Guy’s frightening story on the Tyne and Wear Heritage Trail

Incident number: 829

Response ID: 300,231,660

Date: 21.03.24

Location: High Spen, Tyne and Wear (grid ref: NZ 13484 60569)

Guy was walking with on a circular country walk with a friend and his dog. Part of the route included the Tyne and Wear Heritage Trail, a major rambling route clearly marked on the OS App and signage. “We followed the path and the dog was on a lead at all times. While descending towards a small stream (the Coal Burn see map reference), we were mobbed by a herd of around thirty cows and at least one bull at grid location NZ 13484 60569 (Strothers Farm, High Spen). Some of the cows were visible across the field when we entered, but others and the bull were in another field we couldn’t see, through an opened gate. One cow pushed me over a barbed wire fence resulting in a lot of bruising (I will go to A&E if I have further symptoms). We called the farmer for help, who said they were not her cows but promised to contact their owner. Apparently the cows had recently chased other walkers. However nobody came to our aid and when we spoke to the farmer later on she had not been able to contact the owner of the herd. I understand the incident was on her land. We were hemmed in by the animals, some less than a meter away, for around an hour (trapped around 10:30, first call for help, after I was butted, at 10:38, police officers arrived at 11:27). Eventually we had to call the police and four officers eventually arrived and distracted the herd in order to rescue us. Although we were extremely grateful for their help and professionalism, this was not a good use of their time. It was also a very frightening incident. I’ve never known anything like it, after many years of enjoying the countryside. We were both terrified. To my mind, this represents dangerous, reckless farming. A document from the Ramblers Association appears to summarise the law https://www.ramblers.org.uk/what-we-care-about/rights-way-and-cattle. None of the recommended health and safety guidelines for farmers listed there appear to have been followed”