Tourists and locals have been warned against a viral online craze involving highland cows in England after three people had to be rescued by emergency services. The Scottish breed of rustic cattle is instantly recognisable thanks to their long, shaggy coat and lengthy horns.
While the animal hails from Scotland, their presence in the south of England has prompted an increasing number of people to embark on visits to see them in an area fraught with « risks ». Social media users have documented their experiences visiting the cows at Butser Hill, a popular nature reserve in Hampshire. In one popular video shared on TikTok, a woman named Renata filmed herself on a hike to see the highland cows.
In the footage, she can be seen approaching the animals and getting quite close, though she doesn’t look to make direct contact with them. She also recorded the cows grazing on grass and resting in the winter sunshine. On top of the video, she added text which reads: « Did you know that you can hike with highland cows in Hampshire? »
In the caption, she went on: « A wholesome hike you must do before winter is over. Butser Hill, South Downs way | car park: GU31 5DP ».
Fellow TikTok users were eager to share their views. One person said: « Went on Sunday, they are so chill. »
A second shared a picture they’d captured of the highland cows on their own visit and said: « I went today, it was great! »
A third said: « Highland cow in England? Nahhhh. »
A fourth person commented: « These are adorable AND you caught mother bird of prey!! » Another wrote: « They’re sooo cute. »
However, not everyone was keen to encourage such visits. One said: « This isn’t any hate at all, but my farm is directly next to it and I can barely get around and do my work from the amount of cars ».
Another shared: « My family owns a farm round here. Our soil is now damaged and we can’t grow crops on it for a while because of this stupid TikTok trend. »
Renata replied: « I’m sorry to hear that. I share places I love and always respect them and their surroundings when I visit. I understand how frustrating that must be, but other people’s behaviour isn’t something I can control. »
There are also safety concerns linked to such a trek. A spokesperson for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service warned: « We’re seeing a growing number of visitors heading to Butser Hill in Hampshire, after the area’s Highland cows went viral on social media.
« Three people were rescued from the hill, highlighting the risks of visiting the area at this time of year. Crews were called to assist three individuals who had become disoriented in the area, amid bad weather conditions and fading daylight. »
The service added: « With temperatures dropping and rain setting in, the group quickly found themselves in difficulty. Firefighters from Cosham and Havant worked with colleagues from the South Central Ambulance Service. Despite challenging conditions, the individuals were swiftly located using the what3words app to narrow down their location. »
