Report: 1175
Date: 2/8/25
Location: Near Ilminster, Somerset. Exact location: lined.otter.trout
1 person no dog
Report from Matthew: “I saw cattle were in the field but I managed to sneak into the field and walked quietly around the edge without them noticing but as I was nearing the exit, the herd noticed me and charged – very fast and making a lot of noise! I continued walking quickly (not running) and narrowly made it to the gate and got through just before they reached me. Scary.”
Report: 1167
Date: 26/7/2025
Location: Coastal path in North Cornwall, near Castle Point, St Gennys
1 person and dog
Report: “The cows ran to me and surrounded me, chasing my dog into a blackthorn bush over the cliff edge and also surrounding me. I stood my ground but had to shout at them to get a way out.
My dog was stuck in the blackthorn, but was lucky to be unharmed, I managed to get her out. She was less than a foot off from going over the edge of the cliff
The cows should not have been on such an exposed path. I am confident around cows so could deal with them. But the incident was very frightening, they were after my dog and very nearly killed her by forcing her off the cliff.”
Report: 1164
DATE: 23/6/2025
Location: A field just off of Church Road in Cheltenham Gloucestershire, part of the Cotswold Way
3 people, 2 dogs
Report: “The cows were all the way on the far side of the field away from the gate that we were walking towards. We entered the field and started walking towards the next gate which would take us into the next field (without cows) to continue along the Cotswold Way. The cows started staring at us and flicking their tails, we kept calm, our dogs were kept on leads the whole time, they were not provoking or paying attention to the cows. The cows started to walk over slowly, we became a bit wary of this.
We almost got to the next gate and one cow started charging at me. Our group unfortunately split because we panicked and ran a bit away from it. We were now far from exit routes within the field and started to calmly walk back to the nearest one, the dogs still were not provoking it or doing anything to rile the cows. Then out of nowhere they charged at us, and there were around 20 cows in this field; they all started charging, the three of us got split, one of us ran towards the original exit and the other two of us ran other ways. All of these cows were suddenly charging towards one person, and luckily her and her dog got out of the gate, if she had been 3 seconds slower they would have trampled her and as there were so many of them I think the outcome would have been bad.
I luckily scrambled under a barbed wire fence into the second field as there was no way I could have walked safely out from that field. The third person managed to scramble over a fence because they didn’t have a dog. The cows stayed waiting at the fence staring at us.”
Case No. 1154
Date of Incident: 15 06 2025
Location: On PROW near High Stool Farm, Flagg, Derbyshire – WTW – cloud.carpeted.bluffs
2 people, 2 dogs
Cows with calves
Account “We entered the field on the right of way. Our dogs were on a close lead. The cows started running towards us. One charged at my husband and knocked him to the ground. He was unconscious for sometime. Cows were headbutting his head. I ran back and made myself big and loud to try and keep the cows away. My husband finally came to and he struggled to the next field. He had a very swollen face, black eye, and substantial bruising. He was admitted to hospital for his injuries. We discovered in hospital he had 3 broken vertebrae in his lumber spine and bruised/broken ribs he was in hospital overnight and is still under hospital care. This has been reported to the police and local authority.”
Respondent also states “The trauma for me was unbelievably awful. I thought my husband was dead and the incident has seriously impacted my walking confidence and seriously impacted my husbands health”
The dilemma of meeting cattle in the middle of a long walk
Incident number 1140
Date: 13.10.24
Site: North of East Harling. It was a route marked on OS Maps that went through East Harling Common. W3W location: ///mystified.seats.chills
Type of cow: Probably young Aberdeen Angus bullocks.
1 walker
Report: “I was on a long walk and came to this field of cattle, unfortunately I had walked miles to get here and there were no visible routes around. There were maybe 10 cows in the field. I accessed escape routes before I entered. Unfortunately the fence had been placed tight against a treeline, with a very steep drop
into a ditch. If I had to climb over the fence, I would have fallen into the water filled ditch beyond. I knew it would be tricky, and weighed up heading back, but it would have added 5 miles onto my walk so I proceeded. The stile on the other side was unfortunately slap bank in the middle of the other side. I walked around the edge of the field, away from the cattle. Unfortunately they immediately started heading over towards me. I continued to walk around the perimeter. By the time I reached the corner on the other side, a group of around 5 of the cattle had gathered around me and one of them was kind of bouncing on its front legs towards me and then backing off. I could not tell if he was being playful or aggressive. As I had reached the corner, I noticed that the corner fence pole had some diagonal supports which I thought I could use to climb over. There was a farm driveway on the other side here, so I threw my backpack over the fence and climbed/fell over out of harms way. I was especially frightened after when I was thinking about that fact I was on my own in the middle of nowhere, and had I been injured, might not have been discovered for hours or days.”
