Population: Market Rasen: 2,948. Caistor: 2,505. Brigg: 5,076.

Market Day: Market Rasen: Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. Caistor: Saturday. Brigg: Thursday and Saturday.

Farmer’s Market: Market Rasen: First Tuesday in every month. Brigg: Fourth Saturday each month.

What to See: Market Rasen: Racecourse, town trail. Caistor: Roman walls. Brigg: Wrawby Post Mill, Elsham Hall Country & Wildlife Park, Brigg Garden Centre.

Market Rasen is a small bustling market town standing on the River Rase on the western edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, and surrounded by rich farmland. Although famous for the only racecourse in Lincolnshire there's more to Market Rasen.

It has had a market since the 1300s, its position on the river proving a commercial success. Nearby is Middle Rasen and West Rasen, the latter having a 3-arched packhorse bridge dating back to the 14th century. The village of Tealby, near Market Rasen is often described as ‘the prettiest village in Lincolnshire’.

One of the western gateways to the Wolds, Market Rasen once had an important tanning industry and became prosperous in Victorian times with the arrival of the railways. Now it is quiet roads, pleasant footpaths and beautiful countryside that attracts the visitors. There are all kinds of shops in the town and of course, the market still thrives on Tuesdays (auction), Fridays and Saturdays.

You've no need to leave this pleasant town – everything you need is here, from fresh local produce, clothes and gifts. But if you do venture out, pack the picnic and enjoy the many walks, cycle paths and country lanes in the surrounding area.Willingham Woods is a great place to start exploring with a selection of woodland walks and trails.

Caistor — from the Latin, castrum, a fortified camp — was a Roman settlement of some importance.

Nestling on the hillside at the northern edge of the Wolds, Caistor is an attractive mixture of Georgian and Victorian buildings built since a ferocious fire destroyed the town in 1681. It's a bustling little market town whose population swells a little each week with the Saturday market gathering around the town pump, a cast iron affair depicting a lion on a massive pedestal to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897.

As so often with the villages and towns of Lincolnshire, water acts as a tranquil backdrop to Brigg which offers a traditional trading towns as well as an attractive shopping in what is a small brick market town on the River Ancholme.

The award winning Farmers' Market is held in the Market place on the fourth Saturday of the month, attracting thousands of visitors. The market is certified by FARMA and offers mouth watering sights and sounds that are a magnet for all food lovers.

The lush Ancholme Valley has a series of walks, along riverbanks and through quiet countryside. The slow flowing river is crossed by a series of quaint bridges like Horkstow Bridge, a wood and stone suspension bridge designed by Sir John Rennie in 1844. Find out more about the Ancholme Valley by ordering a Walking Discovery Pack.

Wrawby Post Mill is the last working post mill in the North of England can be seen for miles around. Built around 1760 the mill is located high on the Lincolnshire Wolds on the site of the previous open trestle post mill.

Elsham Hall Gardens and Wildlife Park is a magnificent 4-acre site which has been excitingly re-landscaped. There is a sensory garden, great drifts of bulbs and wild flowers, vistas, a one world garden, paddocks for the little brown sheep, a huge viewing mound, dramatic aviaries, a guinea pig village, sculpture and living willow features. All in all a delight for children, keen gardeners.