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thesweetcheat T
thesweetcheat Sep 11, 2013 19:46:00
Replying to Sanctuary

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.

T thesweetcheat
thesweetcheat Sep 11, 2013 19:52:48
Replying to thesweetcheat

A bit more advice, this time for walkers (not that it would have made any difference in the video example):

advice from the ramblers

The Ramblers' Association provides the following helpful advice to walkers. It is worth emphasising that the majority of attacks occur when dogs are present or cows are acting in defence of their calves:

Be prepared for cattle to react, and, where possible, walk carefully and quietly around them - do not split up a clustered group.
If you have a dog with you, keep it under close control, but do not hang on to it should a bull or cow start acting aggressively.
Cattle will usually stop before reaching you. If they do not, just carry on quietly, and do not run.
Should a bull or cow come up very closely, turn round to face it. If necessary take a couple of steps towards it, waving your arms and shouting firmly.
Above all, do not put yourself at risk. If you feel threatened, find another way round, returning to the original path as soon as is possible.
Remember to close gates behind you when walking through fields containing livestock.
If you are attacked or suffer a frightening incident, report this to the landowner and the highway authority, and also the HSE and police if it is of a serious nature.

S Sanctuary
Sanctuary Sep 11, 2013 20:34:58
Replying to thesweetcheat

thesweetcheat wrote:
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.

My worst experience was at the base of Hawk's Tor (the one south of the A30 in Cornwall not north where the Stripple Stones are) when a friend and I were attacked by horses. We had four dogs with us and were just passing a watering hole completely surrounded by trees when I would guess about 30 moor horses/ponies burst through the trees and surrounded us. I'm used to horses and initially thought nothing of it just telling my friend not to move...but she did. She did more than that and went into complete panic and ran off, dogs and all, so I had no choice but to follow her. I ran like hell to catch her up but then heard galloping hooves behind us. We were too far from the perimeter gate to reach it in time so I stopped but she carried on. It was the most frightening thing that has ever happened to me but all I could think of doing was jump up and down, shout and wave my arms like some sort of a demented lunatic! It worked and they all pulled up in a cloud of dust. The stallion who was leading the charge then walked up to me slowly and I thought my time was up. I was shaking with fear inside but I knew I had to stand firm. He came right up to me and stepped up and down on his front hooves and I knew they were likely to be aimed at me next so just let out a huge scream and stamped both feet on the ground really firmly while waving my arms again. That made him really jump and turn and run back to the herd who then all turned in unison and they all ran back about 50 yards. That was it for me and I legged it as fast as I could. They never came after me and after I got outside the field gate I just fell to the ground completely wrecked. My heart was beating like a drum and took forever to settle down. The tor was a local stamping ground for me as it's a nice steady climb to the top but I've not been back since. Jeez was I scared!
I'm very careful now when I go out on open moorland because you can run across herds with youngsters and its not a good idea to get too near. I won't cross an area unless I can see shelter that I could reach before them.