Additional comment: “For me, the solution is, if you want to put cattle on a field that has a public footpath on it, you must either: Give an alternative route around the hazard or Place the fencing at least 1.5m from the edge of the field so people can safely walk around the perimeter. I also think that farmers
should be open to prosecution for negligence with very harsh penalties including prison if anybody is killed or injured by cattle whilst traversing a public right of way to make them think twice about doing it. On another route I walked called Boudicca Way, I crossed 5 fields in succession with “Bull in field” signs. All fields were thankfully empty, but we all know the signs were there to stop people using the footpaths.”
Jay has a spoiled walk caused by cattle blocking the footpaths
Incident number 1139
Date: 08.06.25
Site: Field behind Parks Ave south Wingfield Alfreton DE557NL between Parks Ave and Manor Rd
1 dog, 1 person
Report: “I wanted to use the right of way to get to Manor Rd. As I entered the field 3 cows were on the right of way footpath, I thought I could just go around them but one charged at me very fast so I retreated back out of the field. the other two cows also ran toward me and tried to get through the gap to get out of the field. I walked away and toward the other right of way that runs behind the school. The three cows followed me. I walked past a few houses and back by the field, and the cows ran again at me, but a fence stopped them. I now saw that a huge herd was on the foot path behind the school, I knew I could no longer go on the walk I had set out for as it was not safe to cross the field on either foot path I and returned home. “
Additional comment: “I would like farmers to evaluate all their cows to see if they run at or chase people, the ones that do should only be placed in fields with no public right of way.”
Excited, curious and dangerous cattle
Incident number: 1137
Date: 9.6.25
Site: Footpath through field to Lower Preston Farm. Preston Lane. Lydeard St Lawrence. Nr Stogumber Somerset
I person and dog
Report: “I entered field via the footpath gate, it appeared empty. The field slopes down halfway across when following the path to lower Preston cottages. This is where I first saw the cows, one started
coming towards me immediately, then all the cows (bullocks) ran away from me, circled round and lined up next to each other, looking at me. By this time I had already decided to get out and opened a gate into the farmyard, my dog went first, followed by me, I got the gate closed , turned to look at the bullocks in their formation, then they charged up to the gate and fence. I made a loud noise and waved my arms, they jumped back, but only a few metres then came back. So if I hadn’t got out of the field I would have no chance of getting away from them. They were completely disinterested in my dog. I know they are just excited and curious but it’s very frightening and obviously dangerous.”
Additional comment: “Bulls and bullocks should not be in fields where there are footpaths unless the footpaths can be temporarily rerouted and well signed.”
Aggressive cattle caused a spoiled walk
Incident number 1136
Date: 9.6.25
Site: Trans Pennine trail and Howden 20. Asselby Island area.
2 people, 1 dog
Report: “We were walking the dog on a leash along the public right of way. There were cows off the path to the side, they saw us and all moved onto the footpath. My dog showed no aggression towards them not did she bark. We immediately turned around and walked back the way we came. The group of cows followed us for half a mile back to the gate. One started running towards us at one point mooing loudly. I was very scared for our and my dog’s safety. I no longer feel safe walking near cattle. We’ve had no problems with cattle before. This was the first time they followed us.”
Additional Comment: “I’d be worried this could happen to other people and if a dog was to bark at them it would lead to injury to the dog or owner”
Sign suggesting if walkers felt unsafe they should take a different route – but no alternative route signposted.
Report number: 1129
Date of incident: 2/4/25
Location: Near to Lexhayne Farm, Colyton, near Seaton in Dorset.
2 people no dog
We found a handwritten sign pinned to a stile saying the field we were entering contained cows and calves and a single bull (it gave the bull’s name, maybe Harry?). It finished by saying if walkers felt unsafe they should look for a different route. After reading the sign we saw a small herd of cows about 100 m away on the far side of the field. We could not not identify a bull and any calves present were not small. Our route was along the side of the field furthest away from the cows and they seemed calm so we felt safe enough to continue on footpath along field edge. About half along that edge we noticed the cows were slowly heading towards us. About 2 thirds of the way along we could see they were closing in and speeding up. We were forced to the very edge of the field by the bank of stream and surrounded. We felt forced to ford the stream after one cow became aggressive. As the farmer was aware that the cows created a real hazard to walkers on a known footpath there should have been a signed safe path provided either through the field or in adjacent fields.“
Charged at by about 50 cattle – completely unprovoked
Report number: 1134
Date of incident: 8/6/25
Location: I believe it was Hill House Farm, farmland between the end of Wade’s Lane and the Orwell River, near Woolverstone Suffolk.
