Horncastle Hotspots

OK! Horncastle may not have all the glamour of the big cities with their nightclubs and fancy restaurants, but get ready to be amazed at what Horncastle and the surounding area has to offer to everyone - young and old alike. No matter what age, colour, creed, gender or interests, we've got just what you want right here.

One of the many areas to see in Horncastle is the Watermill Basin on the River Bain. This picturesque area has been much improved over the years and is now a popular place for local to meet.

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Accomodation

There are several places to stay in Horncastle, ranging from B&B to 2 star luxury. This is ideal if you plan to tour the various attractions in and around the town. Use the town as a base & travel to the surrounding areas on a day to day basis. Click here to find out more.

Antiques

It may not be everyone's cup of tea but Horncastle has been dubbed the Antiques capital of the county. Many of the shops in the town sell furniture, porcelain, china, brass and trinkets ranging from bric-a-brac to genuine antiques. If you have a passion for these items, click Here to find out more.

Restaurants & Cafe's

There is a wide range of eating establishments in the area, the top of the list without a doubt is The Admiral Rodney Hotel. Cafe's, chinese restaurants, take-aways and chip shops are also on the menu for the area. Click Here to find out more.

Pub's & Clubs

No town worth it's salt would be without a public house of some kind. Horncastle has more than it's fair share of them, ranging from "your local" to quaint thatched cottage types, you can even book a medevil banquit for the night. Click here to find out more.

Local History

Local history is a very important part of the area. Horncastle dates back to the Romans and is steeped in historical interest, ranging from it's Roman wall to the "mud and stud" building. Click Here to find out more.

Shopping

As a self contained community, Horncastle boasts a superb range of shops from supermarkets to superior family butchers. From clothes to costumes. News agents, travel agents, pet shops, jewelers, hardware supplies, banks, even a post office and a garden centre. There are two market days per week & an excellent range of goods can be purchased. Click Here to find out more.

Transport

A regular bus service runs through Horncastle, taking passengers on a route from Lincoln to Skegness & vica-verca. Public transport also travels to nearby Louth & Boston, all of which have their own special interests. Click Here to find out more.

Other Places of Interest

There are many places of interest in the area surrounding Horncastle, including: a 13th century castle, a golf course, a beautiful inland holiday resort, cinema's, rambler's walks, festivals, a motor racing circuit and much more. Click Here to find out more.

The Watermill Basin

The river Bain begins as a series of small springs rising in the chalk wolds. The river has good water quality and ample fish stocks, which include: native Brown Trout in the upper reaches and coarse fish species further down stream.
Since 1950, many changes have occurred which have altered the traditional character of watermill Basin, these include a wier being built, reduced water volumes, the basin silting up and the river being partly filled in with soil, the river became unnatural in the way it was forming itself.
A focal point was required of this area, which would in turn bring in wildlife and make access easier to visitors. Excavations have now been made to re-shape banks, and introduce a "riffle" and "pool" systmem in the river. Thousands of trees and plants have been planted and a new wier was built by the environment agency.
The gravel areas which can be seen are called "riffles", shallow, turbulent water passes over the riffles and moves faster, which in turn puts more oxygen in the water. The gravel provides a good habitat for many aquatic insects, which thrive in the newly oxygenated water. Re-built river walls and new steps provide safe access to the waters edge. Timber retaining walls provide several picnic areas at different levels so that the improved area can be appreciated to it's fullest. The trees and plants help towards the natural environment. The plants provide food and shelter for birds and small mammals, and the trees will, in time, hide nearby intrusive buildings. The improved river system will encourage insects to live amongst the plants, they will continue their life cycle, turning into fully grown flying adults, this in turn, attracts many fish to the area, like: Pike and Dace. Chub grow upto 50 cm long and can weigh over 6 lbs. They spend time in the deeper pools, darting out to catch food. They are already laying their eggs on the new riffles, so we are seeing many life cycles in this area now. Dace look very much like Chub, but are not quite as large and they group together in shoals. Pike are well adapted for their roll as fish catcher and are equally a part of the natural preditor / prey way of life. Other fish you may see include: Roach, Perch, Stickleback, Gudgeon and Eel.

More information can be obtained from the notice board in the shelter at the Watermill Basin or from the Information Center on East Street

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