That is frankly hideous. I can only imagine how unpleasant it was for the people.

G/F and I did once get stranded on a thick Cornish hedge (that's a double granite wall with stuff growing from the central fill) on St Michael's Way near Trencrom, when a herd of bullocks stampeded as we were crossing the field. We were there for quite a while as the bullocks were in the fields on both sides. Eventually they moved off and we legged it.

I've also been charged at by bullocks in a Cotswold field, near Boy's Grove round barrow (definitely not worth the aggravation), I climbed over a wall into a narrow strip outside the field and they were actually charging into the drystone wall. It was a long detour back to get away.

But I've never actually been charged at by full size bulls, nor would I ever want to be. Personally I think the laws on non-dairy breed bulls in fields crossed by footpaths are asking for trouble. Guidance for farmers here:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ais17ew.pdf

In Scotland the issue is more readily avoidable as avoiding the field by detouring into neighbouring ones (if possible) would be perfectly legal, whereas in England and Wales you would either have to leave the right of way and trespass or go back the way you have come, which we have had to do on occasion, even on well-known routes like Offa's Dyke Path.

You just turn at the animal, stretch your arms out wide and run at it. Like here.

http://youtu.be/Yhq-8TrRlsM?t=48m54s

If you are going to cross a field with livestock in it please be prepared to move them along if need be. They are beasts of the field and respond to direction. The alternatives are really about how you deal with half a ton of beef muscle which you have given the upper hand to. It is a fairly simple process and these decisions are basic. The alternative is standing on a stile for an hour. Mibbe more.

Take your pick.

More people are killed by rams and sheep than bulls.

Remember that these animals don't understand our etiquette and we don't (generally) understand theirs. It's about personal space etc. - you have to teach them it in a basic and straightforward way.

BTW I once got my OH to walk ahead of me on a walk to "The Bay of the Bag" on the island of Jura. . She had to wave the bull away... because I was too feart - get this - because the bull had looked at me in a funny way... it moved when she told it to...

I once heard a person say how filthy the countryside was - get this - because "the animals sh*t all over the place".

I know cows have a bad reputation, but friends of mine, whilst walking to connect a few country pubs through fields, have found that horses are a bit worrying. The have experienced, on quite a few occasions, horses running at them and then galloping alongside them, turning round, then galloping past again very close, nearly touching.

All the best,
TE.