About the area

Wells is located in an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ containing some of Europe’s most extensive saltwater marshes & miles of beach, teeming with birdlife. It is one of the most delightfully old fashioned ports in Britain.  Its quay is dominated by a tall granary.  Twice in 24 hours the sea races up the channel / the Run, (25 paces from Gooseye).  It covers the salt marsh & sand banks (carpeted with sea lavender, samphire & sea beet).  It rises to different heights drawn by the moon and wind.  A mile walk (or train trip) along flood defense brings you to the open sea.  A sandy beach fringed by Corsican pines, adorned with quaint pink, green, turquoise, blue beach huts. If you sailed due North you would reach the North Pole without touching land.  Bold sailors of the past thought nothing of venturing to Iceland for the fishing. Now a 10 boat fishing fleet rides in over the Bar, with crab, velvet crabs are currently the most lucrative, lobster, whelk, and mackerel.  Wonderful coastal, rural walls & cycle rides (cycle hire).  “Holiday Which” designated Wells 2nd in the UK.

In the harbour you may see a cowslip yellow crab boat ‘Blucher’ nickname for Ernie Jarvis, who lived in Gooseye; the grandfather of owner-fisherman.  Also the “Albatross”, the last sail-driven cargo ship in Europe, now converted to a sailing passenger ship.  It also has a Bar and Cafe open when in the harbour.

Boat tied up in Wells next the Sea harbour
Chris Trent writes: "the coast road from Wells to Cromer is exceptionally beautiful. No other coast road in East Anglia has quite the charm of these few enchanted miles"

Local produce

Arthur Howell, farmer, butcher and now baker, for Holkham venison, partridge and pheasant and freshly baked bread; Whin Hill Cider for locally produced ciders and apple juice; The Country Garden for organic fruit and vegetables; the Real Ale Shop at Branthill Farm, just south of Wells; and the Old Station Pottery and Book Shop, where Thom can find any book on the internet.  

There are also some good pubs, restaurants and cafes, fish and chip shops, and Indian and Chinese take-aways.  We particularly recommend French’s fish and chips and the Wells Crab House, which is run by the family that owns ‘Blucher’.

Places of Interest

The Tourist Information Centre in Staithe Street (01328 710885) for information, accommodation and events

Wells Library: has internet and e-mail facilities for visitors and is 5 minutes walk away.

Walsingham: England’s Nazareth and voted the ‘most spiritual place’ in the UK, is only 5 miles away and you can even get there by steam train. Medieval pilgrims who took sea passage from all over Europe probably disembarked at Wells-next-the-Sea.

Holkham Hall, a Palladian style mansion, is only a mile away and an easy walk from Wells. It boasts a lake, a deer park with 800 fallow deer (and now a small herd of red deer) and “The Best Beach in Britain”. The film ‘The Duchess’ was made here.

The Norfolk Coast: 90 kilometres long and designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It includes; Morston (for seal trips and mussels); the NWT reserve at Cley; the RSPB reserve at Titchwell; and the national nature reserve at Holkham. For more information on these see the  Links page.

Travel

Trains & Coaches: there are main line stations at Norwich, Sheringham and King’s Lynn and national coach stations at Norwich and Kings Lynn.

Buses: there are buses from King’s Lynn and Norwich to Wells via Fakenham and an excellent Coasthopper service between Cromer and Hunstanton, which connects with services to Norwich and King’s Lynn respectively and is ideal for walkers.

Link to traveling in East Anglia Traveline Information

Local taxi service: Coastal Cabs (Tony Brown) is very obliging. Tel. 013287 11114, Mobile 07919 020917