Snipedales Picnic July 2022

Our annual ‘Picnic Ride’ would have to contend with a forecast of scattered heavy showers. This year would see a return visit to Snipedales Country Park near Winceby and Hagworthingham, a venue we’ve been attending for over 25 years.

Meeting up with today’s Ride Leader Tim Newbery at the Meridian Leisure Centre were Rob Cook, Paul Linder (who had ridden into Louth with David Smith), John Ambler and John Rickett fresh from his adventures of cycling back from Edinburgh and looking far too fit. Apologies had been received from Reg Bagshaw and Chris Owen who had decided to take a swim in Grimsby Dock instead.

With the sun shining brightly on what so far had been a splendid summer’s morning we set off for a ride that would take us along the ‘Top Road’ at Little Cawthorpe and onwards through Muckton to Claythorpe and a break for refreshments. John Ambler enjoyed a rather fine bacon sandwich but had to fend off the local Mallard population pecking at his toes. Totally brazen.

John Ambler would need to head for home at this point but others would now look forward to climbing up and across the Wolds to Red Hill, Brinkhill, Harrington Hill and Ketland Hill. Did someone mention a hill! We had by now climbed to an altitude of well over 100 m.

Fortunately, the weather at this point was on our side with spells of warm sunshine amidst fine scenery and plenty of birdsong. So much so that a decision was made to carry onto Snipedales for our picnic and forgo our ‘wet weather option’ of lunch at JJ’s café in Hagworthingham.

Arriving at the picnic site a little ahead of schedule, tables were chosen and a variety of goodies unpacked. Tim was enjoying a bottle of wine (0.05 percent, honestly) and would soon enjoy cherries that had been foraged at Stockwith Mill. Rob had spotted a number of trees laden with ripe black tasty berries. We were soon to be joined by Alan Hockham who had ridden into a strong headwind all the way to Snipdales and were delighted too to meet up with Les and Di Brill. It was at this point that the sky turned inky black and a chill and gusty wind picked up. Soon, we were treated to a 20-minute downpour. Unfortunate timing.

Quite atmospheric with the birds falling silent. Maybe just imagination but perhaps distant sounds of battle cries and cavalry charges.

Winceby (adjacent to Snipedales) is famous for one of the very first Civil War battles which took place in 1643. Royalist cavalry led by Sir John Henderson and Sir William Saville, supported behind by infantry, had advanced from Lincoln on their way to relieve Bollingbroke Castle which was under siege by Parliamentary forces. Having been pre warned of the Royalist force, the Parliament cavalry led by Oliver Cromwell and Sir Thomas Fairfax were already drawn up on the high ground by Winceby and Slash Hill (Snipedales).

Although outnumbered two to one, the Roundheads had the advantage and Cromwell led the charge. His horse was shot from under him and he was nearly captured by Sir Ingram Hopton, who in turn was killed by another Roundhead. Cromwell mounted a trooper’s horse and plunged back into the fray. Under increasing pressure, Saville’s Royalist cavalry panicked and fell back into their own infantry.

It quickly became a bloody rout as pursuing Roundheads slashed and hacked the retreating Roundheads into Slash Hollow. More casualties were inflicted on further retreat to Horncastle where, Rob informed us, the townsfolk tried to bar their entry. The battle lasted less than an hour but proved decisive in Parliamentary control of Lincolnshire.

Bidding farewell to Les and Di and with the shower having now largely cleared we departed a little earlier than anticipated. Our return route would take us first to Greetham (where Alan would head for home) and Fulletby where we inadvertently became part of a ‘Tractor Run’. Great fun but it was good to be on our own again as we ascended Lowfield Lane in Belchford all the way to the Bluestone Heath Road.

A welcome descent parallel to the old railway line running through Withcall took us through Raithby and Hallington and not long now to our arrival back in Louth at about 2.30 pm. John Rickett treated members to a cuppa at the Leisure Centre before departing separate ways back home. For the Louth contingent about 40 miles with 1800 ft of climbing. Closer to 50 miles for John Rickett and 65 miles for Paul. Thanks to all for the company.