Was out walking over the common this evening as I have many times before, the long horn cattle were close to the path on the main common but as I have walked amongst these many times before I wasn't to worried however, as I passed through them, cattle on both sides, about 6 to 8 feet away I let the dog run ahead as she was walking to heal off the lead and sometimes feels a bit over powered by the large cows. She passed through them and they totally ignored her but as I was half way through one of them started towards me with it's head down and looking non to pleased as it started to trot (do cows trot)? It was within inches of striking me with it's horns as I jumped to one side shouting at it and giving it a good thwack on the nose with my rolled up shorts, glad I had them with me today. This was enough to send the cow in the other direction. There were no young ones nearby and I don't know what caused the cow to come at me. Lesson learnt, don't trust the bloody things.
Others beware.
Later down the path a bird watcher was coming towards me, I've seen him before and he always ignores me. Today I carried on straight towards him with the intention of telling him to be careful as the cows were feisty tonight. As we got closer he headed off into the heather to avoid me and pretended to look at something with his binoculars, totally blanking me. I thought b******* then mate as the cows started toward him. I'll see if he's laid there tomorrow. 😀
@tribalbrit That is interesting I often walk by the cows and today I walked by them without social distancing. They were on the same track as me and the horns were almost touching me as I passed through them, they did not move. I did not feel worried about them, I didn't even look at them, I am so used to them. Perhaps I need to be a little more careful. Thanks for the warning.
Must say I've worked around farms and livestock in a few different places, and being wise to stay safe is a big part of that. Still, the only place I've ever regularly felt intimidated by cattle is on Budby Common. It's strange, longhorns are pretty docile beasts usually, there's just something about the place seems to stir them up sometimes.
Tell you what Gildo, I nearly s*** myself. the attack came from nowhere and I did nothing to provoke it. Don't think it was the dog either as she didn't seem to bother them it was defiantly me. Maybe they are fed up seeing all the naked bodies up there of late. 🤔
@tribalbrit perhaps someone has been training them to get us. If this happens again we need to write to the warden and let her know.
It was only a couple of weeks ago I reported a lame calf to the warden, let the bloody thing suffer next time.
😉
@tribalbrit I walked through 3 different groups of cows with youngsters today and they took no notice if me.
I know I've done it many times, must be one of those things.
A year or so ago me and the dog came across a dozen longhorns, no problem. Two weeks later came across the same group but this time they had calved. Protecting their young they charged me and the dog. Apparently they view the dog as the threat.
@hillwalker
That’s why the advice is to let the dog off the lead if you are threatened by cattle. But cows with calves will always be more dangerous, especially if you get between a cow and its calf.
Tread lightly upon the earth
Agreed, though in this instance we were about fifty yards from them as we came over the hill, probably more. They spotted us and came charging towards us. I suppose they may have thought i was the farmer but doubt it
Been in the Lakes for a few days. Was nice to get back to familiar territory yesterday, was quite busy out today though, must have seen more people today than I generally see all month.
People making the most of the last Bank Holiday I suppose.
Went for a 10 mile naked walk in Sherwood forest this morning. Weather was good. I met a volunteer warden for the RSPB who chatted to me for a while. Then I met a guy on a electric scooter who wanted to show me things on his mobile, he was a flat earther and he told me that the earth is flat and all about the conspiracy theories to keep it all from us. He was definitely convinced and I just made the right sort of noises. Then I met 4 people walking and behind them was mr really nasty. I have met him before he has a collie dog, some of us had an unpleasant encounter with him on a group walk. This time he ran at me shouting and swearing and took a swing at me. I ducked and side stepped him and got past him. he then chased me with his dog trying to get the dog to bite me and he tried to kick me. After a few yards he decided to just carry on shouting abuse at me as I hurried away. Once out of sight I stopped to eat some blackberries and as I looked round there he was in hot pursuit again. I walked away quickly. turned a corner and legged it. Fortunately I was unhurt but this guy is a real threat. As soon as I saw him I covered my bits with my bag but he still attacked me. I wish I was 20 years younger I would not have let him get away with how he behaved. A little later I walked past a young couple sitting on a bench, they both smiled and said hello. I would have loved to report him to the police but there would have been no chance of finding him out in the forest and I couldn't hang around near him without risking my safety.
if you come across him again video him that way you will have prof and then the athorities will have to to something about him might even pay to get one of those small body cams that have been advertised.
Mark & Tracey
@mark-and-tracey I actually had my mobile in my hand but I was too busy protecting myself to use it. I also think he would have been more vicious if I had tried to.