Norfolk broads help?

[gixer1]

I know some of you are Norfolk carrots crunchers so need a bit of help…

Planning a family short break on the Norfolk broads next year, the starting point is Wroxham…is there a better direction to go in?

The boat we were looking at says it does not pass under Potter Heigham bridge if that helps the decision!

Not sure how far we should expect to travel before turning back ext as will have the boat for 5 days.

Thanks in advance,
Gixer

 

[Morkai]

Youll likely be heading south east where a large area of the broads are so that bridge shouldnt be an issue.

The bridge is the pin you cant go under but to give you some idea of distance for your 5 days, you can get to Great Yarmouth in about 5.5hrs from Wroxham.

Great Yarmouth is a bit like Blackpool, lots of mobility scooters, fat track suit families, wolf fleeces etc. The Broads are great though.

 

[Pellet Pinger]

I can tell you an hour upstream from Wroxham is a village called Coltishal that has a pub/restaurant called the Rising Sun, highly recommended. We stayed there in August and the food is top drawer including the breakfast! Plenty of room to moor up and a nice common to have a stroll.

 

[Morkai]

Also worth mooring at an Adnams pub for a few jars of cask Broadside and Ghostship.

 

[willowbank]

One thing I remember from a Broads holiday years ago was that if you went down to Yarmouth be aware of the wind speed and direction crossing Braydon water. You have to navigate between the ‘shovels’ or possibly run aground and this proves difficult as Braydon water becomes an inland sea with real waves.

Other thing is to be sure to pay the old boy at Yarmouth who adjusts the mooring lines as the tidal drop is severe and your boat could be left hanging on the quayside wall.

Have a great holiday

WB

 

[B&W FOX]

 

[willowbank]

You won’t go wrong with the excellent Nicholson’s guides, used them on the Canals for many years.

Will definitely enhance your holiday.... so much information.

WB

 

[Morkai]

You won’t go wrong with the excellent Nicholson’s guides, used them on the Canals for many years.

Will definitely enhance your holiday.... so much information.

WB

I can second that, expecially for the canals.

Cant overlook the locations of elsan and waterpoints.

 

[Malxwal]

I cannot imagine for the life of me why you'd want to go to Great Yarmouth

 

[Morkai]

I cannot imagine for the life of me why you'd want to go to Great Yarmouth

Trashy day out, get your wolf fleece on and your walking stick and spend that dole money.

 

[long_range_rob]

I married a Norfolk broad .

Coltishall is ok, it was better when the Tornados were still at the base, quite impressive to see them taking off fully laden with afterburners on.

“Norfolk is just far enough from London to have never actually been civilised!” Stephen Fry.

 

[Kjf]

The pubs on the broads are hammered in tourist season and long waits for grub etc( it did t bother us as we.had bbq on board) , but a good holiday can be had for.a short break. Me and my mates did it a few years ago., and ended up in Yarmouth on the lash lol

 

[gixer1]

I cannot imagine for the life of me why you'd want to go to Great Yarmouth

Remember I’m a rig pig too Malc….I know yarmaff very well…I won’t be rushing to that point.

 

[George1982]

Don’t forget the southern broads… Beccles etc... It’s a little less hectic but charming. Riverside Holiday home with electric day boat available should you be interested!

 

[long_range_rob]

Meant to say there’s great pike fishing around wroxham

 

[Dodder]

We've done the Broads a couple of times, both Northern & Southern. Don't think many cruisers go under Potter Heigham bridge as it is very low. The bridge at Wroxham is also pretty low so only small cruisers will be able to get under to get up to Coltishall.
You should be able to do pretty much all of the rest of both Northern & Southern broads in 5 days. If you have to go in the school holidays my advice would be to moor up fairly early as the best spots, particularly those near pubs, fill up quickly. Because of this on our last visit we hired a little dinghy. We found this very useful particularly at Ranworth Broad as this is a very popular spot with a good pub but limited mooring. Virtually every time we've been there there have been no moorings (in school holidays) so we moored in a quiet spot well away from other boats and then rowed in - perfect!
My other advice would be to try to get a cruiser with bow thrusters - makes mooring sooooo much easier, especially if you are a novice. Good luck and enjoy!

 

[gixer1]

Thanks for the input, I’ve piloted a few boats and done the great glen a few times so hopefully should be ok from that side. We like the boat option as it’s a change everyday. Great info so far and I will take it onboard (pun intended!)

Keep it coming!

Thanks
Gixer

 

[User00036]

Gixer, Peak season is best avoided, however it is the best time to see the Swallowtail Butterflies, (mid June), early season March April May is definitely the best time for wildlife, the broads have a quiet serenity, & can be quite magical. The Bittern usually booms around this time, get a low boat, Hickling & Horsey are nature reserves, because of the height restrictions at Potter Heigham there is less traffic, upstream on the Bure & the mighty River Ant are nice too! Get stocked up with grub at Roys of Wroxham, they have a good food hall. I''l bring you a couple of mud weights, that way you can moor for free in the middle of the broads, no neighbours, peace & quiet.

 

[Donkey Basher]

Did a week up there MANY years ago & the one thing that sticks in my mind is Breydon Water, needs to be tackled on the right tide - if heading up from Gt Yarmouth then don't do it on the outgoing tide or you will spend hours motoring at full chat going nowhere fast against the current in a speed regulated hire boat! Go up on the incoming tide & come down at low water (or on an outgoing tide if you're a speed freak ) as I recall there's a low bridge on one of the tributaries that you can't get under at high water (may have been upgraded now?).

 

[Jgray]

Take a fishing Rod.