Snipedales - Ashby Puerorum - Hagworthingham Circular
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This circular walk traverses beautiful countryside mostly ignored by hundreds of thousands of passing tourists heading along the A158 for the 'pleasures' of Skegness.
It starts and finishes in a country park and nationally known nature reserve. Snipedales is a unique valley system cut into sandstone and harbouring a rare and distinctive flora and fauna. From the car park the walk traverses the nature reserve with its many information boards and broad, mowed pathways. If time permits it is worth exploring.
The route then climbs out of the reserve and immediately enters the hamlet of Winceby, now a tiny settlement, once larger and the site of a Civil War battle. The path crosses the old churchyard as it enters Winceby; the church was demolished long ago as the village shrank.
From Winceby it turns north and crosses the ridge to overlook the Lymm Valley complex with wonderful views north across the southern Lincolnshire Wolds, with views of Snipedales to the right. Above is the playground of the RAF with its new toy, the Typhoon. Interruptions are brief but noisy!
It then descends the old green lane past a long-deserted farmhouse to enter the tiny hamlet of Ashby Puerorum. There are beautiful views of the Southern Wolds as you drop gently into the river valley just before Ashby. Ashby Puerorum is so named because the church here provided funds for the Lincoln Cathedral Choir (puer is Latin for 'boy'). Ashby now is no more than a church, a farm and a few houses. There is a history board with details of Ashby on the left at the junction of the green lane with the modern surfaced lane.
From Ashby your path heads back across fields on the floor of the Lymm Valley before climbing into the village of Hagworthingham, with the choice of a cafe or the excellent George and Dragon pub to break the journey and refuel the walker.
Finally you leave Hagworthingham and return across the fields to Snipedales. There are good views of the Snipedales Reserve and Country Park as you approach from the north.
The walk is not dog-friendly as the section through the Nature Reserve is not open to dogs.
England - East England - Lincolnshire - Lincolnshire Wolds
Features
Ancient Monument, Birds, Butterflies, Castle, Flowers, Great Views, Hills or Fells, Nature Trail, Play Area, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, River, Tea Shop, Toilets, Wildlife, Woodland