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Bull in field that has a public footpath going across it….

(37 Posts)
MayBee70 Fri 25-Jun-21 16:47:59

The field at the end of our garden has a very popular footpath going right across the middle of it. Each summer the cows and their calves are put there. Now, I would never walk through a field with cows and calves anyway but it horrifies me to see people walking across it when there’s a bull there too. Is this legal?

Oldbat1 Fri 25-Jun-21 20:10:45

Few years ago nr Belford in Northumberland a family on holiday walked across public footpath field when one of the cows tossed the woman out of the field. She died. It was so sad.

MayBee70 Fri 25-Jun-21 20:12:06

Yes, I remember that happening.

MayBee70 Fri 25-Jun-21 20:14:38

Whitewavemark2

MayBee70

It’s such a long field I doubt if people realise there are cattle in it. A pavement runs adjacent to it. It would be no further to walk along the pavement. The problem is that it’s a pilgrim route so I assume if you don’t follow the exact route it doesn’t count as a pilgrimage?

Cheat

Just imagine getting to the pearly gates and being refused entrance because you took a small diversion to avoid being trampled on…..

ExD Fri 25-Jun-21 20:16:23

What did it look like? Did it have a White face? Was it all Black with short legs? Was it Black and white?
(Just trying to think of usual characteristics of dairy and beef breeds - can anyone help me out here? I've quickly thought - Hereford, Angus, Friesian ........

MaizieD Fri 25-Jun-21 20:23:12

I believe the advice is that if you are walking with a dog on a lead through a field of cows & calves and the cows attack, to let go of the dog because the cows will go for the dog rather than a person.

Horrid, I know, but the dog can probably outrun a cow if it's fit.

Whitewavemark2 Fri 25-Jun-21 20:24:12

MayBee70

Whitewavemark2

MayBee70

It’s such a long field I doubt if people realise there are cattle in it. A pavement runs adjacent to it. It would be no further to walk along the pavement. The problem is that it’s a pilgrim route so I assume if you don’t follow the exact route it doesn’t count as a pilgrimage?

Cheat

Just imagine getting to the pearly gates and being refused entrance because you took a small diversion to avoid being trampled on…..

???

M0nica Fri 25-Jun-21 20:52:14

Bullocks are a danger, I would say as dangerous as cows with calves. They are boisterous and curious and, unlike dairy cows are not used to a lot of human handling. At least this is what my farmer cousin tells me.

When AC were small we were walking, on a footpath through a field that, thankfully, hugged the fence. A herd of bullocks galloped up to inspect us and were beginning to jostle us. Thankfully the field boundary was barbed wire with a dry ditch beyond . I told children to get under the fence and into the ditch fast and I followed them pdq.

My cousin told me I had done the right thing.

cornishpatsy Fri 25-Jun-21 21:21:40

Is it a public right of way or a short cut across the farmers land?

Shandy57 Fri 25-Jun-21 22:17:06

I agree MOnica, I had a similar experience. About ten years ago bullocks roamed the fields surrounding our cricket club. I had one of the suede coats with fur down the front, and was walking along the path with my two children to the club, when they suddenly made a bee line for me, about four of them running really fast. All three of us managed to jump the fence just in time, I was really shaken. Several more incidents of this happened before the Duke agreed to fence it off.

MayBee70 Fri 25-Jun-21 22:50:53

cornishpatsy

Is it a public right of way or a short cut across the farmers land?

It’s a public footpath which is part of a pilgrim route.

silverlining48 Fri 25-Jun-21 22:54:43

We had a very frightening incident in a field of cows , we didn’t have a dog with us and didn’t notice calves and have been very wary since.