We wanted to visit Brigg (in Lincolnshire), because the cheese man keeps telling us how nice it is.

And then, because these things always grow, once you've done a foray into the maps of the area, we decided to take in the River Ancholme as well. In fact, that's where we started.

The 17-mile-long Ancholme is a tributary of the River Humber (which it joins at South Ferriby). Actually, there are two intertwining channels: "While the Old River maintains its natural course, the New River flows almost straight as it is the product of engineering work. As early as the 13th century local landowners paid subscriptions for work to be undertaken with the aim of facilitating navigation and land drainage. The river's charter is one of the oldest in the country."

The waterway played an important role in transporting cargo from the rural hinterland to the industrial hubs, and in the 19th century -- a period in which Brigg's location meant that it grew quickly -- a passenger boat served the stretch from Brigg to South Ferriby, and connected with a steamer to Hull.












Brigg is very picturesque:















We had coffee at The Steel Rooms, which sadly seems to be closing down. And, as a final bit of indulgence, we bought a flapjack from Cooplands. But we did share it...

Good day out.