2 people no dog
Brian’s Report: “We were walking on the public footpath from Woolverstone along the River Orwell, our plan was a ‘round-robin’ hike on marked footpaths. One section took us on a footpath across a field from the River Orwell to Wades Lane, heading towards Chelmondiston. We had seen the herd from the footpath but they were in their field so we weren’t concerned. When we got to where the path crossed the field the herd were a couple hundred yards away so we felt safe. However, not halfway across the field the herd started stampeding towards us. I raised my arms and shouted but they did not slow at all. The path went through a gap in a hedgerow to another field but there was no gate and we could not see any other gate or place of safety. They were right on our heels, we had seconds to act. We turned a hard left along the hedge, temporarily out of the herd’s site – where Helen made a decision to get into the hedge, I hesitated then realised there was no other choice. We crouched down in the brambles and hide as best we could. They stampeded past us mere feet away. We reckon there were about 50-odd. They went past us and we then saw a gate about 150 yards away, we made a decision to run for it, whereby they saw us and turned but we had just enough time and made it through to safety. I’m convinced they would have trampled us, they moved so fast towards us at first and when they came to the gate we went through they were boisterous and aggressive. Very scary, I’m in shock still and, bar lots of cuts / scrapes from the brambles, surprised we were not injured or worse.”
Brian comments: “I spoke to a woman at the house at the end of Wade’s Lane, and she said she would make a comment to the farmer about a sign to warn other walkers.”
Dog thrown into the air by cattle on National Trust Coastal path
Report number: 1133
Date of incident: 8/6/25
Location: Hemmick beach, Cornwall heading towards Caerhays Castle
2 people 1 dog on lead
Report: “We tried to walk past the cows keeping at a distance. Two cows approached the dog. The dog laid on the ground and was submissive while the cows sniffed it. Approx 10 other cows started to approach, we walked away, at this point all the cows charged. I increased pace to get away and ended up running. The dog tried to defend me and itself, it was flipped about 10 foot in the air twice by a cow. Luckily we all got to stile and got over it, if I had fallen I feared I would have been trampled. There was a sign saying ‘cattle – keep dog on lead’ and we later noted on gates smaller signs saying if cattle approached to let dog off lead. These signs should be more prominent.”
Comment: “This was a national trust coastal path. This incident was avoidable if there had been fencing to separate the path from the cows. There was no way out as the only fencing was to stop you falling off a sheer cliff.”
Report number: 1118
Incident date: 26/5/25
Location: Footpath FP132 near Shabden Park and Parsons Green in Surrey.
2 people no dog
Report: “We entering the sloped elongated field, we stayed were on the upper edge where the PROW path was, the cows were grouped on the lower edge of the field by the trees. As we headed across the field staying by the fence line the cows started to shadow us and then as we came off the rise where we had to drop down and cross the open part of the field to reach the exit stile, about 100 yards from the exit stile the cows started to charge us. 3 or 4 at first. I raised my arms and walking stick and shouted ‘Stop’ to give my partner time to get to the stile and over it. The first group stopped momentarily, but as I turned to go to the stile, my partner shouted a warning to me as a 2nd larger group of about 20 cows came forward to charge me. I just made it to the stile and over it in time. As we walked across the next empty field, two female walkers who had been about 5 mins behind us, appeared at the top of the field where we had just been and started to descend to the exit stile. I shouted a warning but by then the herd of cows were half way up the slope to the 2 female walkers. The walkers fortunately were able to climb over a wooden fence, one of the few around without barbed wire on, to escape the charging cows. Hopefully they found a safe way out of there as we lost sight of them after about 5 mins. There was definitely intent in the cows actions to trample us and the 2 female walkers. Further on in our walk, we entered the estate of Gatton Park, where we saw a sign on the Stile saying ‘Beware the Bull’. After walking on the PROW for about 3-4 mins, we saw a large heard of cows and a large Bull gathered in the corner of the field where the exit stile was. All of the side fences were barbed wire so we would not have been able to easily escape the field if there was a threat. We decided to be cautious and retrace our steps and leave the park and looked for an alternative but longer route to avoid further contact with any more cows.”
