Ruth Livingstone
My book: Walking the English Coast
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Winfield’s Award
Killer Cows: Cattle Safety
Boisterous cattle on the Cotswold Way stop walkers following the path.
Incident number: 1290Date: 2/8/26Site: On the Cotswold Way public footpath at Sands Farm (between Dyrham and Pennsylvania/ (Cold Ashton) just before where the Cotswold Way crosses Gorse Lane. The very approximate coordinates are 51.468770,-2.378849.Type of cow: Boisterous group of young cattle.2 walkers, no dog. Report: “At approximately 12:00 noon, Sunday 2nd August 2026, my mother […]
Cows with calves across major walking route
Incident number 1287Date: 26.07.26Site: Winnats Pass loop trail2 walkers and dog (on lead) Report: “The cows were stood next to the gate we needed to get through, as my friend and her dog carefully passed them to get through the gate a cow turned to her and began walking fast towards her, it’s head was […]
John was nearly killed by cows, HSE decide that a few signs will make this safe for future walkers.
Report: 1284 Date: 02/08/21 Location: Todmorden, West Yorkshire. On footpath from East Whirlaw Farm to Style Road. Approximate map reference 255 936 on OS Map OL21 Single careful walker, no dog John’s report: “I skirted around a group of cows as I walked downhill, but a number of the calves started to follow me. After […]
Tag Archives: marsh
29. Southend to Basildon to Fobbing
I hesitate outside the dark mouth of the gloomy alleyway. For the first time on my whole journey, I feel very uneasy. I am not concerned about tides, or mud, or even snakes. It is the thought of ….. Continue reading
26. Burnham on Crouch to Rochford
I am planning to make good progress over the next few days. Who knows, I might even manage to leave Essex. With 350 miles of coastline, Essex has the longest coastline in England. I was not aware of this fact before I encountered its miles of estuaries ….
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25. Tillingham Marshes to Burnham on Crouch
The Dengie peninsula is flat, marshy and has a coastal walk 17 miles in length. I suffer my first serious bout of boredom …. then I see a mirage, a strangely decorated gate and discover an enormous mushroom. Continue reading
Stage 20. Old Hall Marshes to Tollesbury
Bradwell Power Station looms menacingly on the horizon. There is the threat of rain and strange colour-changing light. My trousers look like an insect graveyard – sticky webs with spiders, flies, butterflies, beetles, ladybirds… Little flies extract their revenge on behalf of the insect kingdom, attacking my upper arms. Continue reading
Stage 16. Harwich to Kirby-le-Soken
The heat is relentless – more like Spain than England – and the air is hot and close around my face. My chest feels tight and I am having trouble breathing. I hear the sound of horse hooves behind me and have to force myself not to stop. There is horsey breath coming over my shoulder…. Continue reading
Stage 6. Cley-Next-the-Sea to Sheringham
The waves crash beneath us and spray fills the air. The wind howls and tries to blow us off the bank. I am reminded of how very fragile this coastland is and what little protection we really have from the force of the sea.
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Stage 3. Thornham to Burnham Deepdale
Now the rain begins to fall. I wrap my camera in plastic bag and stuff my iPhone into my bra. I am a little damp. I can’t resist taking lots of photographs of boats. Yesterday it was beach huts, today boats. Continue reading
Ruth's Coastal Walk (UK) 