The Norfolk Broads

The Broads is the largest wetland in Britain and is specially protected with the equivalent status of a national park. There are six rivers connecting forty broads, making over 200km of waterways in all, and just waiting to be explored. Each Broad was once a medieval peat digging which was flooded to become a shallow lake after the peat was dug for fuel. Water, reeds, marshes and tangled woodlands make up the Broadlands landscape - a haven for birds and wildlife.

Broadland meets the sea at Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth, two bustling seaside towns with first class beaches to be enjoyed. Places to visit include nature reserves, churches, windmills, craft centre's, and numerous riverside villages with pubs, shops and restaurants. At the western end of the river Yare is the historic city of Norwich. With its 900 year old Cathedral, Norman castle, museums, theatres, market place and shopping centre, Norwich is the capital of Broadland. Regatta and other boating events are part of life on the Broads. Ashore you will also find lots of local events, such as carnivals, and fetes to add to the fun.

Things to See & Do Locally

St Benets Abbey - Visit the ruins of this isolated abbey, origins of which can be traced back to patronage of King Canute in 1020.

How Hill - How Hill House and Gardens are owned by the How Hill Trust who operate an environmental study centre for both children and adults.

Bewilderwood - 50 acres of wild, imaginative, outdoor adventure. Treehouses, zip wires, jungle bridges, Crocklebogs, boat trips, marsh walks and great organic food.

Woodbastwick - Thatched houses and the Woodlands Brewery, do you need another excuse to visit ?

Horning - A delightful boating village which lines the northern bank of the River Bure for about a mile, with shops, a gallery, restaurants and riverside pubs.

Wroxham - Fondly known as the capital of the Broads Wroxham is home to an abundance of shops pubs and restaurants, including Roys, the World’s Largest village store. Wroxham also has a riverside park and the Bure Valley Steam Railway. Hoveton Hall Gardens and Wroxham Barns craft centre are close by.

Hoveton Hall Gardens - 1 mile north of Wroxham. Beautiful woodland and walled gardens, including woodland and lakeside walks.

Acle – A flourishing village on the River Bure with some very attractive 17th and 18th century buildings and St Edmunds church which is more than 900 years old. A small market is held every Thursday morning and
a farmers market is held every 2nd Saturday. The Hermitage Restaurant is an excellent place to sample some locally caught fish or seafood and the Bridge Inn has traditional fare and great views of the river.

Slightly Further afield

Beccles , on the southern Broads has plenty of interesting architecture and history. Lowestoft, the most easterly point of the Suffolk coast has a fine promenade and large beach. North Walsham and Aylsham are both thriving market towns and for a grand day out visit Sheringham and Cromer.

Norwich - If you feel the need for some cosmopolitan shopping and dining with a substantial measure of medieval history and architecture thrown in to the mix Norwich fits the bill. Park and Ride is available from
Postwick A47 or at Sprowston A1151. Take an open top bus tour to get your bearings. Choose from trendy
malls, top high street retailers and specialist shops in quaint cobbled streets, right through to the unique city centre market boasting over 190 stalls.

Norwich Cathedral - The nearby City of Norwich offers the splendid Romanesque Norfolk Cathedral dating back over 1000 years. It has the second highest spire and largest monastic cloisters in England and guided tours are available from June to October.

City of Norwich Aviation Museum - Close to Norwich City in Horsham St Faith, can be found the Aviation Museum. Located some 5 miles from Wroxham, the Museum features many historic aircraft including the massive Vulcan Bomber plus many aircraft which flew in the past from the numerous Norfolk airfields.

Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery - Containing a superb collection of Fine and Decorative Art, plus Archeology, Natural History and Geology displays. You can also visit the Castle battlements and dungeons to discover past secrets.

Blickling Hall - Magnificent Jacobean house with garden and park. Famed for its long gallery, fine tapestries, paintings and rare books. Parkland and lakeside walks, with a sunken garden to discover. Reputedly home to the headless ghost of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second queen.

Great Yarmouth - The bustling seaside resort of Great Yarmouth, with its Pleasure Beach, amusement arcades and summer variety shows has something to offer all tastes. The many museums within the Heritage quarter tell the town’s proud maritime history.

Great Yarmouth Sea Life Centre - Come face to face with all kinds of sea creatures; from sharks to stingrays, otters to octopus nd tropical fish to turtles.

Somerleyton House - Somerleyton Hall was originally a Jacobean manor but was remodeled in 1844, transforming it into the fine example of an early Victorian Hall in the Anglo-Italian style that we see today.

The area caters for all kinds of holiday activities such as cycle hire, walking and fishing. The broads is a magical, mystical place to explore - take your time and enjoy it.

Booking Terms: Click here to view full booking and hire conditions.