The Broads — Attraction in Broadland

We went to the broads for a sight seeing walking stay. We stayed near the river Ant, so not fully on the main waterways, but hoped to experience the North Norfolk Broads National Park without being on a boat. We stayed for 3 days, with day 1 being time spent an orientation and settling into accommodation.

We visited the villages of Catfield, Ludham, Stalham and Stalham Stithe - but we realised there were few access points to the broads for walking or visiting at these locations. Every available stretch of water has a boat yard on the Riverside, which limited the space for viewing or sitting, or the general access to the Riverside.

In each of the villages we visited there would be a handsome church built usually in flint, each with a very imposing tower and large volume (space) for such small villages. We found some circular walks in the villages but the experience tended to rely too much on the description than the reality of what was actually there. We tended to use our OS Map app to identify walks with the dog. The period properties were impressively set in each village but this meant that access to Riverside views or marinas were restricted.

We used the Bure Valley Railway to access Wroxham. A huge department store here seemed a very odd creation in such a small place. This dominated the village centre but as we had a dog and came to see the natural setting, it wasn't really our main attraction.

Again we tried to walk around, only to have restricted access due to the boat yards and holiday boat hire facilities. In fact, the only Riverside walk here, was between Wroxham Station and the village bridge crossing point. Every bit of space here was cramped without accessible entrance/exits. The pavement are none existent in places and the non-sight bridge makes pedestrian crossing to the one Riverside viewpoint perilous. We did have some great food here.

We travelled to Happisburgh beach and lighthouse, which was a great experience that the dog loved, as he was able to stretch his legs (this was October so dogs are allowed on the beach until March). We took an afternoon road trip to Cromer to find the pier but it shut at 4pm, so we continued to Sheringham as it was raining with blustery winds.

This coastline nestles against high sandy cliff faces making the promenade space tight for access with many steps down to the beach. At Sheringham, there is a standard gauge railway to Holt. This has a charming period Station and large car park. The beaches on this side are pebble beaches, contrasting with Happisburgh's sand.

We did find one riverside walk around How Hill House and St. Benet's Abbey (ruin), coming back through Ludham village. This was about 9 miles following the river Ant. This was very pretty, easy going, and probably gave us the best experience of what boating on the Norfolk Broads would be like.

*Electric Car Charging (October 2022) We found EV charge points tended to be in supermarket car parks or council car parking, where you need to make sure you have registered an account with the correct app. There are very few Rapid Charge points, with the Tesco unit in Aylsham charging a £30 deposit before connection (October 2022). Many were 22kwh chargers requiring your own lead and not suited to do a full charge unless you could stop for 6hrs or more.

Some charge points required you to pay to park and pay to charge the car - Sheringham was 30p per kwh, plus £2.70 parking fee for 3hrs...

Just returned from an absolutely serene weekend at the Norfolk Broads, and it was everything I hoped for and more. If you're looking for a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this is the place to be.

The natural beauty of the Broads is something you have to see to believe. Miles and miles of tranquil waterways, bordered by lush greenery and charming Norfolk countryside. We rented a boat for a day, which I highly recommend. Gliding along the water, with only the sound of birds and the gentle lapping of water, was incredibly calming. Plus, it's a great way to see a different side of the landscape.

One of the best parts of the trip was the wildlife. We spotted so many different birds, and if you're into birdwatching, this is definitely a paradise. We even saw a couple of otters, which was a delightful surprise!

The local villages are picturesque, with traditional pubs and cozy cafes dotted around. We stopped at a few during our boat trip, and each one had its own unique charm. The food was hearty and delicious, perfect after a day out on the water.

What really stood out was how friendly and welcoming everyone was. From the boat rental staff to the locals in the pubs, everyone we met was so kind and helpful, making our trip even more enjoyable.

Staying in a riverside cottage was the icing on the cake. Waking up to the view of the water every morning was so peaceful. The cottage was cozy, well-equipped, and just a stone's throw from the water.

The Norfolk Broads is a perfect blend of relaxation, nature, and quintessential English countryside charm. Whether you're boating, walking, or just soaking in the scenery, it's a wonderful place to unwind and recharge. Can't...

We own a small motor cruiser moored on a northern river and obviously we love the Broads and Rivers of Norfolk and Suffolk, it's one of the reasons we live within a few hundred metres of our boat mooring. The Norfolk villages are sometimes remote and very wealthy and sometimes just populated by practical, hard working families. We all mix in the local pubs, there's usually a local business that can supply what you need, and there's the great outdoors. The Broads and Rivers are a fantastic nature reserve. We often spot Herons, Cormorant, buzzards and hawks, the elusive Kingfisher and otter and did we mention, the Norfolk beaches are just a few miles away. The Broads are naturally formed lakes in the depressions left by the earliest peat diggings and despite our low rainfall levels in Norfolk, most rivers will provide free flowing, tidal, navigable waters. We're lucky to live here, but please don't all come at once to visit. Remember those of us who do live here often made conscious lifestyle choices many years ago. We're still a little bit jealous of our more remote and sparsely...