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.“
Cattle Safety 