Tag: oswestry

Roger and his wife are charged at near Oswestry

Response ID 311,461,278
Incident number 1067
Date: 26.10.24
Site: Oswestry. Followed route 4 of the ‘Offa’s Dyke Path Circular Walks’ issued by ‘Offa’s Dyke Path National Trail’ and ‘Shropshire Council Outdoor Recreation’. The incident happened by Gwalia Wood which is point 8 on the route map at about 15:45.
2 walkers, no dog


Roger’s account: “We emerged from Gwalia Wood and went into the field where cows were grazing and actually moving away from us on the far side of the field. After walking just a short distance on a diagonal away from the cows and toward the sign posted exit point, we noticed that several of the cows had spotted us and had turned and were now running toward us closely followed by the rest of the herd (probably numbering about 50 animals). At the speed the cows were running we would not be able to retrace our steps the way we had come. I told my wife to run to our left and toward a closed metal vehicle gate. We reached the gate just as the first cow got to within 10 feet of us and I turned and started shouting and waving my arms to drive them back. This action stopped them long enough to allow us to climb the gate and exit the field before they came crowding around the gate. We followed a farm track, circling the wood back to where we had originally been and eventually getting back onto the published route at the hamlet of Bwlch.”
“My wife was in a terrible state, physically shaking and suffering from arthritis in her knee which after running and gate climbing meant she was in considerable discomfort walking back. We discussed the incident that night in the bar of an Oswestry hotel where we dined and were told by a local that the cows in question were well known for pursuing walkers.”

Roger adds: “The public footpath across the field where we encountered the cows is on a diagonal and on a right to left slope. The ground was very soft and we were effectively on the receiving end of a cavalry charge. It would help if the ‘tourist maps/leaflets’ make mention of the possibility of encountering livestock and to provide clear alternative routes where appropriate.”

Roger supplied the photograph of the herd at the gate following the incident.

Lucky Lucy escapes a stampede

Report number: 970
Date of incident: 28/2/2015
Location: Nr Oswestry, Shropshire ///lies.footpath.internet

Report “I was walking along the footpath, on my own, with no dog, at the place previously mentioned. 20 to 30 bullocks were in the field. They were pretty frisky and interested in me and started heading towards me when I entered the field. They followed me along the hedge line but I wasn’t too worried as cattle do get interested in visitors and I knew they would back off if I stopped and approached them. They started to get a bit closer and broke into a gallop. I stopped and jumped towards them to get them to back off. The nearest to me veered away but those behind hadn’t seen my signal and ploughed on toward me. The inertia of the herd left them no choice but to barge into me, knocking me down. Lucky I was next to a barbed wire line and was knocked under it and into the hedge. The bullocks thundered past and it was only by chance that I wasn’t trampled as my head and legs were only inches from their hooves. The barbed wire ripped my clothes and left some quite deep scratches in my back and side and the hedge left me with bruises and scratches. I lay there for a short time in a bit of shock I suppose.

The cattle had wandered off and I got out of the field and carried on my walk. I think I realised a short time later how lucky I was and headed home for a sit down. I suffered barbed wire scratches to my back and scratches from the hedge.

I’ve been around cattle my whole life and thought I understood them. I’d been with stampeding cattle before and they usually swerve if challenged. In this case, the topography and way the herd was closely packed meant that most of the herd didn’t see my challenge and continued their stampede. I would have ducked through the hedge had I thought there was a chance most of the herd wouldn’t see my challenge.”