“We reported to Surrey county council as this could be a real danger. Spread the word, I didn’t realise how easily and quickly we could be at risk from cows. It has definitely made my partner more nervous.”
Report number: 1119
Date of incident: 26/5/25
Location: Footpath between Grove farm and Toolbrook Corner near Weston-on-the-green, Oxfordshire. SP 5190 18039 on the OS ap
1 person no dog
Report: “I had walked through several other fields with cows in prior to the scare, even passing within six foot of a very large, docile herd a few fields earlier. However, in this field four young cows began to charge as soon as they saw me, and by that time I was about 40 yards from the stile. By this time the stile was too far away so I ended up climbing a heavily barbed wire fence into a private wood. Once over the fence I was initially concerned they’d push through. Five minutes later though I could see from the road that they were still in the same place looking over the fence. Incredibly stressful, and not my first experience with charging cows. This was a very poorly maintained public footpath so it is quite possible that the landowner doesn’t expect people to use it, or was trying to put people off using it.”
“There should be fencing around field borders and footpath detours offered if cows are in fields.”
Report number: 1120
Date of incident: 25/5/25
Location: Grid Reference SY92928 82029 Knowle Hill Public Bridleway near Corfe Castle
2 people no dog
Report: “A herd of cows were attracted by a green laner in a landrover discovery, who then drove off as we were walking past the car – we were left with a herd of cows (about 20) all very close together, very agitated within 5m of us – looking straight at us they started to come towards us but we moved quickly away. Was very, very frightening and to be honest I was quite annoyed that the green laner had stopped by the cows, agitated them, then drove off and left us very exposed.”
Report number: 1122
Date of incident: 28/5/25
Location: Wigginton nr Tamworth Staffordshire prow , field adjoining Syerscote lane. Nr St Leonards church school.
2 people no dog
Report: “We saw the cows in the field and we tried to avoid them but they came after us. I told my wife to head straight to the stile but don’t run. I walked backwards. The cows tried to surround me and were displaying aggressive behaviour. Heads lowered, stamping front hooves. I fortunately managed to reach the stile as they got within 4 feet of me. If they had managed to surround me or I had tripped it would of been very bad. I’ve reported to LA, but Staffordshire County Council didn’t seem sure about what to do.”
“I have written to my MP but I’m not holding out much hope”
Report number: 1123
Date of incident: 30/5/25
Location: ///deflation.employ.gloom https://w3w.co/deflation.employ.gloom Public footpath through farmers field near Letherens Lane, North Tawton, Devon on Devonshire Heartland Way path.
1 person one dog on lead
Report: “I was a witness to a young girl with two small dogs. She came through a gate at the top of the field with the cows nearby. I am unsure if the dogs were on the lead or being put on their leads. The herd of about 10 cows approached the girl and the dogs. The younger dog bolted in fear and was chased at speed down the field by the herd. It zigzagged to avoid the cows and eventually ran towards me at the bottom of the field. It jumped through the gate and I secured it on the other side with my dogs. I called to the girl to say the dog was safe. She managed to pick up her older dog but the cows then turned on her. She remarkably calmly walked down the field towards me and several of the cows mock charged her all the way to the bottom of the field. She got safely through the gate and I reunited her with her terrified dog. I decided to return home by another route not trusting the clearly very riled and frisky cows.”
“I think the girl was a little shaken, she didn’t say very much but I ensured she was ok before I left her. I was quite shaken witnessing the near miss. The charging cows ran within two feet of her. I felt helpless to do anything to prevent it. I was shaken as a witness. I don’t know how the girl was other than she looked a bit shocked. There should be warning signs about the volatility of these cows. The public footpath should be separated from the cows in the field. The cow owner’s name and contact details clearly posted at the entrances to the field.”
Report number: 1125
Date of incident: 31/5/25
Report: “My partner and I were walking our three German Shepherd dogs along the Public Footpath on Market Weston Fen which is a narrow track with many bushes, trees and blind corners blocking the view to less then 10m in many places. We had got virtually all the way round our walk but there were 17 young cows blocking our exit at the gate. We tried to shoo the cows away but they just turned on us, chasing us which was terrifying for both of us and our dogs. The dogs were terrified, pulling on their leads until virtually choking themselves as they’re slip leads.”
“I’m extremely worried that there’s going to be a serious accident on this site, so I have reported the incident to the HSE, LA and police.”
Killer Cows statement: all of these attacks happened on public rights of way, none of the reporters did anything to upset the cattle yet all were threatened or charged at. It makes no difference whether a dog is present or not. These are all recent and could all have been prevented by fences.
