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.
Cattle Safety 