Upwell

Explore Upwell through its waterside setting, footpaths and architectural history. The village stretches along both sides of the old watercourse, now called Well Creek; the creek is therefore a key geographical landmark in Upwell. The three themes appeal to different interests: the waterways are about connections between rivers, the footpaths about specific routes and endpoints, and the buildings about history and architecture. This lets you decide before your trip whether you would rather focus on waterways, a walk or the village’s history.

Waterside setting and waterways

Well Creek is an important inland waterway connection between the River Nene and the River Great Ouse. Marmont Priory Lock provides access to Upwell’s waterway from the River Nene. The Church of St Peters stands on the Wisbech Canal, a navigable arm of the River Nene. These bring together several different waterway connections: the link between two rivers, access to Upwell’s waterway and the church’s location on the canal. Well Creek, Marmont Priory Lock and Wisbech Canal each mark a distinct point of reference. If you are interested in the waterside setting, you can distinguish between these connections rather than treating them all as a single waterway.

Walking in Upwell

For walks, Upwell footpaths FP1 and FP2 can be distinguished by their endpoints. FP1 runs from School Road to Baptist Road. A sign on the wall directs walkers to the entrance to FP1. FP2 runs from Green Road via Broad Drove to Baptist Road. Both routes end at Baptist Road, but differ in their starting points and course: School Road is on FP1, while Green Road and Broad Drove are on FP2. This comparison helps you navigate by the named roads. Check the path conditions before setting off, as they can change.

Architectural history and remembrance

Welle Manor Hall is a manor house dating back to the mid-14th century and listed Grade II*. Upwell Hall has a brick orangery at its northern end. The Church of St Peters in Upwell has carved wooden angels dating from the 13th century and stands on the Wisbech Canal. Upwell War Memorial was erected around 1922, is listed Grade II and features an elegant classical design. Chronologically, this spans from the 13th-century angels to the origins of the manor house and the memorial around 1922. Different periods and architectural features come together here: church art, a manor house, an orangery and a classical memorial.

A seasonal highlight

In spring, the banks of Well Creek in Upwell are full of daffodils. This bloom adds a distinctive seasonal highlight alongside the waterways and historic buildings. If you also want to include the landscape in your travel plans, spring is the season to look out for this natural feature.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Sheringham, Matlaske, Hempstead, Mattishall, Acle, Bircham Newton, Downham Market, Corpusty

For the broader travel overview: Norfolk.