Wednesday, August 20, 2008

WALK ON BY


Having decided to burn off a few pounds by taking a rare afternoon cross-country walk, it was a pleasant surprise to find the public footpath to Wrawby, off Brigg’s Churchill Avenue, in very good order, with the grass neatly cut.
After going over the small bridge and past the farmers’ drainage pond, I decided to head off over the fields to Kettleby Lane, in Wrawby, using a public right of way which sees much less use than the main public footpath which leads to Tong’s Farm, and comes out on the hill not far from ‘Jollies’ pub.
Doing so also reduced the considerable temptation to stop off for a pint on a hot day!
The cross-field path was well-kept for some distance, but, eventually I found myself having to cross someone’s garden, near to Kettleby Lane, Wrawby.
And that final section was not very clearly marked, although the woman in the bungalow suggested it was a matter of following a straight line between the markers.
That made sense…but only if you can see both yellow marker signs, or are familiar with the track, which I wasn’t!
Once on Kettleby Lane, it was a question of continuing downhill and over the level crossing to meet up with the A1084 and then walk back to Brigg, passing the garden centre which was enjoying its usual good trade, including a bus-load from the Grimsby area.
A slight detour off the route took me along an uphill track - recently excavated, it would seem, to allow Network Rail to attend to drainage issues alongside the newly-renovated line through Brigg.
The only unfortunate thing about walking this route is the absence of a proper footpath alongside the road near Kettleby crossing, and along the very busy A1084, until you reach the garden centre.
That means either walking on very uneven grass verges or using the side of the road but having to keep side-stepping on to the grass every time a vehicle is approaching – and there are lots of them.

2 comments:

gmsmith said...

I too have taken the ' Kettleby Lane ' route and my nearest guess to the exact path near Kettleby Lane was through someones back garden , in which was a dog that barked at me with an un-nerving manner. There is no public footpath back to Brigg past the Garden Centre that I know of although you could pick up the public footpath past Pingley Camp. Maybe our regular contibutor from Wrawby could clear up the exact route to Kettleby Lane if he has finished designing his Saltpot with a knicker elastic retractor !!
A better option may have been to go up to Tongs Farm then down to Brick Yard Lane and back into Brigg.

Ken Harrison said...

Sorry - have just seen this.
Have walked this route....and found the same problem as path approaches Kettleby Lane from the field.
In deed, a 1890 map of Wrawby shows the path following the sounthern boundary of the field, but it route appears to become ill-defined to its eastern extreme seemingly to twist northwards and then turning eastwards for a short while to encounter Kettleby Lane. Obviously, the bungalows weren't there in the 1890's although I would suggest that the 'official' route goes round the northernmost bungalow. However, it is easier to follow the path in a straight line, crossing some rough land to K.Lane.
As it's been indicated, there is no circular route back to Brigg - although, as an alternative, one could go north along Kettleby Lane - initially a good climb - (detour to Wrawby Mill close by) turn left at the A18 junction - drink at Black Horse or at Jollies (time it right - they do good/cheap meals at BH).
Then downhill, turning left up gravelled track near Jollies and rejoin original track at StHelen's Well (for info - local farmer has access key for well - which is tiled!)
PS me knicker elastic broke!!!