Among the few positives to arise in Brigg from the Coronvirus emergency with its periodic lockdowns is more people taking healthy walks - originally suggested by the Government as permitted daily outdoor exercise.
Having got into this way of life, many have kept doing so - and this will continue now the warmer months of the year are approaching.
Wrawby is a particularly popular walking destination for Brigg folk, with three routes:
1. Grammar School Road (just before the M180 flyover) to Brickyard Lane.
2. Wrawby Road alongside the A18 via Barton Road End.
3. The public footpath between agricultural fields from Churchill Avenue to Tongs Farm, Brigg Road, Wrawby.
Those using Route 2 and Route 3 are advised to keep an eye out for cyclists once they get into the village; our latest walk to Wrawby took place early in the morning and many young riders were on their way, at some speed, to school in Brigg. The shared footpath/cycle way does not begin until Barton Road End, but they were taking to the path along Brigg Road which is narrow in places.
Daffodils have been associated with April for centuries and the Spring displays (seen here) on the A18 approaches to Brigg and Wrawby are looking a picture at present.
The 'between the fields' route from Churchill Avenue has much to commend it, including crossing Brigg's smallest bridge.
You usually spot something of interest, and our eye was taken the other day by this woolly hat, amusingly displayed adjoining a field that often includes sheep in the summer!
While walkers make their way up the rising section of footpath towards Wrawby, they will see a brick building in the adjoining field which marks the presence of St Helens Well. Water from the underground spring, in the mid-19th century, was drawn to give Brigg its first safe drinking water supply - greatly improving public health. The alternative 'Ankum Watter' was not recommended!
Once on the level again, and having crossed the parish boundary, this footpath offers a fine view of the Lincolnshire Wolds with the so-called 'Golf Ball' on the horizon at Claxby - actually a National Air Traffic Control Radar Installation. View details here...
The footpath passes alongside a farmyard and its buildings before emerging into a small housing development called Highfield and then meeting the A18 on Brigg Road, Wrawby.
A few hundred yards beyond Churchill Avenue, there's a second public footpath which runs off the main Brigg-Wrawby walkway.
The alternative trek eventually emerges on Kettleby Lane, Wrawby, near the West Lindsey/North Lincolnshire boundary. At present the Brigg end of the path does not look particularly welcoming (see picture) as it's just a track marked out in the soil. However, once the growing season is in full swing from May to September, it's an interesting route to follow.
Once on Kettleby Lane, walkers have a choice of returning to Brigg via Wrawby village and the A18 or heading over Kettleby railway crossing to the A1084 and returning to town along Bigby High Road.
