A chance to see animals rarer than giant pandas and mountain gorillas opens up to Northumberland visitors from this weekend.
All they have to do is head to a location where many would fear to tread, as the beasts reside in the grounds of a castle that has topped the UK's most haunted list on more than one occasion. Though Chillingham Castle is complete with a dungeon, torture chamber and magnificent state rooms, its herd of wild cattle show a different side to the popular north Northumberland attraction, which dates back as far as the 12th century - and tours to visit the creatures start up again this Good Friday.
Despite there being more than 1 billion cattle across the globe, the Castle's white cows are the only herd of ancient wild cattle left in the world. Survivors of herds that once roamed the forests of Britain, the cows, bulls and calves are just as they would have been 700 years ago.
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The beasts are completely untamed and remain untouched by humans since medieval times, and you can get close to them on a tour which teaches visitors all about the unique creatures. Though visitors will be taken near to the cattle, it won't be close enough to touch them - as they are truly wild.
Long ago, the cows were held sacred and pre-Christian pagans sacrificed them to their gods. And in more recent years, the cows have both defended and fed those who have lived in the castle.
During the tour, visitors will also hear about the history of the cattle park, the family who have nurtured the cattle, and the continuing involvement of the wild cattle in environmental, historical and genetic research. The herd numbers are currently 127, roughly half of them bulls, and some visitors may be lucky enough to see the first new born calves of the year.
Giving further information on behalf of the Chillingham Wild Cattle Association, Stephen Hall said: "The Chillingham Wild White Cattle are genetically very special, thanks to their long isolation and have been the subject of many scientific studies. Living and behaving as wild animals, they receive no human intervention other than winter feeding.
"All cows and bulls have horns and this is just one of the interesting facts guests will learn on the tour."
For more information on the cattle and tour tickets, visit the Chillingham Wild Cattle website. Pre-booking is advised.
The cattle are a separate attraction from Chillingham Castle but joint tickets can be purchased which offer both a tour of the wild cattle and access to the castle.
Will you be visiting the wild cattle at Chillingham Castle? Let us know in the comments below.
