Spoiled walks – Page 3 – Cattle Safety

HD: “This incident has made me nervous in a place where I previously felt entirely comfortable.”

Report Number: 974
Date of incident: 31/7/2024
Location: handwriting.tortoises.unwraps – Location is somewhat approximate, but I was heading downhill on the public bridleway from the Pennine Way above Moorfield towards the junction with Derbyshire Level.

Report: “I was walking downhill on the public bridleway – a walk I do everyday in the evening during which I have never seen anything but sheep in this particular section – when I spotted a lone cow almost directly parallel to me across the gully. The cow spotted me and began to move at the same pace. When I sped up slightly, as I had begun to feel frightened, the cow matched my speed. This continued until we approached the point where our paths were due to converge. By this point I was rather scared, so I started to run. The cow copied my actions and rushed towards me. I was forced to break into a sprint and head for the gate. The land is very rough there and I stumbled a few times with the cow still on my tail. Luckily I was just far enough ahead to make it to safety. When I reached the gate I threw myself over it and the cow suddenly stopped short and simply continued to stare. My experience is not much compared with the awful ordeals of others listed here, but I was really terrified for a few minutes and I developed palpitations shortly afterwards. It has made me very wary of returning to a walk I had been enjoying as part of my regular exercise for months.

I now make my ascent on the other side of the valley and use Wormstones as a vantage point to determine whether there are any cows present on that day in the way of my descent. If so, I adjust my circular walk and am forced to complete a linear route instead. It has made me nervous in a place where I previously felt entirely comfortable and which was very beneficial for my mental health.

Put simply cows should never be in a field with public access. That is the only solution in my view. Better signage and communication from the farmer can still not wholly prevent injury and death to walkers simply wishing to enjoy the outdoors unmolested. I would also like to see farmers held to account more rigorously for serious incidents.”

Tom was charged at on Cader Idris slopes

Report No: 927

Date of Incident: 10/08/24

Location: Bottom of Cader Idris (just up from steps), Wales

2 people, no dog.

Account “We had walked up the steep steps on the Minfford Path route at the foot of Cader Idris, to a large open area with no cover. A cow with calves charged at me and my partner, we had driven two hours to go walking and turned back.”

Tom also adds:- “For public footpaths it should be illegal to have cows with calves roaming across them.”

Scared out of a field: Twice in as many months!

Report number:892

Date of incident: 23/06/24

Site of incident: Close to OS Grid Ref: SY 63456 82538 on footpath going East to West, just south of Tatton Farm near Chickerell, in Dorset

We were walking on a public footpath in Dorset around 16:00 hrs. We had entered a field with a few cows in, so had put the 2 dogs on their leads. The cows were looking at us from a distance, though not approaching. We kept looking back to ensure they didn’t follow. All of a sudden, we became aware of another, different herd of cows ahead numbering approximately 25. We could see the stile we were making for, but the cows quickly surged towards us. My wife, who was very scared began to run with the dog she was looking after. I released my dog so it might follow her whilst I could try to slow the cows down, to allow them to make it to the stile. We are aware of the advice not to run, but it is a natural instinct to remove yourself from imminent danger. I did not run, just walking fast and shouting as loud as I could at the cows, swearing and repeatedly shouting no. This did slow down their approach, but did not stop it. I had now got close to the stile and continued to fend them off while my wife managed to get the dogs and herself over the stile (no doggy door to make things easier!). The herd continued to approach me as I got over the stile and swarmed around it after I had cleared it. I would not necessarily describe the cows as aggressive, although my wife did notice some leg stomping. They appeared youngish and it may just have been exuberance on their part, but the danger of contact with some very heavy animals was very real. This is our second near miss encounter in as many months and I am beginning to wonder whether my dogs (two flat coat retrievers) are of particular interest to cows.

We should not be intimidated out of using public footpaths. Warning signs are not enough. Landowners/farmers need to be more conscious of this issue. After all, they expect us to be sensible and considerate!

