There is no shortage of advice for walkers visiting the countryside. First of all, we recommend you read Libby’s advice, then we give you three official sources to look up on the internet.
Libby’s Advice
Libby is a COWS member and suffered a serious cattle attack a few years ago. Since then, she has become very wary of cows. Determined to keep enjoying her countryside walks, Libby adopts a common sense approach, based on extensive research into risk factors and her understanding of the way cattle behave.
Libby’s tips for staying safe around cattle.
You can also read David’s comment’s about Libby’s advice, along with David’s own tips for staying safe around cattle, and experienced walk-leader, Mick Burton, shares his five simple rules here.
Now, the “official” advice…
Here are three of the most useful and authoritative official sources we’ve found.
1. Walking near livestock – The Ramblers
Advice that makes perfect sense, and will reduce your risk of injury and death, but may not work in every circumstance. On the Ramblers’ website: Walking near livestock
2. The Countryside Code – DEFRA and Natural England
General advice for the public in the countryside. Unfortunately, it gives no specific guidance about cattle, but does include a section on walking with dogs. Includes advice to let your dog off the lead if chased by cattle.
From the GOV.UK website: the online version of the Countryside Code
3. Animals and rights of way – The Ramblers
Brief explanation of the laws around keeping animals in a field crossed by a right of way, including cows and bulls. Interesting to note that,in the eyes of the law, cattle are not classed as “dangerous animals”.
On the Ramblers’ website: Rights of Way law in England and Wales.
But… no advice works 100% of the time
Of course, following any of this advice does not guarantee you will cross a field of cattle safely, but it is certainly worth knowing and should reduce your risk of a cattle attack.
We are particularly keen to hear from people who have done everything correctly, but still had an unpleasant cattle encounter. Please let us know using our Report an Incident form.
Do you have any useful advice to share, or links that might be helpful? Please let us know in the comments section below.
Killer Cows 
Good advice from Mark. I posted the below opinion on another site after my own experience finding myself alone in the middle of a field with a friend’s daschaund on a lead. A large group of cows spotted me at some distance and started excitedly charging and trotting towards us blocking the style we came over. We were no threat, it was almost as if they were waiting for a dog to appear to have some fun chasing it. I couldn’t run with him and didn’t want to let him off so I charged them back repeatedly. This advice may not work in every situation so be pro-active and versatile: ‘Move away calmly and as quietly as possible without any sudden movements.’ You have to laugh, this advice from the British Mountaineering Council could easily get you killed. You can be hunted down by an excitable herd of cows and trampled in short order no matter how slowly and calmly you walk or unthreatening you appear. The advice you could need especially if you have a dog and the cows are advancing towards you is not to continue your walk in hope but to stay calm and scan for the closest exit from the field, be that a barbed wire fence or hedge. IF you are sure you can make it in time and get out over the barrier (the cows may speed up, the hedge could be impenetrable) then promptly make your way towards that exit but do not run or turn your back for too long that will encourage a chase. Don’t walk backwards, you could trip and fall then be a goner. If you don’t think you can make it to the exit in time you should work your way towards to it by threatening the cows behind you before continuing to retreat. You need to become hyper aggressive and threatening vocally and physically and charge at the cows multiple times always targeting the closet trying to make it stop and turn which will lead the others to do the same. Targeting a single cow gives you the best chance of turning it and when the heard sees a single cow turning to flee they tend to follow. If the herd turns give chase for a few seconds as they will quickly turn back to face you again if you don’t. Eventually they may stop and go back to eating grass, if they do this you should be safe to walk on to the next style. You may have to chase them past your exit point to be able to use it, always an option. I don’t think attacks are actually defensive, they are more the cows showing off to each other and enjoying the act of ganging up and showing some muscle. Most of them will be excitable rather than aggressive and see it as a game, so constantly threaten them whenever they perk up and advance letting them know the game is not on. Pick up stones and sticks and use them as weapons, take off your jacket and wave it over your head and if a cow gets close attack it like you want to kill it, show no mercy none will be given to you.
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It’s very simple to avoid being charged by cattle. I learned this working as a jackaroo in Australia where some of the beasts only saw a human once or twice a year and were quite fierce.
Make a lot of noise, clap your hands and charge at them – but don’t get too close to them when you do i.e. always stay out of kicking range.They always stop in their tracks and if you keep it up they will stay away from you while you get out of their way.
I continue to do this whenever I encounter cattle on a walk and have never had a problem.
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