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BBC News
24-04-2025
- BBC News
Dad and son write song for Pennine Way 60th anniversary
A father and son have recorded a song to mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of England's first national 268 mile (431km) Pennine Way runs from the Peak District, across the Yorkshire Dales, and ends in the Scottish Ben Avison and his father Jon, who both live in the Yorkshire Dales, said their song, Making Memories on the Pennine Way, was all about their personal history and connection to the Avison, a former ranger and deputy chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, said the song reminds him of the "passion" he has for the area. "The Dales is home for me, it's where I come from, I'm rooted here," he said. Ben is a musician and songwriter whose music, a blend of folk and alternative styles, aims to capture the connection between people and landscapes."I grew up in Kirkby Malham, on possibly the most celebrated section of the Pennine Way," he said."My earliest memories are of the towering cliffs of Malham Cove and Gordale Scar, and the bleak expanse of Malham Moor."The landscapes you grow up in shape who you are." The original idea for a national trail came from Tom Stephenson, a British journalist and keen walker, who wrote an article in 1935 asking for a long distance walk in England - a long green trail, partially inspired by similar routes in the United was 30 years before his idea became a reality when Mr Stephenson, by then secretary of the Ramblers' Association, attended the official opening of the Pennine Way at Malham Moor on 24 April trail runs from Edale, in the northern Derbyshire Peak District, north through the Yorkshire Dales and Northumberland National Park, before reaching its end at Kirk Yetholm, just inside the Scottish border. Ben said the trail was a "pilgrimage for so many"."It's a journey that offers both challenges and rewards, much like life itself."He said the song had been inspired by the landscape and his relationship with his aimed to "honour" the experiences of walkers and the trail's "enduring beauty," he said."It celebrates the Pennine Way as a place of reflection, inspiration, and connection, whether you're local or a visitor."Jon's former band, The Moonbeams, also released three albums of songs celebrating the Yorkshire Dales and he said creating the song had been a bonding moment with his son."I have spent most of my working life caring for and encouraging others to care for the beautiful Yorkshire Dales," he said."This song and video reminds me of the passion I have for the Dales and brings back wonderful memories of sharing that passion with Ben." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Guardian
09-04-2025
- The Guardian
The Guardian view on the Pennine Way: a pioneer of long-distance soul therapy
For those seeking pastoral shelter from the storm of world events this spring, there is a special incentive to look north. Sixty years old this month, the Pennine Way is being celebrated in style, with guided walks and an exhibition at the Dales Countryside Museum in Wensleydale. In North Yorkshire, speeches and a singsong are planned to mark the April day, in 1965, when the village of Malham hosted the opening of Britain's first national trail. The recognition is richly deserved. Stretching 268 miles from Derbyshire to the Scottish Borders, the establishment of the Pennine Way represented an epic political achievement as well as a new leisure option. Though the inhabitants of northern mill towns and mining communities had a voracious appetite for open spaces and beauty, local landowners were for decades reluctant to give it to them. The postwar campaigning work of the Lancashire journalist Tom Stephenson and the Ramblers' Association opened up swaths of private moorland previously fenced off behind 'No Trespassing' signs. The rest has been walking history. Tens of millions now visit the 15 national trails of England and Wales annually. Stephenson's route across the northern uplands has an intimidating reputation for austere splendour amid biting winds. But less challenging experiences are also available. The Thames Path from the Cotswolds to London is a much milder, gentler affair, and constitutes the longest river walk in Europe. The desire to immerse oneself in such natural glory is often combined with more personal motives for leaving everyday life behind. Next month, the film version of Raynor Winn's 2018 bestseller, The Salt Path, will be released, starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs. In Winn's memoir, she and her husband decide to set off on the 630-mile South Coast Path, which becomes a redemptive backdrop as hiking helps them to come to terms with sudden homelessness and serious illness. Other authors, such as Sharon Blackie, David Nicholls and Robert Macfarlane, have explored the spiritual dimensions to an activity that can concentrate the mind, removing the quotidian clutter which prevents it from thinking clearly. In the 21st century, long-distance walking is perhaps best seen as a form of secular pilgrimage, in which homage to our natural landscape is literally paid on the hoof. As in Chaucer's time, the path can sometimes be a self-imposed endurance test, but will usually feature a generous number of hostelries along the way. For millions, the familiar acorn symbol marking a national trail route amounts to an invitation to some free soul therapy. Sixty years on, those northern pioneers would rightly take that as a win. Columnising for the Daily Herald in 1935, Stephenson envisioned the collective wellbeing his pet project could deliver: 'None could walk that Pennine Way,' he wrote, 'without being improved in mind and body, inspired and invigorated and filled with the desire to explore every corner of this lovely island.' From Cornwall to the North Downs, and the ruins of Hadrian's Wall, an army of backpackers will prove him right this Easter.
