SIR — A few Saturdays ago, it was a beautiful day with clear blue skies, sun and a nip in the air, and as we were caring for our friend's dog, brother to our own, I took them for a walk on North Hill.

It proved a popular idea, as the car park at the end of the hill overlooking Porlock Bay was quite full and others had joined in the opportunity.

Walking boots tied, we set off for our cardio vascular exercise (the only form of exercise I'm able to get now, as we have no swimming pool of any significance and have to travel 25 miles for any decent swimming facility).

From the car park, I and the two dogs set off down the steep path that joins into the path coming up from Lynch woods, which continues to go up around the hill to a grass area with gorgeous panoramic vista of Bossington beach to Porlock Weir and beyond.

This path had now been turned into a quagmire where cow pats were mixed into a muddy slurry, and as we continued our walk turning the last corner, we were confronted by a cow staring straight at us, blocking our route.

I beckoned the cow to retreat, which it did, and we reached the grassy knoll.

Looking up the hill, either side of the path, the cattle were viewing me as the intruder.

My friend's dog pressed on ahead and in doing so the cow proceeded to snort with head down and chase the dog, who scooted in a circular route back to us, whereby I was forced to take a hasty retreat back down the path of slurry previously encountered.

As it flashed through my mind that more than six people were killed by cattle last year, my cardio vascular exercise was getting an additional input of adrenaline.

Not wishing to continue back the path we came, I took a track that had been made by the Exmoor ponies as they traverse the hills, and on taking the steep track, I looked down onto the slurry path to see the cattle stopping to look at us.

On reaching the top of the hill, I had to rest on the concrete remains of the war-time gun placement and reflect on the situation that had unfolded.

Who was the individual that made this senseless and terrible decision to place cattle on the hill that has hundreds of like-minded people enjoying this area of Minehead?

Cattle are dangerous, especially when they have young calves. Pathways are being decimated and walkers are put in danger.

Cattle should be in a fenced field, not let free to roam the hills. Get these beasts off now and give the hills back to the people.

Malcolm McNeill,

Paganel Road,

Minehead.