Snakeholme to Wragby Cycle Route
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Distance
- 11.5 ml
- Duration
- 1.20 hr
- Ascent
- 313 ft
- Descent
- 313 ft
This circular route to Wragby follows a network of quiet roads that link up small, ancient villages.
Bardney
The name of Bardney village gives a clue to its past. The ‘ey’ ending means ‘island’, an indication that the area on the bank of the River Witham was once marshland, and the village site little more than an island in the marsh. When the bones of St Oswald were brought to Bardney Abbey in AD 675, the monks at first refused to admit them. They were later convinced that he was a saint when a light shone down on his remains. From then on, they claimed they would never shut the doors of the Abbey again. The parish church of St Lawrence dates back to 1434 and was erected by the monks of Bardney for the villagers.
The remains of Bardney Abbey are situated on the outskirts of the village. Also, nearby are the remains of Tupholme Abbey, which dates back to a later period. Parts of the façade are still in situ.
Bardney Manor has a history going back to at least the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, and the former site of RAF Bardney was a Bomber Command station in 1943. The Water Rail Way passes through the village and is a nice route to follow on bike or foot. The 33 mile (54km) route starts in Lincoln and follows the old railway line to Boston.
Snakeholme Pit Nature Reserve
This former clay pit was used as a fish nursery until it was taken over by Butterfly Conservation in 2013. Large hedgerows with mature ash and oak trees surround parts of the site. There is a good show of cowslips in the spring and the fine summer wildflower display includes Greater Burnet-saxifrage, Betony and the unusual Adder’s-tongue fern.
Fiskerton Fen
Nature Reserve Between April and July is the most rewarding time to visit Fiskerton Fen nature reserve, but with it being available all year round it’s worth a visit at any time. Consisting of wet fenland with open water and reedbeds there is an abundance of wildlife and wetland animals. There are large areas of grassland with thickets of blackthorn and hawthorn scrub, and wildflowers which home butterflies and a host of other insects.
Apley
Apley’s tiny church is dedicated to St Andrew. It is a small brick building erected in 1871 at a cost of £284.
Wragby
There’s so much to experience in this small town, from losing yourself in Wragby Maze (open Easter to September) to taking in the vastness of Goltho Woods.
A short distance away is Woodside Wildlife Park, where visitors can see a variety of animals. They offer demonstrations, feeding and hands-on wildlife encounters.