Tag: cows with calves

Walker headbutted by cows

Report: 1176

Date: 3/8/25

Location: ///rattler.fulfilled.beaters near Long Lawford, Warwickshire

2 people 1 dog

Report: “I was walking with my partner on our normal route to walk our dog and noticed in the distance some cows on one side of the bridge that we needed to cross. There was a lady and a gentleman walking towards us who appeared to have already come from that direction. My dog was heeling next to me off lead as we passed the man and woman, though I put him onto a short lead soon after this so we could get past the cattle. (We practice this often with cattle, sheep and horses, and he is always very focused on me.) We were quite close to the herd, maybe 3 meters, and they were stationary, all on the left hand side of the bridge – about 4 young calves were closest to the bridge/river. As we were about 5 meters from reaching the bridge, one cow started to charge towards me, then moo’d, I let go of my dogs lead who ran away towards the right hand side of the bridge, and the cow headbutted me to the floor. I think another cow must have turned to look at the dog as I was suddenly surrounded by at least two cows, as I was in the floor and pinned between two cows. I stood up as quick as I could, but was still being headbutted while doing so.

I was shouting with my arms up to try and appear larger, backing away slowly and trying to get towards the bridge. Luckily I was close enough to the bridge to get through, the dog was close next to it so I could call him through, and my partner was already safe behind the barrier. They were both unharmed. During the incident I realised I had dropped my phone, so I stayed on the bridge for about 5/10 minutes to see if the herd would move. The two people who we had recently passed were at the other side of the field behind a gate and shouted if we were ok – I shouted back that we were all ok, but I had dropped my phone. I think this shouting then scared the herd who walked away towards a house. I was then safely able to retrieve my phone from the ground and go back home, noticing that I had a painful right hip and painful left shin.

My left shin is very swollen, I am able to walk ok but I needed to ice as soon as I was home. I’m unsure if the shin injury is from being headbutted or not, as I can’t remember if one or two cows were headbutting me. There is a small bruise currently though I feel it will spread due to the amount of swelling. My right hip is also bruised – I think this was from being head butted as this side is where the main cow was attacking me from.

I walk this route often and there are no signs about cows, I haven’t seen them in this part of the field before. There are horses the other side of the field and there are sometimes signs about not feeding the horses, but no signs about cows

I feel like it was completely my fault, and I shouldn’t have even tried to go near the cows with their young. I was more focused on keeping my dog in heel so he wouldn’t sniff or interfere with the cows – I didn’t even think the cows would attack, and now I feel quite stupid! Especially since my partner has been chased by cows before and fears them, the fact that two people had already walked from that direction made me feel like we would be fine. I don’t blame the cattle for protecting their young, though I wish I had been wiser. I am lucky that no one was trampled, as it was very close.”

“Cows with calves should not be put on fields with footpaths”

Report:1166

Date: 26/7/2025

Location: Grid Ref (start): SK08765494 Grid Ref (end): SK08735454 Footpath Grindon, Staffordshire

Group of walkers with dogs

Report: “Half the group, including a dog on a lead, walked through the field with no incident. We all gave the cows and calves a wide berth.

2 of the party were further behind with another dog on a lead. One cow spotted the second dog and became extremely aggressive. The walkers backed away and let go of the dog. The cow charged at the dog and chased it until it ran out of the field. The walkers managed to get out of that field without being hurt but it was close to being an incident with injury. We then had to find an alternative way for them to reach the village out if sight of the cows.

I will be reporting to this to the Local authority, but it is not easy to find out how to report these incidents. I don’t think cows and calves should be put in fields with public footpaths, the risks are too high.”

Lancashire cattle cause significant injuries

Case No. 1155

Date of Incident 16 06 2025

Location On PROW Higham, Lancashire

1 walker, 1 dog on lead

Cows with calves, heifers and bullocks – brown

Account “I was suddenly surrounded and tried to pull the dog in but then it all kicked off. I don’t remember everything but was I knocked onto the ground and eventually let go of the lead when I realised I was in real trouble. I remember being butted while on the ground but don’t actually remember how I get away. I had 3 broken ribs, facial injuries, leg injuries and was kept in hospital for 1 week.”

Respondent also states “Don’t put crazy cows in open access areas.”

Aggressive cattle scare a family group with young children

Case No. 1149

Date of Incident: 21 06 2025

Location: On PROW in Potten End, Hertfordshire between Water End Road and Hempstead Lane.

Family group, no dog

Cows with calves in field

Account “We were walking to the Mad Squirrel brewery last Saturday afternoon around 3pm. There were 4 adults, 2 toddlers and one baby. We had two buggies (fortunately). My friends who live in Potten End have had no problems when walking this route in the past however on this day, a number of cows were in the bushes to the side of the path and as we were walking along the path and closer towards their direction, they started to approach and surround us. We continued walking but became quite fearful with how aggressive and intimidating they were. In the end, we managed to get past them but they kept trying to charge at us and move off at the last moment. We managed to get to the end of the path and throw the children over the fence whilst one adult in our group had to swing a pushchair continuously to prevent them from coming closer towards us. They continued to progress and once the rest of the adults had got through the gate, he ran and threw the buggy over the fence before the cow could reach him. Needless to say, we were covered in cow faeces due to throwing the buggies over the fences after wheeling through whatever was in the field due to fearing for our safety.”

