[Kirric]

i have done quite a bit of hiking through many areas and, inevitably through fields with cows in- once getting chased by the cows (and bundleing over the stile quite hurridly for some of that group)now i am cautious- i keep to the edge of the fields and away from the animals and try not to attract their attention, so we can pass quietly through- and are ready with an alternative plan if the animals don't appear friendly. What i do and the rest of the guys i go walking do is respect that the farmers have allowed us to walk across their land- but we have to respect it- don't litter, don't disturb the animals, try to keep to the path etc. and if the animals decide that they don't like you and become a danger to you, then tough- it's a no go. Anyway unfortunatly there are a lot of walkers who go ahead and don't understand this sort of thing- so if they get chased etc it probably means they got too close or were shouting loudly and generally being an intrusion. ( in the incident i mentioned at the start of this post we had a couple of yper girls in the group who decided that something about a field of cows that appereared to all be looking at you was funny)
just to sum up- if a farmers allowed acsess through a field first be greatful- cus they could have said no and secondly- give them some repect! - it's still their field and if they are using their land for their animals and those animals don't like you, then you'll just have to find a different route