Cadney to the Cathedral extra – another bit of the Viking Way

Barnetby to Searby

A short walk today starting from where the Viking Way leaves Barnetby on Marsh Lane and heads across the fields towards Bigby.

You are soon in open countryside after leaving Barnetby, and walking in gorgeous open countryside where you can see for miles around.

This area is very special to me, I grew up on a farm you can see from along this path, and as you near Bigby you get a glimpse of Bigby church, I was christened and married here, and my paternal grandparents’ graves are in the churchyard.

As you walk on the path next to fields several have wildflowers in them that are smattered with sunflowers standing higher than all the other flowers and showing off their bright yellow petals.

It was good to see that there were still plenty of Viking Way signs placed at crucial points along the way.

When I reached Bigby, All Saints church isn’t actually on the Viking Way, but I made a short detour to visit my grandparents grave and see the church. It is 35 years since John and I said our vows there, how time flies. I tried to get Buddy to sit in front of the doors for a photo unsuccessfully.

I took a photo of the Bigby Green sign as we went through, all the road signs in Bigby have Viking Ships on each end of them. When I was growing up, Bigby Green was a farm yard, now long gone.

The entrance to Bigby has a lovely village sign saying ‘A former Viking settlement’. Once you have left Bigby, you are on the way to Somerby, and one of the local landmarks, the monument in the middle of field, which now has a plaque next to it, telling you all about the history. My school bus journey as a child went past here every day.

When you’ve crossed the monument field, you are on a quiet lane known as Somerby Cuttings, and pass Somerby Church, which now has the gate locked and a danger sign on the gate, warning you the church and grounds are unsafe.

A bit further along the lane, and you can see all the way across to the ‘golf ball’ at Normanby Top. A little further along, and at the gate you can look across the fields back to Howsham and even further.

You then walk down the lane to Grange farm, who currently have a sunflower patch, that just opened this weekend. You can go along to pick your own sunflowers, and buy drinks and ice creams. I was a bit too late to visit, but will call in another day. I carry on through the farm with Buddy on his lead, crossing the farm tracks until I reach Searby Church, my starting point for joining the Viking Way two weeks ago.

From Searby, Buddy and I walked back on the quiet lane back home again.

This week I am going to start at Barnetby and walk to the start of the Viking Way at Barton. Look out for the report and photos from that walk.