Report number: 1111
Date of incident: 4/5/25
Location: Etchingham to Bodiam first half of circular trail, East Sussex
2 people no dog
Report: “After passing through a gate, we saw cows on our right quite near, and our path was to the left. Upon proceeding, the cows began to charge, we weren’t injured, just frightened.”
Report number:1112
Date of incident: 19/5/25
Location: Eaton Barn in the parish of Doveridge, Derbyshire
1 person 1 dog
Report: “Very aggressive cows, making lots of noise and running amok, luckily I had let the dog off the lead so the cows followed the dog that can run fast. I wasn’t injured, just frightened. There should be fencing to separate cows from the path.”
Report number: 1115
Date of incident: 26/5/25
Location: St Margaret’s Bay Downs Road East Valley Farm near Dover
2 people, dogs
Report: “I was walking with a friend in the above area as we have done many a times. Heard something in the wooded area to the left of us and carried on walking when from that area came a Bull in full charge mode to get to a field of Heifers!! As quick as we could we got our dogs on the lead….we tried to get out the way sadly I fell over but manage to get up and spotted an area of fencing to stand by….TERRIFIED we stood still I told my friend do not move and DO NOT make eye contact because he was stood 15 feet in front of us an no way was he friendly!! The Heifers in the field were making the situation worse by running up and down with excitement. When the Heifers moved up their field we managed to run into the farm area……our hearts racing as we were PETRIFIED!! Traumatised we reached the farm where we met a lady explained the situation……..no apology NOTHING! This Road leads to houses, local walkers and riding schools with young children!! Farmers should take more responsibility.”
Report number: 1116
Date of incident: 26/5/25
Location: Halvergate, Norfolk. On the Weavers’ Way between Berney Arms Station and Stone Road.
1 person no dog
Report: “I was walking by myself along the Weaver’s Way between Berney Arms Station and Stone Road at about 5pm on 26 May. I went through one of the gates which is marked on the Weaver’s Way and a herd of about 30 cows charged towards me from about 100m away. I went back through the gate, making sure it was closed. The cattle then congregated at the gate. I managed to find an alternative route around the field. However, it was very frightening and I felt in danger. The pathway should be fenced so that the cows can’t charge at people walking along it. Or the cows shouldn’t be allowed to be roaming in the same field as the path.”
Report number: 1117
Date of incident: 26/5/25
Location: It was a walk in Rutland, near Stoke Dry and Lyddington.
1 person, no dog
Report: “I went through the gate into what was a public right of way and immediately to my right up a slope about 50 to 100metres away was a large herd of cows. I hesitated and thought; should I chance it? My gut instinct was not to walk across this field, but turning back meant going a long and not very pleasant way round. I walked several more steps into the field trying to think where to go. I kept checking the cows to see if they’d noticed me, and they had. It was eerie, as one by one the ones at the front lined up side by side and just stared at me. I stared back out of fascination, which is probably what you shouldn’t do. I quickly made the decision to get back to the gate to leave, as the atmosphere was feeling ominous. I was about equi distance to the gate as I was from the cows. I power walked back to the gate. As I was near the gate I saw one of the cows bolting down the slope towards me. I managed to keep,semi calm as I opened the gate. A few seconds later several of the cows had run down and charged into the gate, one was hoofing the gate. Felt very relieved to be on the other side of the gate! I was extremely lucky that I hadn’t got too far away from the gate. I think that this is a real issue, where cattle graze at large in land that is a public right away. It really needs to be challenged robustly. NB: There was no sign about cattle grazing in this field. I would like to see cattle completely separated from the general public at all times. Either cows occupy completely different plots of land, or there is some sort of fencing that separates walkers from them. I don’t think you can trust cows or rely on cattle etiquette.”
Killer cows comment: It seems to make no difference whether walkers have a dog or not, HSE statistics agree as do our figures. Across the country walkers are being scared and put at risk by cattle, all the above may have resulted in injuries or worse, and should be treated seriously. Cattle require fencing off from walkers.
Report number: 1113
Date of incident: 22/5/25
Location: Aberaeron to Henfynway walk from Ceredigion 40 coasts and Country Walks by Julian Rollins Page 17 starts with ‘on the far side of field ..I crossed a footbridge across the Ceri and entered the paddock.. this is the field.’
