cows with calves – Page 2

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!”

Harry thought there was no way the cattle would be allowed to be free if they posed a risk.

Response ID: 308,551,446

Report number: 1027

Location: Walking on Heart of England route just up from Blockley village and in field that runs parallel with the road from Blockley to Batsford Estate.

Account: I entered the field with my Jack Russell in a lead. I walked a few feet away from the stone wall on the very edge of the field. The cows were a good distance away. One cow looked up and stared at me. She went over to her calf and then just ran at my dog. She head butted my dog and scooped her in the air. As my dog was in the air I grabbed her and the cow was bellowing like a mad animal. She turned away and I thought I was safe. But she then ran at me and head butted me in my chest. I stumbled but didn’t fall. I was so near the wall so I jumped over the stone wall and barbed wire and lay in a ditch. The cow stayed bellowing at me and my dog, snorting and glaring at me, in this ditch. I had just about a foot width between the wall and barbed wire and a wire fence on the other side of the ditch.

I managed to get my phone and I rang 999. I honestly thought I was going to die. This cow was just reaching over the wall trying to reach me. The call operator from the fire brigade was great. They asked if I had what 3 words, I didn’t. I lay in this ditch for over 5 minutes, wedged between wire and the stone wall. When I couldn’t see the cow I popped my head up over the wall to see if it had gone.

The cow had walked off, but as soon as it saw my head, she came running over again, bellowing and shaking her head. At one point she followed the wall in front of me, I think she was looking for an opening to get to me. After some time I heard a human voice. I shouted, “help help, I’m behind the wall, are there any cows in the field?” A lady shouted back- ‘no’. So I put my head up again and the cows had moved into the next field. They have free access across 4 fields all on the public footpath. This lady, and her husband helped me and my dog over the wall. I could hardly breathe I was so frightened.

I know the walk as I walk it at least once a week. So I walked as quickly as possible to the gate and onto the road. There I just broke down and sobbed and saw how cut I was from jumping over the wall and barbed wire. The fire brigade found me as I went to the farmer whose cattle they are.

I thought I was safe, as I have lived in the country all my life. But most significantly I thought I was safe as the cows and their calves were out and free to walk all over the Monarch’s Way that is a very very popular walking route.

I thought there was no way they would be allowed to be free if they posed a risk. How wrong I was..”

Harry has reported this to the farmer, the police and the Health and Safety Executive.

Family walk involved walking through cattle with calves

Report number: 989
Date of incident: 15/4/2016
Location: Merthyr Tydfil/ Aberdare way

Report: “We, f40, m35, son 4 and son 2 in a pushchair, walked along a track at about 3pm to the woods about a mile away. No cows around but they could be seen very far away up the mountain. When we returned at about 6/7pm, it was still light but about 20 cows with calves were blocking the road. We had to go through the centre of them to get to the end of the track and our car. I passed first with son 2 in pushchair and 1 dog on leash. My husband was holding my 4 year old sons hand and our other dog on a leash. He saw one cow staring intently and it took a step towards them. The entire herd looked like it was ready to run at them. My husband took a step towards it and stared it down. While also picking up our son slowly.

As crazy as it sounds, my husband growled at the cow. Don’t ask me why! But it worked and after a very tense 2 minutes of staring at each other, with the rest of the herd also staring at him, the cow turned and walked off taking the rest of the herd with it. I don’t know what would’ve happened if he hadn’t done that. I don’t know whether the growling or the staring down was what worked. But I honestly feel like he saved our lives that night. I’ve since had a phobia of sorts of cows. Which everyone, including my husband thinks is so funny because, after all, they’re only cows, right?!”

Further comment “We obviously need better signage of areas that have cattle but also include the dangers of walking there at dusk and during calving season. Something I didn’t know anything about before. I also think more education would be good. Children should be taught from a young age to respect the countryside and it’s animals. They learn about the green cross code so why not about countryside safety as well.”

Julia thinks farmers who know they have aggressive cattle should be made to graze their cattle away from the public

Report number: 987
Date of incident: 8/9/2024
Location: ///skip.adjuster.mopped on the Tarka Trail, Nr Okehampton, Devon

cows with calves on open moorland on Dartmoor (mostly pure black herd but main aggressor was pale brown)

Report: “It’s an area we walk very regularly, my dog is off lead but under close control. It was a very foggy day and we found ourselves amongst the cows on the moor. We couldn’t see them until we were about 20m away. We are well aware of their potential so were trying to avoid them. My dog ran past the brown cow and her calf was nearby, she turned and went to attack my dog who was able to run away uninjured. The herd of black cows then came charging up from behind to see what was happening, running past us on either side, we stood still.

