Photography courtesy Jeoff Owen
UPTON The little village of Upton lies at the end of Upton Dyke, which is marked by a sign for the White Horse Pub on the River Bure. There is a scenic staithe at the bottom of Upton Dyke and nearby there is a community pub and shop plus a children’s play area and historic church. Better still, there are fabulous walks in Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Upton Broad and Marshes nature reserve - a diverse landscape teaming with wildlife.
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Moor in the little parish staithe (with picnic benches) at the end of Upton Dyke - opposite Eastwood Whelpton boatyard. Olympic yachtsman Tim Whelpton was a founder of the yard and built and crewed on the famous Crossbow II twin hulled sailing boat that set world speed records in the 1970s and 1980s (41mph in a Force 8 gale)! A Norfolk Wildlife Trust information sign at the staithe car park marks the start of wonderful walks of various lengths in Upton Broad and Marshes nature reserve. This consists of a windswept grazing marsh flanking Upton Dyke plus a tranquil fen with wet woodland surrounding Upton Broad – a hidden paradise that is cut off from boat traffic.
The reserve is home to some of Norfolk’s rarest wildlife including swallowtail butterflies, Norfolk hawker dragonflies, otters, water voles, and a staggering array of wetland plants including fen orchids. Upton village centre is a five minute walk from the staithe where there is an excellent community pub and general store plus a children’s play area at the village hall. The parish church of St Margaret is just beyond the village and has an ancient font dating back to the 14th century.
