What we love about Reepham: are you getting your hour a day?

Where do you go when you’re only allowed out to exercise for 60 minutes?
 

 
Fortunately, Reepham must be one of the best places to live under such conditions of lockdown.
 
We are so well served by alleys and footpaths, many with interesting names and histories, such as Pudding Pie Alley, Bar Lane and Catchback Lane; they are a distinctive feature of the town.
 
From the Market Place you can quickly reach the edge of town and be out into countryside, in any direction, within minutes. And what variety when you get there!
 
Just 30 minutes from the Market Place, looking west from Marriott’s Way into the back of Whitwell Common, streams wind through tunnels under the railway line. Tall alder trees reach up out of the fen.
 
If you’ve got less time, you can get there in 15 minutes from the King’s Arms (how we miss you).
 
Pictured below is the continuation of Broomhill Lane. This is typical of many ancient footpaths at the edge of the town: banks, hedgerows, lovesick pigeons cooing and clattering overhead.
 
The Natural England environmental stewardship notice in the field says you might see lapwing, grey partridge, turtle dove and tree sparrow. Certainly, at present, it is so quiet that any birdsong is truly hi-fi!
 
Further down, towards the fen in the valley, this path links to Back Lane and longer walks.
 
What are your favourite walks around Reepham? Stay safe.
 
Words and photos: Richard Taylor
 

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