Draycott Sleights To Cheddar Gorge Walk, Part VI, Oct  6th 2021
Channel: semw52
Date: 2021-10-10

I enter the Middledown Nature Reserve aware that there is a herd of cows nearby  but  at far enough distance for me to take evasive measures if necessary BUT  I spot another herd and I am unsure if they are also within the reserve or fences off...Fortunately the are the other side of a stone wall ...However--this herd also have access to fields that I will be entering very soon  on my way to Cheddar Gorge-----These cows have quite a large area to roam and tend to wander together without splitting---this works in my favour---Now apologies for allowing cows to dominate this walk but the trigger was the hiker earlier in the walk having to scale a wall to avoid a possibly fatal encounter---this was the trigger for my own personal near misses with cows in the past few years------For most of my life right up to my early 60s I never worried too much about cows and would easily walk among them but one day about 4 years ago and on 3 different encounters since I change my whole approach to cows---This meant avoiding them when ever possible---I do like cows and even sing to them but I am so more aware and on guard---so be aware and beware of these  creatures---if they stand on your foot, even with no malious , you won't be able to get it off and you could be trampled so easily.Cows are curious  beings and will approach you---move away with caution--do a risk assessment--I never posed a threat to the cows, no dog was with me and I kept my distance but believe me they can move very fast if they want to......