Additional comment “More warning signs are needed. Hostile cows like that should not be left in fields where there is a public footpath. We had very young children who were extremely frightened and as parents, we genuinely feared for theirs and our lives.”

Ramblers group charged by a cow in Yorkshire

Case No. 1147

Date of Incident: 24 06 2025

Location: On PROW, Near Birchen Lea Farm, Station Rd., Harecroft near Bingley West Yorks

over 10 Ramblers, no dog

Cattle with calves in field

Account: “One cow was actually on the footpath, so we gave the cow a wide berth; the rest of the herd (with calves) was a little way off. The single cow charged at myself and another person as we tried to walk around it. We quickly ran to the stone boundary wall whilst other people in our Ramblers walking group persuaded it to move away allowing us to pass. This was a terrifying experience.”

Additional comment: “Cows with calves should not be in a field with a public footpath or the path should be fenced off from cattle.”

This attack has been reported to the local council and HSE

Peak Hiker is attacked and butted by a cow

Incident number 1143
Date of incident: 21.06.25
Site: Attacked by a cow on the footpath between Foolow and Wardlow Mires, 200 yards north of
Wardlow Mires 3 Stags Heads pub. Derbyshire.
Cows with calves, pale colour, bigger than a Jersey cow.
I person, no dog

Description: ” I was walking down the foot path towards Wardlow Mires. A single cow from a small group
of cows with calves charged and knocked me against a dry stone wall, butting me repeatedly. The wall saved me from being trampled. I have lacerations to my right arm and hand.”
Additional comment: “Let as many people know how dangerous cows can be as possible. Farmer should take more care in alerting hikers to the dangers.”

Jerry and Ann try to walk in Exmoor National Park but encounter cows with calves blocking their way – twice

Incident number 1142
Date: 18.06.25
Site: 1st incident at watched.calibrate.behave on the PROW adjacent to Pickedstones Farm in
Exmoor National Park, approximately 3 miles SE of Simonsbath. .
2nd incident at jeering.cases.gambles on the same footpath but approximately 1/2 mile closer to Simonsbath.
2 walkers, no dog.

Description: “We were walking a loop path from Simonsbath along the River Barle (the Two Moors Way) then up onto the ridge to the North for the return journey to Simonsbath. The route is described in ‘Exmoor and the Quantocks’ – Outstanding Circular Walks. Pub. Ordnance Survey 2022. ISBN 978-0-319-09011-4.”

1st incident – “We arrived at a gate. The other side of the gate was a large herd of Friesian cows with calves at foot and a Charolais bull. No warning signs, no mitigation, no diversion offered. I entered the field carrying my ‘cow-stick'(my wife is very cautious around cattle, having seen many severe injuries and deaths caused by cattle whilst working in intensive care in Nottingham.) I have some experience handling cattle. I walked calmly toward the herd holding the stick out to the side and speaking. Often this will cause a herd to move aside and clear a path. On this occasion they grouped together facing me with the bull in the centre of the group. Not advancing but not retreating either. It was clear they would not let us pass. There was a gate to my right into an adjacent field (what 3 words: polygraph.penned.frost) which we passed through (thus leaving the PROW), and crossed the adjacent field keeping parallel to the PROW but the other side of the field boundary. We then climbed over the double fence, back onto the PROW at compounds.catapult.channel, which was beyond the boundary of the cattle-containing field. My wife was scratched all over by waist-deep brambles and barbed wire making this diversion. If we had not diverted around the cattle, we would have had to retrace our steps (approximately 6-7 miles from this point) turning a relatively easy 8 mile walk into a 13-14 mile hike for which we were not provisioned or prepared.”

“After tending to my wife’s wounds, we proceeded along the path in the direction of Simonsbath.”

2nd incident – “after approximately 1/2 mile a very similar situation presented itself. The path was blocked by approximately 200 head of mixed cows with calves at foot and another Charolais bull. ( The above photo is of the connecting gateway to the other herd but my priority was to get us to safety not to get a good image) This time the cattle were very belligerent – grouping together, bellowing and agitated. Again there was a potential ‘escape’ gate into another field where we could have diverted (at ringside.passages.briefing) but, unfortunately, this gate was also open and the field to which it led contained the other half of the herd. Thus we were faced with a very large, agitated herd containing cows, calves and a bull, which had been split either side of the path.”
“Even my cow herding skills were no match for this situation. Again there were no warning signs, no mitigation and no diversion offered. We therefore abandoned our walk and headed down the hill to our left which has a 1:1 gradient and drops down to the Two Moors Way which we headed out on.”

