with my family about having been charged at whilst out for a peaceful stroll, but it was honestly one of the most frightening experiences of my life – I have very little experience with cattle and didn’t know the right thing to do. I’ve told my family not to go down that field if they see cows on it as I know they frequent that route, however it is a public right of way! I’ve since done some Googling on how to safely traverse fields of cattle as I was quite ignorant of any danger. I was fortunate to be near the edge of the field and something of a viable escape route, if I had been charged at earlier on in the open field I would probably have fared a lot worse.

Ben says “I’d just like the route to be safe for walkers.”