Emma meets cows with calves at Sycamore Gap

Report number: 986
Date of incident: 15/8/2019
Location: Sycamore Gap

Group of cows with calves. Dog on a lead. Family walk.

Report: “We were on the main footpath leaving Sycamore gap in Northumbria – the walk we were following was on a National Trust printed leaflet. When we got into the field I could see the cattle all crowded around the footpath and the stile, they were huge – looked like highland black cattle – huge horns. I sensed for some reason we may have trouble, possibly because of an earlier incident (described later,) and told my daughters if there were any problems to jump over the wall to the next field. I said this as sort of a joke but then as we approached one cow in particular looked troubled by the dog (who was on a short lead and perfectly calm,) she started following and virtually cornered myself with the dog, and terrifyingly when about 4 foot away, put her head right down and started scraping her front leg as if about to charge. I noticed there was a ditch with long grass, chucked the dog and myself in it (which effectively hid the dog) and walked slowly along, this thankfully seemed to confuse the cow, but it felt like a very very close call.”

“I contacted the National Trust as didn’t know what else to do. They said they would talk to the farmer involved but who knows. A few years previous to that in the Lake District we walked through a field of jersey cows, I always remember but couldn’t quite believe it, but do now, we had no dog then but they were definitely bothered by our then around 5 year old daughter – who was just with me on the path , they started gathering pace but thankfully I was near the stile by this point and got her over quick – I think it could have been nasty if we had been further away as they gathered speed – hope this helps wish I had thought about reporting to the HSE or yourselves – it didn’t occur to me until I saw the guardian article.”

Additional comment: “Really troubled me that this was a leafleted walk you can pick up at the National trust places, these cows were aggressive as with calves , this was quite a small field , it was the dog that was worrying them TBF – but based on other incident with young child I was really worried about families in that area as well.”

Steve P meets cattle on the Dales High Way

Report number: 985
Date of incident: 3/9/2024
Location: On the Dales High Way, arriving in Appleby, Cumbria.

No dog, lone walker

Report: “I was reaching the end of the Dales High Way, with Appleby now in view. A clearly signposted stile gave access to a field. There was a cow stood directly blocking the stile, with a large herd spanning the field behind it. The cow was clearly refusing to give up any ground. I had to walk further along and scale a tall fence to enter the field. I then waited and then plotted a course to try and avoid the herd. Suddenly, a cow from the group began charging at me without any warning. With no chance of a quick escape, I shouted and clapped loudly. Luckily it swerved and stopped, but was only a few feet from me by that point. By the time I reached the exit, I realised there were indeed young cows amongst them. Although unscathed, this was a very frightening experience and could have ended up badly wrong. This is a well used national walking trail.”

Steve P comments “Large herds with young cows should be kept off public footpaths. There should have at least been an alternative option, like there are in other places in this trail. It is do-able.”

Mike is trampled by an aggressive cow

Report number 971
Date of incident: 23/5/2022
Location: swung.fever.quiz nr Cwmoody Wales

Group of cows with calves in the field, they were a Charolais/Limousin cross.

Account: ” I was crossing a field on a public footpath with my dog on a lead. A cow was resting under some trees, spotted me and raced across towards me. The cow initially attacked my dog. I tried to save my dog and was then attacked by the most aggressive cow. I was knocked to the ground and butted by this aggressive cow. I tried to get up a couple of times and was knocked back down. Eventually I managed to get to a round bale feeder and sort refuge where I rang the emergency services for help.

I suffered extensive bruising and cuts to my face and severely bruised or broken ribs, I was assessed by paramedics at the scene and a helicopter landed at the location an ambulance was present also. Plus half dozen police officers. I was advised to go to hospital but refused because of my personal circumstances. I I signed a release form accepting responsibility for my own well-being and was sent home. My dog had a limp for sometime after the attack.”

“I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time”

Report No: 928

Date of Incident: 25/07/24

Location: Newdigate, Surrey, England

Account “I was crossing a field on my own (female 64, very fit) with 2 spaniel dogs on short leads on a footpath. I knew there were cows in the field, couldn’t see a bull, there were some calves but not particularly young, probably about 15-20 cows. I tried to keep as far away from the cows as possible but they started to follow me and gradually caught me up and began to surround me. I let go of the dogs which ran off but the cows did not follow them. One cow pushed me to the ground with its nose and then three or four others joined in head butting me. I curled up in a ball trying to protect myself and stayed still hoping they would lose interest which they did after a while and moved away to a different part of the field.