Local walker, frightened in Derbyshire

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.”

Cows blocked Helen’s path

Report number: 885

Date of Incident: 29/05/24

Location: Rowsley area, Derbyshire, England. Grid ref 255 659

No dog

Account “Cows were blocking the footpath for quite a way, they were also blocking a gate under a bridge. They seemed docile but the two of us felt anxious having to walk so close to get past them. It had been very wet weather and the path was very muddy and full of cow poo, so it was slippery. ”

Killer Cows comments: This sort of incident happens frequently, it spoils walks and prevents people being able to enjoy the countryside. People ask what should they do, but perhaps we should be asking what should the farmer do, what does the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance say? Cattle are huge animals and even if they are calm, passing close by them can be risky, a cow could easily crush a person, or stand on their feet. No wonder Helen was anxious. We are asking for cattle to be segregated from footpaths, we agree with HSE guidance.

Less confident with cows after a meeting with boisterous bullocks.

Report No. 884

Date of Incident: 8th June 2024

Location: Exminster canal footpath, England. Grid ref SX 295753 88008

1 quiet dog on a lead.

Cattle: Group of bullocks. Chestnut brown.

Account “I was walking across a large field, a long way from the cows, at least 200 feet away. 2 or 3 bullocks ran over, one was bigger than the others and was lowering and shaking his head, stamping his feet and was not deterred by me standing my ground, shouting, waving my arms etc. More joined them and I moved in stages to the edge of the field. My dog was calm and behind me.

I stood still, facing them and the picture was worrying enough for a cyclist to stop on the towpath on the other side of the hedge and ask if I was ok and they offered to stay in case anything happened.

I had to stand still for about 15 minutes as moving made the main bullock run forward in a charging motion. Eventually I stretched my hand out to the bullock, low down, and this seemed to calm things a bit. After about 20 minutes I was able to calmly and slowly walk to the field exit.

I am very confident with cows and have encountered them in fields many times but this was genuinely concerning and could easily have ended very differently.

Final comment – “The field is enormous, at least 30 acres, so these bullocks could easily be fenced off with electric fencing. I appreciate that farmers need to put them somewhere but this is a popular walking area and it feels like a serious accident waiting to happen.”

Trapped on a tow path near Arundel

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.

Mags just wants to walk a footpath in safety

Incident number: 877
Date: 31.05.24
Site: Field next to the Gate hangs Well pub, Syston. Near Lewin Bridge; roundabout where A607 & A46 cross.
I was on my own, no dog.

I’d planned the walk as it involved specific canal features, which I really wanted to see. I approached the field from the pub garden and I could hear the cows mooing and bellowing. When I went to the first gate to enter the field, they were staring at me, & the leader of the mob had head erect and kind of “alert” ears. From previous experiences, they give you a cursory glance, if that, and ignore you. I did think something wasn’t right, but told myself not to be silly. (Doesn’t matter now, as I’ll never enter a field of cows again. )

The cows were down the other end of field. I was crossing obliquely, away from them, from waymarker to waymarker. Suddenly one cow walked towards me, then the others followed. I went through a gate to exit their field and continue the walk, the cattle gathered round it watching me leave. Unfortunately, I couldn’t continue along the track as it was far too muddy, so I had no choice but to return. One cow was still in the gate, but moved when I got there. When I got through, they all started mooing and following me and I was almost surrounded. The cattle at the back started running, moving towards the gate I needed to get through to get out of that field, but luckily I just reached it before them. When I was through, they all stood blocking the gate; I haven’t been so scared since being followed on a towpath a few years ago. I thought I was going to be trampled to death. I will never enter a field with even one cow again.

It’s a waymarked public footpath, mentioned on maps and in walking guides. You can’t avoid crossing that field if you want to do that walk.