Sky News
25-03-2025
- Sky News
Insufficient evidence to prosecute farmer after cows trampled rambler to death in Northumberland, inquest hears
A farmer whose cows charged at a rambler, trampling him to death, had been investigated for manslaughter but no charges were brought, an inquest has heard. Malcolm Flynn, 72, from Carlisle, was walking a section of Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland with a friend when they were confronted and attacked by cattle in a field at Thirlwall Castle Farm near Gilsland in September 2020. The inquest into Mr Flynn's death heard that another two walkers were attacked by cows a year earlier in September 2019 on land farmed by Robert Scott. Jurors at the hearing in Morpeth, Northumberland, were told that in that case, the pair were not badly injured, but it led to a Health and Safety Executive inspection and enforcement action. Mr Scott then erected warning signs to alert ramblers walking through fields that cows with calves could be unpredictable and an alternative route should be taken if necessary. But he was told he could not fence off the path as it could disturb the ancient monument or any archaeology from the Roman wall, the inquest was told. At the time, Mr Scott kept 80 beef cattle and 500 sheep on the 250-hectare farm, close to the border with Cumbria, and more than 80% of the fields had public rights of way going through them. The inquest previously heard Mr Flynn was walking with a friend in September 2020 when they noticed a warning sign about cattle as they entered a field at Thirlwall Castle Farm along the Pennine Way - part of which follows Hadrian's Wall. Mr Flynn was knocked to the ground, trampled and kicked in the head by the herd of Limousin cattle - consisting of 18 cows, their calves and a bull - which only dispersed when the air ambulance flew over around 30 minutes later. He could not be saved and died from chest injuries. Detective Inspector Barry McAtominey from Northumbria Police told jurors that police had initially looked at corporate manslaughter or gross negligence manslaughter charges. But DI McAtominey said there was insufficient evidence to bring charges after receiving advice from a livestock expert and because of the clear signage erected after the first incident. Mr Scott told the inquest that he has reduced his herd from 80 to 55 since Mr Flynn was trampled and no cattle were now put in fields that had public rights of way in them, unless the paths were fenced off. Asked about the general temperament of his Limousin cattle, Mr Scott said: "There is a perception that they may be a little bit more highly strung but I have never found it. When we had the Galloway cows, they were no different." Mr Flynn, a father of two, was a member of the Ramblers' Association and regularly walked with his friend. The inquest is expected to last all week.
BBC News
25-03-2025
- BBC News
Fatal cow attack police inquiry found no crime evidence
A farmer whose cows killed a retired teacher in a prolonged attack was investigated by police but was not charged with manslaughter, an inquest has Flynn, 72, from Carlisle, was walking a section of Hadrian's Wall near Gilsland, Northumberland, with a friend when they came across 18 cows, their calves and a Flynn was knocked to the ground then trampled and kicked in the head by the Limousin cows.A Northumbria Police detective told the inquest the force had considered corporate manslaughter or gross negligence manslaughter charges but lacked the appropriate evidence. In September 2019, 12 months before Mr Flynn's death, two walkers were attacked on the same farm which led to enforcement action from the Health and Safety Robert Scott then put up signs warning walkers of the cattle but said he was not allowed to fence off the path as it could disturb the ancient Insp Barry McAtominey said the force had found "insufficient evidence to charge any one person or body in connection with the death of Mr Flynn". Not 'highly strung' Mr Scott told the inquest's jury he had reduced his herd from 80 to 55 since Mr Flynn's death and no longer keeps cattle in fields where there is a public right of way, unless the paths are fenced said he was dry-stone walling when he was told about the attack over the phone and drove to the scene on a Scott said there was a perception that Limousin cattle "may be a little bit more highly strung" than other breeds but he had never found it to be the case."When we had the Galloway cows, they were no different," he Flynn was a father of two and a member of the Ramblers' Association. He regularly walked with his friend Christopher inquest is expected to last all week. Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
24-03-2025
- BBC News
Carlisle man trampled to death by cows in Northumberland
A 72-year-old was thrown into the air by cows which then repeatedly attacked him, an inquest has Flynn, from Carlisle, was walking with a friend along Hadrian's Wall when they were charged at by cattle who were with their calves on 11 September fellow walker called the emergency services after managing to escape by climbing a Mr Flynn was pronounced dead at the scene in a field at Thirlwall Castle Farm near Gilsland in Northumberland. Christopher Barkless said he and Mr Flynn - a fellow member of the Ramblers' Association - had entered the field and there were four cows and their calves blocking his told the inquest: "I was not comfortable with that situation, they were not behaving in a manner that I would expect."If you look in a cow's eyes it will normally look away, it won't stare you out."If it looks away, it will normally disperse. These cows were different."They didn't demonstrate any intention of being fazed by the presence of two human beings, in fact they came forward to confront us." 'Flipped up' Mr Barkless said he told his friend he was changing course and turned his then heard a "tumultuous motion" as the cattle moved quickly towards Mr Flynn who started to run he was shoulder-charged, knocked to the ground, flipped up in the air and then trampled every time he Mr Flynn made a final attempt to get up, a cow kicked him in the face, Mr Barkless was only when the air ambulance flew over, 30 minutes after the first attack, that the cows were unable to save Mr Flynn, who had suffered chest injuries. Assistant Coroner Kirsten Mercer told jurors there was a sign warning walkers about the cows and calves in the field and how they could be "unpredictable".One of the issues to be considered during the five-day hearing was a previous incident almost exactly a year before where two walkers were injured by inquest in Morpeth continues. Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram.
