Norfolk broads. Changed to Shannon River

beyond the blue

beyond the blue

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Neil
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Thinking of having 5/7 nights boating on the broads next year. We've only done it once before back in the 70s. At the time there seemed to be only two hirers, Blakes, Hoseasons, but there seems to be a few more now. Has anyone any recommendations?
 
I live on the edge of the Broads National Park. We hire the odd dayboat but never overnighted. There are various locations - lots around Wroxham or the Horning on the Bure side or up to Potter Heigham.
Or you can go south on the Yare.
It depends a bit on what you want to see - the northern side tends to be busy from the start of the season to the end.
The Yare side to the south generally has a higher proportion of owners from Brundle vs. rentals and you can go into Norwich if you want. That said 7 nights is probably enough time to see most of it just check the terms to see if you're allowed to go through Yarmouth - the day boats from Acle are not usually allowed to head in that direction.
Also check if the boat is able to go under the bridge at Potter Heigham - most are under a pilot but not all!

As far as boatyards go there are many - check trip advisor for how they compare and if they have parking etc.

Our most recent trip out was an afternoon tea cruise on Moorhen from Eastwood Whelpton - if you can sail then they're probably the best boat yard. Amazing boats some 100 yrs old!
If you can't Moorhen is a lovely but tiny classic motor cruiser - might be a bit tight for 7 nights.

Eastwood Whelpton – Sailing on the Norfolk Broads

www.eastwood-whelpton.co.uk www.eastwood-whelpton.co.uk
 
AMcUK said:
I live on the edge of the Broads National Park. We hire the odd dayboat but never overnighted. There are various locations - lots around Wroxham or the Horning on the Bure side or up to Potter Heigham.
Or you can go south on the Yare.
It depends a bit on what you want to see - the northern side tends to be busy from the start of the season to the end.
The Yare side to the south generally has a higher proportion of owners from Brundle vs. rentals and you can go into Norwich if you want. That said 7 nights is probably enough time to see most of it just check the terms to see if you're allowed to go through Yarmouth - the day boats from Acle are not usually allowed to head in that direction.
Also check if the boat is able to go under the bridge at Potter Heigham - most are under a pilot but not all!

As far as boatyards go there are many - check trip advisor for how they compare and if they have parking etc.

Our most recent trip out was an afternoon tea cruise on Moorhen from Eastwood Whelpton - if you can sail then they're probably the best boat yard. Amazing boats some 100 yrs old!
If you can't Moorhen is a lovely but tiny classic motor cruiser - might be a bit tight for 7 nights.

Eastwood Whelpton – Sailing on the Norfolk Broads

www.eastwood-whelpton.co.uk www.eastwood-whelpton.co.uk
Click to expand...
Thank you for help there.
 
I was thinking about doing the same thing earlier this year. I asked for some advice on a birding forum but was told in no uncertain terms that - for birding anyway - it is better to rent somewhere on land and travel around the area from there. For one thing (I was told) the reeds are too high to see much above or through them. That was what we did actually. There are some great nature reserves (eg Hickling) and it is a fantastic area for cycling if you have bikes.
 
We used Herbert Woods Based at Potter Higham. They have parking on site for the duration of your trip.

For the most part yes the reeds are higher than the boat level so from a birding viewpoint you are limited.
 
It's a very good point about the reeds and height. For almost the whole of the stretch between Acle and Yarmouth you'll see very little.
The larger cruisers have an upper deck, clear of the reeds but then you won't get under the bridge at Potter Heigham.

The Broads are certainly compact enough to do by car and bike if you so choose, you could always do a couple of day boats too.
There are a lot of nature reserves if that's your thing - Stumpshaw is well though of. Be aware that an awful lot of the river/broad bank is privately owned so access to the water itself can be quite hard to get to.

Pottering from mooring to mooring & pub to pub in a cruiser is probably quite a relaxing way to go too.
 
There was a hole in Potter Heigham Bridge,
but now they've fixed it.
There was a hole in Potter Heigham bridge,
They got some concrete, mixed it.

I f you were on a boat,
Or driving in your car.
I'll tell you this my friend,
You weren't going far.

Cause there was a hole in Potter Heigham Bridge,
but now they've fixed it.

You couldn't sail under and you couldn't drive over,
If you were in a cruiser, or even in your Rover,
You would have been quicker,
going seawards via Dover!

'Cause there was a hole in Potter Heigham Bridge,
but now they've fixed it........
Yeah! They've fixed it!
Whoa they've fixed it.

Shooby doo, La la, Yeah!

:) Mike pixbarmy!

www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk

Historic Broads bridge reopens after months of repairs following hole closure

Potter Heigham's historic bridge over the River Thurne in the Norfolk Broads has reopened after it shut for months of repair works after a sinkhole…
www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk
 
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