Caistor – a guide for visiting this Lincolnshire town in 2023
Lincolnshire is packed with lovely villages and towns, and we feel that despite Caistor being one of the best of the lot, it's a very underrated place to visit. Steeped in history, the town features well-preserved Georgian and Victorian architecture, a lovely market square, and more. Its picturesque setting amidst the Lincolnshire Wolds makes it an ideal destination for tranquil walks, exploring the countryside, and immersing oneself in the rich heritage of the area.
We wanted to publish a guide about this town for anyone planning to visit in 2023, let's get into it:
Where is Caistor?
As we mentioned in our introduction, Caistor is located in the county of Lincolnshire. The town is based on the northern edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, and therefore offers picturesque views of rolling hills and countryside. It's about 25 miles from Lincoln and 13 miles to Grimsby.
What is there to see and do in Caistor?
As we mentioned in our introduction, despite the relatively small size of the town, you've got quite a lot to see and do in and around Caistor. Here are some of the highlights:
Walking
Caistor is based right in the middle of rolling hills and beautiful countryside, so there are lots of outdoorsy things to do in and around the town. Walking is probably the number one outdoor activity, and it's no surprise given how many excellent walking routes there are around Caistor. The Viking Way is perhaps the best-known route which passes through Caistor, as the 3rd section of the route is an 8 mile stretch between Caistor and Tealby. The entire Viking Way is more than 230km in length so we wouldn't expect you to follow the entire length of the route but this lovely section to Tealby is very doable for most.
For a shorter walk in the area, the Caistor Walkabout is designed to take you around the town to see sites and places that are considered to be of most interest to visitors.
There is also the Caistor Challenge, which is a 25 mile circular walk which passes eight other villages. Learn more about the routes here - visitlincolnshire.com
Caistor Arts and Heritage Centre
If you're looking to learn more about the history of Caistor then a trip to the Caistor Arts and Heritage Centre is highly recommended. In the Centre, you will find interpretive panels detailing the history of Caistor, including a massive print of the 1907 ordnance survey map. One of the more impressive aspects of the centre is the 6 metre long timeline which breaks down Caistor’s history from 8000 BC all the way to the present day. The staff here are always really friendly and happy to answer any questions that you have. Learn more here - caistorahc.org.uk
The Crocosmia Gardens
The Crocosmia Gardens in Caistor started as a small collection but now features more than 270 varieties of Crocosmia. This collection was started by a local from Caistor called Mark, who visited a local garden centre and fell in love with the Crocosmia that he saw there. Mark decided to plant some at his home, and one thing led to another and now this garden has National Collection Status, which is amazing.
If you're really taken by the Crocosmia collection here then you can actually buy Crocosmia plants to take home with you so you can start your own collection. Learn more here - rhs.org.uk
Caistor Lakes
If you're a fan of fishing then Caistor Lakes is an excellent location to visit. Here you'll find 3 well-stocked pools for specimen carp, with records of a 42lb 2oz mirror carp and a 38lb common carp. All operating on a day and night ticket basis. All pools have drop off points for tackle, and graveled paths for ease of use, as well as facilities for disabled anglers. Even if you're not a fan of fishing, the lodges here are right on the pools and have wonderful views across the water. Learn more here - caistorlakes.co.uk
Explore the shops
Despite being a small town, there are some really lovely shops to check out during your time in Caistor. Caistor Loco is an old-fashioned model train shop which is great for young and old alike. Pig & Poke is an interiors and homeware shop which is packed with locally made items that will look great in all types of homes. SweetieBelles is a sweet shop which also feels really old-fashioned in the best sort of way, with everything from sherbert to gummy bears stocked here. Caistor has lots of great little independent shops and if you're looking for a gift to take home with you, you've got some great options.
Nettleton Lodge
If you want to try something totally different during your time in Caistor then a trip to Nettleton Lodge is highly recommended. Here you can get involved in clay pigeon shooting, an activity which is actually a lot of fun for almost all ages. Nettleton Lodge is only a small shooting ground but it's great for beginners. It operates on a ‘pay and shoot’ basis and has options for all levels of ability. Like we say, shooting might not be top of your list during your trip to Caistor but we think Nettleton Lodge is really worth a shot! Learn more here - nettletonlodgeshooting.co.uk
Finn H
Finn is the editor of You Well and has been writing about travel, health, and more for over 10 years.