These things are about an inch long and last night there was loads of these things buzzing around on my local trail, firstly as I tried to get through a gate I was surrounded by about 10 of them and they just kept coming at me, then I was hitting them as I was going along, and every gate I came to they were hanging around, kinda like bug chavs, and would come at me as I was trying to get through the gates, this was just as the sun went down. Only this one tonight which hitched a ride on my shorts.

Out of interest, anyone know what they are, not seen them before?

probably not helpful but it looks like some kinda beetle

Send it to iSpot
They'll tell you.

Cockchafer (ooer missus) or maybug Cockchafer

Was just about to say that, looking at this site:

http://www.uksafari.com/cockchafer.htm

Your description and the picture makes me think its probably a maybug.

There was a stag beetle (male one with the huge pincers) flying erratically around my garden just now.

Not a good idea to hit one of those at speed 😮

Thats called a crop catcher in Hertfordshire.