Mag’s final comment: Every field of cows that’s on a walking route should have a phone number so you can contact the farmer. On a previous occasion a gate on a walk near Kenilworth Castle was completely blocked by a herd of cows. I was going to turn back, but a couple came and shooed them away – with difficulty, and we all walked through together. But that’s it now; I’ve had it with cows and am reverting to my previous policy of not entering if there’s even one cow. I’ve been lucky twice, and won’t be so lucky again, I’m sure.

Very frightened by cattle

Incident number: 875
Date of incident: 30.05.24

Site: Llyn Eiddwen, Bronnant, Ceredigion | The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales nature reserve
Group of cows with calves present in field, large brown ones, not Jersey but similar colour.

I had two border collies with me, both were on leads as I entered a field by this nature reserve which leads down to the lake. There were no animals present in the field as far as I could see. I assumed the field was a part of the nature reserve as it led down to the lake, which the reserve is named after, there was nothing at all to indicate it was not part of the reserve.

I went down to the lake and stayed there for about five minutes. When I turned around a group of cows and calves had surrounded the gate, the only exit. I had no choice but to go and walk through them as there was no other way out. They had not been evident at the start and must have come over the brow of the hill.

I was terrified but hoped they would scatter when I approached them. They did move away slightly but then two of them approached me, they were very large, the dogs were barking at them. I was very scared and just moved past as fast as I could and ran to the gate and managed to open it and get through. I was shaking and terrified, I have never been so scared. There were about six or seven cows and several calves.

My dogs are safe but both were very frightened.

There were NO warning signs, private property signs or any indication whatsoever that there were cows or that this field was not part of the reserve. When I got home I did a lot of checking and that field is NOT part of the Nature Reserve – however is is RIGHT NEXT to the parking space and appears to be the way to enter the reserve.
I have reported this to Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales who are responsible for the nature reserve.

Comment: I was horrified by this, I’ve never been so scared in my entire life. It is criminal there is no notice up on a wildlife trust nature reserve, what if I’d had young kids with me? There was no other way out apart from up a steep boggy slope or possibly going all the way around a lake but there appeared to be a barbed wire fence halfway along. It is NOT good enough. Thanks for running this website – someone has to do it.

Alison’s spoiled and extended walk

Report number: 818

Date of incident: 11/9/2023

Site of incident: near Tintagel, Cornwall

We were following a footpath through farmland and went over a stile and the next footpath was directly ahead following the hedge line. Unfortunately, right at the other end of the field, directly in front of the stile was the herd of cows.

So as not to spook them by walking directly towards them, we tried to go around. Unfortunately, these cows seemed territorial and were undecided as to whether they were going to allow us through or not.

They started coming towards us which did not seem like curiosity or to see if we had food. There was no where to go and my 14 year old was really scared. I tried talking calmly to them – but it made no difference. They looked like they were on the verge of charging.

In the end I made myself as big as possible with my arm out wide and clapped shouting “Back”. This caught them off guard and we managed to squeeze around them and over the stile. They quickly pursued us to the stile but luckily we were safely over. We had to re-route for the way home.

We weren’t injured, just badly frightened.

Simons story – hunted by cattle

Response ID 291,908,092, Report number 792

Date of incident: 12/09/23

no dog lone walker

I was walking on my own on a footpath on the north side of the stream which flows east to Fordingbridge from beyond Rockbourne. I entered the large field by a stile at the east end with the exit stile at the west end. The path was parallel to a fence with stream lower down & brambles & shrubs filling the gap between the barbed wire fence & stream. The field rises on the right but stays level by the fence all the way to the exit stile. It seemed a long way on level ground to the exit in the west.

After a few steps I saw cattle grazing on the sky line near the top of the field. When I next looked one was staring at me. I avoided looking at them & walked a little faster. I looked up after a few seconds and the herd of about 10 cattle were walking down hill exactly towards me. I knew if they started to go faster I would not make it to the end. I quickened without running. I felt the ground vibrating, looked sideways & saw they were running towards me. The barbed wire fence on my left had brambles & thick vegetation behind it.