HAVE I just encountered the first case of "country path rage"?

I took my grandchildren on their bikes along our new Outwood country pathway, only for them to be verbally abused by a map-wielding walker who told them to get off the path and onto the horse track.

I have often cycled and walked and most people have been happy to give way, so I hope this incident is going to prove to be a "one-off". Or are we going to need signs imploring us to "smile and give way" because we have forgotten how to?

P. McGLYNN

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.