We were both alarmed and annoyed by the experience but not harmed. A little further on, the path was overgrown with scratchy bushes growing from both sides. We might have considered turning back, but with the dogs behind us, we pushed through. Luckily the overgrown section was short and we were able to reach the towpath as planned. Clare snagged her trousers on some barbed wire, but we were otherwise unscathed.