Ufford combines rural trails with historic buildings. A four-mile circular walk in the John Clare Countryside series starts here; at St Andrew’s, you’ll encounter details spanning several centuries. If you’re planning a stay, you can choose from trails in the surrounding area, woodland paths and the village’s history.
Walking from Ufford
The John Clare circular walk is a four-mile loop. Other trails lead from Ufford to Barnack, Bainton and Ashton, each with its own landmarks. The route to Barnack starts through the churchyard and crosses a field to Walcot Road. The route towards Bainton follows Bainton Road as far as Moor’s Corner; a footpath starts on the left there. The Torpel Way continues across the fields towards Ashton. The routes therefore differ not only in their destinations, but also in their distinctive sections.
To reach Southey Wood, follow a track from Ufford, just outside the village on Marholm Road, over a bridleway. East of the village, a bridleway branches off Marholm Road to the south and leads to Southey Wood. There are marked trails in the wood; the largest trees include oaks, beech and pines. Check the route details before setting out, as conditions may vary.
For a trip further afield, Castor Hanglands lies 3 km south-east of Ufford. The National Nature Reserve is managed by Natural England. A public bridleway runs through it from north to south; horses and bicycles are allowed on it. Castor Hanglands therefore offers a landscape experience of its own, alongside the trails described as starting directly from Ufford.
St Andrew’s and the Welland Valley
At 44 metres above sea level, St Andrew’s is the highest point in the village. From the church’s prominent position, there are views across the flat Welland Valley to the north. Its building history also reaches back a long way: the oldest part is the chancel, dating from the late 13th century. Its features include a 15th-century font with its original cover and a recumbent 17th-century funerary monument to Lady Bridget Carre.
St Andrew’s Church is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm. Check opening hours before you arrive. There is also archaeological evidence of a Saxon and medieval settlement near the church. Together, the church and traces of settlement offer a glimpse of Ufford’s different historical layers, without prescribing a particular route through the village.
Buildings and regional history
The Roost, formerly Newport Farm, stood beside the Old Rectory on Ufford’s hilltop. South-east of The Roost, a dovecote has a dated stone in its gable inscribed “TG 1727”. Two 18th-century barns also stand to the south-east. Their steeply pitched roofs are made of Collyweston stone and end in gables. Their distinctive details—the dated stone, roofing material and architectural form—make the buildings tangible points of reference for local architectural history.
Walnut House is the only surviving thatched building in Ufford. Near the village, Langley Bush marks the point where the parishes of Ufford, Upton, Ailsworth and Helpston meet. For centuries, it served as the open-air court of the Langdyke Hundred, which met twice a year. In John Clare’s time, Langley Bush was also a meeting place for Roma people and one of his favourite destinations for an outing. This history extends the view from Ufford’s buildings and trails to the region’s past.
Discover more destinations: Northborough, Wansford, Peterborough, Helpston, Barnack
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