Incident number: 896
Response ID: 304,278,694
Date: 03.05.2024
Location: Craven arms near to discovery centre
Judy was walking her dog on her own. Her dog had been on a lead. She was attacked by a herd of cows when walking on a popular path near the Discovery Centre Craven Arms. She was knocked to the ground and trampled. Thankfully she managed to escape to a gate and her and her dog lived to tell us.
Report No: 889
Date of Incident: 19/06/24
Location: Footpath near Shireoaks Road, Mount Pleasant, Belper, Derbyshire – GR (as given by respondent) 53.0331277-1.4969888
Dogs 1 on lead
Herd of black cattle
Account by local walker: “The fields are on the valley sides, so it can be a bit steep in places. There are 2 paths parallel to each other that run along the slopes. I could see a herd of black cattle ahead on the lower path, so I kept my border terrier on a short lead & walked along the upper path to get enough distance to could get around the cattle safely. I knew that path goes through & under some trees and was worried some of the herd may also be there, plus it was just starting to get dark, so it would be difficult to see any black cows ahead. I dropped back down onto the more open lower path once I’d passed the herd, not noticing there were more cattle up ahead. I cautiously dropped lower off the path to keep away but they started to look interested & move towards me. I kept the dog on a short lead as I know she would want to protect me if they charged & get trampled on. I threw my arms open & kept ordering them away. A few would stop then others would start coming at me again. I had to do this a few times before they finally stayed put. I honestly thought they were all going to charge. I wouldn’t be able to run away from them. It was very frightening, especially as I was on my own.
It definitely spoilt what I’d hoped would be a relaxing evening walk.”
Local walker would like “Temporary electric fencing to keep cows off paths when they are in the fields – to become legal.”
Incident number: 876
Date of incident: 18.05.24
Site: Tow path next to river Arun – going north from Arundel/Burpham on side of North Stoke- last field leading out to the Gurkha Bridge. In the past I have come across a very similar scenario in the field on the direct opposite side of the Arun (same farm/farmers?) but that time was able to turn round immediately as I could see them from the stile)
Description: I got half way across the field and met group of heifers on the path (about a dozen). The river was to my right and flood plain to my left so I had little choice but to continue or turn back (4 miles detour to where I was going!) – they looked bit lively so I decided to turn back.
My dog is a small puppy and just stayed by my side. As I walked back the whole group started following then trotting after us and some of them bucking whilst also fighting between them to get to the front – with about 5 yards left I decided I had to leave the dog and slip down to the river (very tidal!) or run.
I decided to sprint (luckily at 65 I’m pretty fit). I hurdled the stile with the whole herd inches behind me. Of my 65 years this was one of the scariest moments in my life! I took some photos of the heifers from the other side of the stile. I then had to walk the whole 4 miles back to where I started as the only other bridge is in Arundel town centre.
I had no injury but was badly frightened.
Comment: I normally don’t have problems with cows in a field as long as you can avoid them/take a wide berth and can exit the field in an emergency. Both these experiences were on tow paths where you are very vulnerable with nowhere else to go that is safe. My previous experience I mentioned in this area was over a year ago so clearly heifers being on the tow path in this area is not uncommon.
It seems that cattle are getting more and more aggressive. Often you simply cannot walk safely along a public right of way.
Report number: 845
Date of incident: 30/04/24
Site of incident: Grid Ref SO 236 406 on the Offas Dyke path (a national trail) south of Hay-on-Wye
1 person, 1 dog on lead
“I was walking my dog along the Offa’s Dyke Path south of Hay. I walked from Cusop as far as Upper Danyforest where I turned around and retraced my steps.
At around 8:35pm I crossed the footbridge (SO236 406) and entered the field beyond. I saw a group of cattle near the house called Pant Barn. I hadn’t been aware of cattle in the field on my outward journey, but they may have been out of sight behind Pant Barn. The cattle were moving up the field away from me and didn’t pay me any attention so I proceeded along the footpath towards Forest Rd. I had only gone around 100m when a group of 8 cattle broke away from the main group and started charging directly towards me and my dog. I immediately let my dog off his lead and made some noise to try and stop the cattle and shoo them away. The cattle slowed but then started coming very close, bucking and kicking. I was terrified. I gave my dog a command to ‘go to the gate’ and thankfully he did as instructed and ran towards Forest Rd. The cattle followed him charging and bucking and kicking. Meanwhile I ran in the opposite direction back up the hill to the footbridge. I could see my dog had ducked into the stream to avoid the cattle so I recalled him and he joined me on the safety of the bridge. I know that if my dog is scared he won’t always follow commands, around half of the time he’ll come and hide behind my legs instead. If he’d have done that tonight I think there is a very high chance I would have been trampled by the cattle.
Unharmed, but frightened
I have reported this to the Health and Safety Executive, the local authority and Brecon Beacons National Park.