“Later the same day I spoke to a local business owner in Lynton about our experience – he knows the area well and has walked the path we were on many times. He has also attended many Exmoor national park meetings and events. He tells me that the farmers in the Simonsbath area are generally very anti-tourism and actively discourage use of the paths wherever possible. The location of the cattle we came across and the lack of mitigation (a short strand of electric fence could have completely solved the first incident and better planned fencing could have solved the second) certainly creates the impression that the cattle are being used to discourage use of PROWs which, of course, is illegal.“

Jerry comments. “Keep cattle and people apart! My wife was quite shaken by this because at one point it felt, to her, as if we were trapped between two herds. She was also scratched and bruised by our forced diversion. It stopped us proceeding with our planned route and made our walk longer than it should have been on a very hot day. “

Cows with calves placed in a field with a public footpath – effectively blocking the way for Joanne

Incident number 1141
Date of incident: 15.06.25
Site: Footpath across field leading to Shap Abbey, heading east from Rayside parallel with and above the river (to the south of the river)
2 walkers, no dog
Type of cow: Group of cows and calves in same field : Very large, all black


Description: “The cows and calves were scattered across the field and the footpath went through the middle of them. We realized there were calves and slowly backed off. An enormous black cow mooed at us repeatedly and followed us. The cow kept watch and came closer as we moved to an alternative route. We had to climb a wire fence then make a circuit around the field on a steeply sloped field above the river. We then had to rejoin our route by going under barbed wire. Due to the beaten path it looked as if other walkers had done the same. The detour was difficult terrain to walk. The cow continued to moo above us out of view so we made our diversion very long.”
Joanne comments: “There need to be big warning signs. Proper diversions should be offered if needed. Better fencing.”

Cow attack on Bronte Moorland in Yorkshire

Incident number: 1135
Date of incident: 17.02.24
Site: The Bronte way above Leeming Reservoir in Oxenhope, West Yorkshire
2 people, 1 dog.

Report: “I was walking with my friend and we spotted the cows lying down on the moor above us to the right of the path. We moved over, putting a broken wall between ourselves and the cows. We didn’t see any calves. My dog was further away to the left. One cow stood up and charged through a gap in the wall and went for the dog who ran off. It then turned and knocked me to the ground. Hitting me with its head and stamping its feet. Our dog returned to me and the cow went for her again. I staggered down the hill. I turned around to check what was happening and the cow charged at me again. It knocked me down. I curled up in a ball, thinking I was going to die. My friend stood and shouted and eventually the cow went back to the others. I staggered to the nearest road and was taken by ambulance to hospital.”

“I sustained : 7 broken ribs, a large hematoma on my right leg and a punctured lung. I was in Airedale hospital for three days. We found out later that 3 cows had calves on the moor the night before the attack. The health and safety executive were informed and the farmer has admitted liability.”

“I thoroughly agree that cows should not be on public footpaths.“


Multiple recent reports of aggressive cattle

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.

Cee wants footpaths kept open with electric fencing if cattle are in a field with a footpath.

Response ID 309,769,038

Report number 1040
Date: 8/11/24
Location: imported.perch.cursing Field between long lane and Ennys lane, St Hilary, Cornwall
Cows with calves in the field.

Description: I was walking my dog on a footpath across the field, she was on a lead, she is scared of cows so was pulling away from them. We got herded into the hedge by the cattle and then I got head butted and knocked over. I managed to get out of the field but then realised my phone had been knocked out of my pocket so I had to go back. I tied Kenza up and went to look for it. Unfortunately I was knocked over again and then there was a sustained attack by two or three of them. I really thought my number was up. They were trampling me and head butting. They only stopped when I stopped moving and I eventually managed to crawl to a gateway and escape into another field.”

“I have chipped a tooth, another is very wobbly. I had a nose bleed. I am covered in bruises and can barely walk. This has only just happened so I am not sure of the extent of my injuries.”

Update: Cee has now been assessed at hospital and found to have broken ribs and a broken vertebra as a result of the cow attack – these are significant and serious injuries that will take time to recover from!

Cee would like “warning signs when there are cows with calves in fields with footpaths and footpaths kept open with electric fencing, with fines for farmers who don’t do this.”

Rammed to the ground by a cow on Castle Howards estate

Response ID 309,244,045

Report number: 1038

Date of incident : 1/11/2024

Location: Wilburn, Yorkshire on a walk by the castle Howard estate ///harmlessly.fitter.cowboys

2 walkers and baby, no dog. Cows and calves in field.

Account: “My husband and I were walking with our baby in a sling on me. The trail went through a herd of cows so we tried to go around them and as we walked by, a cow starting getting agitated. It then charged us and rammed my husband to the ground. As he backed away on the floor, it backed up and charged him again. We backed up slowly. Another cow came charging towards us looking upset and we walked slowly backwards and it stopped. No injuries (other than a wet bum but no bruising) but still quite scary!”