The Ramblers said walkers should not be deterred from visiting the countryside by recent cattle attacks

A walker was hospitalised after being attacked by a cow in the Yorkshire Dales.

The incident happened as 86-year-old Ken Honeyman was on the Dales Way between Kettlewell and Grassington in North Yorkshire. Mr Honeyman, of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, suffered bruising to his ribs and left leg, as well as cuts when the animal knocked him over.

Unlike similar recent cases, the walking group with Mr Honeyman did not have any dogs with them.

Cattle pictured last year on the Dales Way between Grassington and Kettlewell

The cow that sent the walker sprawling was with a bull and calves in the field when the incident took place. His son and daughter-in-law, who were with him at the time, waved their arms and shooed the cow away as it butted him while he was lying on the ground.

Mr Honeyman, a retired power-station worker, managed to make his way off the fell, but was taken to Airedale General Hospital, Keighley, the following day. He was discharged two days later.

Mr Honeyman’s son Ian said they had seen a small sign earlier warning that there was a bull in the field, with cows and calves. The walker told the Telegraph & Argus newspaper: “It’s difficult to know why it attacked. We didn’t have a dog. I didn’t know cows could be dangerous with calves. Perhaps this cow was frightened by something else.”

The attack is the latest incident involving cattle and walkers. Vet Liz Crowsley, 49, died after an attack by cattle on the Pennine Way at Gayle in the Yorkshire Dales. In July, a judge awarded £¼ million to Shirley McKaskie who was left severely disabled when a herd crushed her and farmer was recently killed while herding his cattle on a road when they were spooked by a passing fire engine.

Tom Franklin: 'don't be put off'

The incidents prompted the Ramblers to team up with the National Farmers’ Union to produce warning signs for walkers. Tom Franklin, chief executive of the Ramblers said at the time: “Incidents of people being attacked by cattle are few and far between, thankfully, and it would be counter to the interest of people who walk and farmers alike to see cattle closed off behind fences in fields.

“We urge people who walk not to let the very low risk of cattle attacks put them off enjoying the countryside when it is at its loveliest.”

NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond said: “Farmers take care before placing livestock into fields, particularly those with a footpath, but equally the public should also be aware and must know what to do if cattle approach them.

“That is why we support the advice of the Ramblers for walkers with dogs. However we must not forget that the countryside is where farmers earn their living and that is where cattle and sheep will be grazed.”

The Dales Way incident has been reported to police.