1 person no dog
Report: “I entered the field quietly and saw them grazing a distance away .I took my sunglasses off and walked around the perimeter of field aiming for the exit gate. Before I knew it they all ran towards me I shouted but no avail. I climbed over barbed wire into nettles and branches. I was frightened as I could see I was on a shallow embarkment and if I lost my balance I would fall down a long slope. Getting panicky I phoned a friend who contacted the police ..by this time my phone had died. I waited for the cattle to loose interest and move, which took ages. I struggled to get back over as I was on a slope, there was a big fallen log that I had to roll under, then I used a big branch to climb over the barbed wire and ran to gate. This completely ruined my holiday, there should be big signs warning of potential dangers.“
Report number: 1114
Date of incident: 25/5/25
Location: We were completing the Charlton Viaduct loop from Shepton Mallet and when the incident occurred we were in one of the fields above Wells Road, on Darshill.
2 people no dog
Report: “The cows were pasturing in front of the gate we were supposed to go through. We approached the cows from far away as they noticed us. We were approximately 50 metres away when they saw us. We kept walking in their direction but they suddenly started running towards us. It was between 10-15 cows. Our reaction was to turn around and walk away (towards they direction we came from). When we turned our heads to look at them, they were closer and kept coming toward us and charging us. At that point we realised that the other access was too far and the only option we had was running down hill off path into a bush full of spikes and nettles which resulted in scratches all over. We then reached the main road but had to jump over barbed wire. The injuries resulted from escaping the cattle as the only escape was off the path in a bramble bush. Plus we had to jump over barbed wire to leave the field.”
Killer Cows comment: Walkers should expect a level of safety when following a promoted path. Cattle should be separated from walkers.
Report number: 1110
Response ID: 314,619,335
Date of incident: 20/05/25
Location: ///rabble.trials.admiral Near Keynsham, Somerset. A public footpath crossing a field from Hanham Abbots to Willsbridge
Single walker, no dog, group of cows
Report: “Whilst using the public right of way that crosses the middle of this field, I spotted a large herd of cows at the far side of the field when I crested the hill. At the same time, some cattle at the far side of the herd spotted me and started running towards me. The rest of the herd joined in and I ended up fleeing to the edge of the field pursued by forty to sixty cows, making it over a gate just in time to avoid being trampled. There were no notices or warning signs at either entrance to the field.”
Additional comment: “The best solution would be that the farmer keeps their cattle in a field not used by the general public. Alternatively, they could reroute the footpath to the field edges and fence it off from the cows. As a bare minimum, warning signs should be fitted to the gates at either end of the field.”
Report number:1109 England
Response ID: 314,585,333
Date of incident: 19/05/2025
Location: Between St Dogmael’s and Cippyn, North Pembrokeshire. What three words: ///received.indulges.sparrows
2 walkers, no dog, group of bullocks
Report: “We were on a public footpath crossing a field, I noticed a group of young cows in the shade, it was a rather warm sunny day, all the cattle were facing away from us at we set across field to the gate on the public footpath. As we walked across the field we were chatting and I didn’t notice exactly at what point we caught their attention but suddenly they were all facing us and coming towards us at a walk then a gentle accelerating run. We were still a few hundred meters from the exit gate, it was definitely further than we could get to before the cattle reached us, so I stopped and shouted at them and waved a stick which worked for a moment, they paused but then one or two started walking then running again. It was really scary, we sprinted for the gate and got over just in time. I feel like we would have been crushed had we been with slower people, kids, elderly infirm etc or had we not noticed them approaching and distracted them for a moment to give us time, we were very frightened.”
Additional comment: “There was a sign warning cows in field, not suitable for dogs. I would like clearer guidance as to what to do and farmers not keeping dangerous cows in fields with public footpaths. I think some farmers do it intentionally to put off walkers.”
Incident number: 1108
Response ID 314,539,408
Date of incident: 17/05/2025
Location: Beal, Goole, River Aire bank
Incident report: I was walking along the footpath with my 10 year old child and my dog on a lead. Cows were on top of river bank, we were on the lower part of the river bank with the dog quietly on the lead. The cows came running at us.
I let the dog off the lead & he ran off & most of the cows followed, we ran to the barbed wire fence. Our dog came back to us & the cows came running & kicking out at us! My 10 year old climbed through the barbed wire which had already been stretched (possibly by someone else trying to escape from the cattle?) I then had to climb through & stand in a ditch full of nettles & brambles hoping the cows would go away. They didn’t so I had to trample the way through with both of us getting stung severely! We then had to make our way through a corn field back to the path. My 10 year old is very distraught!
Cattle Safety 