Please note that the postcard from series
ended in 2004 and that descriptions of shops and services were correct at
time of going to press
Where
is it:
Caister is a couple of miles north of Great Yarmouth on the B1159;
or follow the coast road down from north Norfolk for a leisurely
drive. Alternatively, if you're lucky enough to get the chance,
fly in by helicopter to the town's own airfield, which is used to
supply offshore rigs.
Any shopping opportunities?
Not that many - but then Yarmouth is only a five minute drive away.
That said, there are two supermarkets: A Tesco and a Lidl.
Trolley
pushing's not my style. What else can I do?
Caister has quite a surprising history. The first Romans arrived
in the town in the 1st Century AD, easily making it one of the oldest
settlements in Norfolk. The remains of what they left behind - including
part of a defensive wall, a gateway and buildings along a main street
- have been preserved and are free to view. The remains of Caister
castle - a moated castle with a 100-foot tower built in 1432 - are
also worth a visit.
The castle was built on the side of an earlier fortified manor
house where Sir John Fastolff was born. As if that wasn't enough,
the castle today holds the largest private collection of motor vehicles
in the country, stretching from 1893 to the present day. Models
on show include a 1893 Panhard et Lavassor, Christine Keeler's Cadillac
Eldorado and the first Ford Fiesta.
Caister's moated castle
Caister Lifeboat
Of course, there are also long stretches of sandy beach to enjoy,
and you might even catch a launch of Caister Lifeboat. The boat
lost its RNLI status in the 1960s, but is now one of the most
successful independent operations in the country - comedian Jim
Davidson has helped raise a lot of money for it, and is an honorary
crew member.
Phew. All that history has made me hungry.
Where can I get a bite to eat?
Caister has recently seen an explosion in restaurants and takeaways.
There are a number of pizza, kebab and Chinese restaurants dotted
along the main road through the town, all of which provide decent
snacks at reasonable prices. For traditional fare, you can't beat
the Briars fish and chip ship on Caister camp hill.
If you are looking for something more formal, both the Old Hall
and The Grange (on the outskirts towards Ormesby St Margaret) do
a good range of food, and there's a Fatsos American restaurant.
Entertainment:
Just on the edge of Caister is the deceptively-named Yarmouth Stadium.
The busy racetrack holds greyhound racing every Monday, Wednesday
and Saturday night, and regularly holds Spedeworth motor racing.
Hot rods and bangers also frequently race on the track.