I’d like to add that I’ve lived in the area all my life, I’m a qualified Mountain Leader, I do a lot of walking in the countryside. I like to think I know how to behave around livestock, but recently particularly on the Offa’s Dyke path around Hay it seems that cattle are getting more and more aggressive. Often you simply cannot walk safely along a public right of way. I feel like I had a very near miss with this incident and that it’s only a matter of time before someone is injured or killed. Yet the authorities are powerless to do anything.”
Report number: 842
Date of incident: 2/5/24
Site of incident: There is a R.O.W. path through a field between Tanyrallt cottages, Llanllyfni (Caernarfon), which leads down onto Lon Ddwr (by Bro Silyn).
I walk this route most days as our daily dog walk, and the dog is always on a lead. There are signs on the gate warning of the consequences of dogs worrying sheep. Today I got halfway across the rather large field, when the dog starting behaving as if he were afraid, and when I glanced over my shoulder, there were two cows rapidly gaining pace and heading towards us a little too fast. At this stage both myself and the dog were really scared, we tried to walk as quickly and calmly as possible, without running, and feel that we made it to the gate with moments to spare. They were so close at this point that we could have touched them, so I don’t know what their intentions were. An elderly or less fit person may have been in serious trouble, especially due to the lack of warning signs!
No injuries, but both man and dog very frightened.
You may have heard Adrian Chiles’s radio programme discussing the safety of walking through fields of cattle, if not then head this way – Adrian Chiles – 04/04/2024 – BBC Sounds . Neither the animal behaviourist nor the representative from the NFU on the programme arrived at any conclusions about how we should behave to avoid being attacked by cows. So we ask the question – can we enjoy a walk in the countryside?
This all began because we love walking in our beautiful countryside – and it’s good for us.
The benefits of walking
Natural England has updated the Countryside Code, recognising the significant health and wellbeing benefits of spending time in nature. These benefits are important. England and Wales are blessed with a wonderful network of footpaths, allowing everyone access to our countryside so they can enjoy the benefits to both mind and body that walking in natural surroundings can bring.
But: Killer Cows have received over 800 reports of incidents in the countryside, these are from walkers who have either felt scared or been chased by cattle or, even worse, sustained injuries from cattle – some very severe. Many have been so affected they no longer feel safe enough to walk in the country and so have lost any benefit access to the countryside gave them.
So what do people suggest to do to keep safe?
Continue reading “Can We Enjoy a Walk in the Countryside?”A large female cow started to attack without warning. I was struck three times.
On the 23rd July, 2023, I was walking on a public footpath near the village of Hawkley in Hampshire (the Liss Footpath between Snailing Lane and B3006, Hawkley CP Footpath reference 109/19/1). I was on my own with my dog on a lead.
Continue reading “Nick’s Story: trampled by an attacking cow”I heard a thunder of hooves from behind, but too late to take evasive action.
In May, 2015, I was attacked by cattle – an incident that would change my life for ever.
Continue reading “Sharn’s story: trampled by a herd of cows”I suffered multiple serious injuries: fractures to neck, pelvis, arms, ribs and internal damage.
On 10 August, 2021, my husband, Mark and I were walking on the outskirts of Stockport. We were with our dog who was on his lead. He was very calm and was not pulling on his lead.
Continue reading “Jill’s Story: multiple injuries”One of us is still suffering from an injured back.
On the 31st July, 2022, we were walking along a public footpath, leaving Slaidburn on the approach to Panes Farm, in Lancashire. We were walking on the public path with our dog on a lead, and were about 200 metres away from the field gate. Half way across the field we could see a group of cows near the gate and lying down.
Read more: SL Story: a mad scrambleWithout warning, the cattle got up and started to charge towards us. It was then we noticed there were calves in the herd. We scrambled over a gate to get out of the way – which included having to throw the dog over the gate as best we could. My husband slowed their approach by making himself large and shouting at them, but they were still in charge mode – with one being particularly aggressive.
It took us at least 30 minutes of scrambling over drystone walls and gates to reach an alternative footpath. We escaped with only minor injuries, but one of us is still suffering from an injured back caused by scrambling over walls and gates.
In our experience, when entering a field because of the lay of the land it is often too late to realise cows are in the field.
In this case, there were no warning signs. We were lucky there was no barbed wire to scale over which would have made an escape very treacherous.
Farmers should not be allowed to have cows in fields that have a public right of way running through, especially with calves.
Response ID 266187259
Photo from site stock
Trampled to death in a field
It is always heartbreaking to report another death. This time, a 55-year-old woman has died after being trampled by cattle at a farm in Sussex.
Continue reading “Woman trampled to death by cows”The saw us – and charged across the field.
In Febuary, this year, I was walking near St Nicolas in the Vale of Glamorgan, in Wales. I was on a footpath with my dog on a lead.
Continue reading “Dillwyn’s story”
Cattle Safety 