Recycled ride to Hutton Cranswick (TJ’s Cafe) on Friday, 21st April 2017

A surprise encounter with a herd of Belted Galloways

Distance: 34.07 miles

Cyclists: Alan Beecroft, John Bodman Boddice, Derek Clark, David Cross, Chris Eagleton, Nick Hart, Shirl Ives, Phil MacMullen, George Sweeting, Steve Superman Watts, Rod Webster & Dave Big Wheel Williamson (Leader)

Outward journey: Molescroft roundabout, Cherry Burton, Etton, South Dalton, Thorpe, Lockington, Watton Pumping Station (River Hull – short diversion) , Watton (A164 footpath) and Hutton Cranswick (TJ’s cafe)

Homeward journey: TJ’s Hutton Cranswick, Kilnwick, Etton, Cherry Burton and Beverley.

Route devised by: Adrian Benson

Weather conditions: Sunny intervals but a stiff, blustery westerly wind approx 15 mph

Today as I start to write this it is the 23rd April - St George’s Day. As a patriotic Englishman, I’m celebrating this special day in my own way by hanging out something like 20 shirts on the washing line instead of the usual flags and these are billowing gently in a tea -time breeze. “Dad,” said my daughters, almost at the same time, during their recent house inspection visit, “it’s your shirts they have an odour of sweaty socks.” It never occurred to me that adding a few socks to a general wash would make any difference to the other items so in desperation, I suppose, on this St George’s Day, I’m attempting to remove any malodorous odours from all those shirts!

There’s a brief stop at Lockington where there’s little chance of re-filling any water bottles from the village pump which has long ceased to work. One or two try for water by standing under the pump with their mouths wide open and it would be much to the amusement of the others if they did get a drenching in the event of water suddenly gushing out!

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It was on one of the narrow lanes to Wilfholme Landing that we encounter a small herd of cattle with a most visible characteristic: a broad white belt that completely encircles the middle of their bodies. Alan Beecroft identified them as Belted Galloways, a breed of heritage beef cattle originally from Galloway on the west side of Scotland who have adapted to living in poor upland pastures and windswept moorland. Their exact origin is not known, but it is surmised that the white belt for which they are named is a cross between the native black Galloway cattle and the Dutch Lakenvelder belted cattle. “Belties” as they are also known have a coarse outer coat which provides shelter from the rain and a soft undercoat which provides insulation and waterproofing so that they can spend winter outside. Bulls which we saw today weigh between 770kg – 1000kg and cows between 450 kg – 680 kg. In 2007, in the UK, Belted Galloways were removed from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust Watch List. There are 1500 breeding females and the breed is found all around the world. In addition to the black Belted Galloways which are more common, there are also dun and red ones which also have the distinctive middle body white belt.

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It’s difficult to believe that in 1846/7 there was a railway line between Hull and Scarborough. It was built during a period often called “Railway Mania,” when vast sums of money were being invested in the railway network and this term was born. It was only about 16 years before this time that George Stephenson’s Rocket had competed in the Rainhill Trials, a seventy mile stretch near Liverpool, at an average speed of 13 mph; and the first inter-city line was being built from Liverpool to Manchester.

We stop for a photo by the railway crossing at Lockington. In the background is the frontage of an impressive railway station with sturdy entrance colonnades.

Lockington Railway Station was a minor station on the Hull to Scarborough line. It was opened in 1846 by the York and North Midland Railway Company. It was closed in 1960. In 1987, the station was given Grade II listed building status. It must have been quite an idyllic life for some of these branch line station masters, like the one at Lockington Station, compared to other railway workers at that time who often worked in dirty and dangerous conditions. Sadly, close by to where we stand for our photograph was the scene of a tragic rail crash on the 26 th July 1987 when the 9.33 am Bridlington to Hull train travelling at 50 mph struck a van causing the train to derail. Eight passengers and a passenger in the van were killed. Like the people killed a few weeks ago on Westminster Bridge it had been the start of just another day for those on this train.

On a long, flat lane with the wind behind us we cycle towards the River Hull and Wilfholme landing and the pumping station. At the landing, Watton Beck crosses the Beverley & Barmston Drain and enters the River Hull which is still tidal at this point. The pumping station pumps water from the river into the Beverley & Barmston Drain and can pump 161 million gallons a day.

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Today we are missing our U3A Wild Things wild flower expert, Helen Kitson. Competing with the vivid splashes of yellow rape on the grass verges are thousands of Compsitae Taraxacum officinale – bet that’s impressed you! Dandelions are probably the best known British wild flower - and probably one of a few I can identify! They are very widespread because they are able to seed without pollination.

TJ’s Coffee Shop at Hutton Cranswick is a good stopping off place. However, just before we stop for this break Bodman unfortunately takes another painful fall. He’s keen to take part on Sunday’s cycle ride Heart of the Wolds Sportive Classic, a 100km ride, so we hope that this set- back will not prevent him lining up at the start and that he will have a great day of cycling in the beautiful rolling landscape in the Yorkshire Wolds where we all spend many happy cycling hours. It is hoped also that he doesn’t encounter today’s stiff westerly breeze. Back to TJ’s - this wooden hut cafe attached as it is to the garden centre is always so homely, welcoming and unpretentious. They do a great line in homemade cherry and almond scones, but they’ve sold out today to other cyclists I’m informed when I think about taking one home.

It’s into a stiff, blustery wind as we leave TJ’s cafe and head westwards. Soon this wind, estimated at 15 mph, becomes more of a side wind and less difficult for cycling. There’s a vantage point on the lane from Kilnwick: a grand sweep of countryside which is dotted with many trees and clusters of mixed woodland. Standing out amongst it all, in Lockington village, on slightly lower ground are the pink blossoms of occasional flowering cherry trees, swaying branches of weeping willows and lines of tall poplar trees.

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As I leave the others at Cherry Burton, I catch sight of a familiar quill tail – yes, it’s my first sighting of a swallow this spring and with this I’m heartened to think of warmer, sunnier days in the saddle to come for all of our happy band of cyclists.

George Sweeting

Leaders Notes

Steve Superman Watts performing his almost weekly task of mending punctures. This being outside TJ’s

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