Accessible Activities in the Broads National Park

The mission of the Broads National Park is to ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy its spectacular attractions – both natural ones and those shaped by man. Of course, with 60 areas of open water and seven rivers flowing through the region, there’s a very specific set of challenges for disabled visitors here – issues that have been addressed with the advent of things like wheelchair-accessible boats and raised boardwalks suitable for wheelchair use over marshes and reed beds. 

This page documents accessible walking routes, major cultural attractions to put on your itinerary and suggestions for getting out on the water. Take a look at the informative Accessible Days Out video for an introduction to the magic of this low-lying landscape crossed with canals, rivers and lakes.

Accessible nature reserves and visitor centres

Five reserves run by Norfolk Wildlife Trust have dedicated facilities for mobility-impaired visitors. These include dedicated car parks, accessible boardwalks, accessible loos and hearing loops. Hoveton Visitor Centre is also wheelchair accessible but there are only limited facilities at How Hill.

Barton Broad and Marshes

The second-largest of the broads, Barton was dug out for peat in the Middle Ages; the accessible raised boardwalk has braille information panels and wends through marsh and alder woodland to a viewing platform overlooking the water.

Cley and Salthouse Marshes

One of the best birding spots in the UK, this wetland reserve is home of thousands of wading birds, as well as rarer visitors like marsh harriers, snow buntings and spoonbills. A compacted accessible path leads to the bird hides.

Hickling Broad and Marshes

Rare butterflies, common cranes, barn owls and otters are among the wildlife spotted around the biggest broad. The accessible Swallowtail Trail leads past reed beds to two hides on a circular route.

Ranworth Broad and Marshes

This all-year destination has overwintering teal and wigeon. Summer visitors include common terns, which nest on platforms near the floating Broads Wildlife Centre, which is reached via an accessible ferry service from Ranworth Staithe (for a small charge). 

Weeting Heath

Open in spring and summer, Weeting Heath is considered the best reserve in the UK for spotting the rare stone curlew. It’s also home to a series of rabbit warrens, which help to conserve the sandy soils of the reserve’s heathlands.

Suffolk Wildlife Trust runs one reserve with allocated parking and an accessible visitor centre with a gift shop and café. A large area of woodland and wetland in the Lower Waveney Valley is currently being turned into a new disability-friendly reserve at Worlingham Marshes.

Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve

An attractive mix of marsh, peat pools, meadows and dykes, Calton Marshes Nature Reserve has fabulous wildflower displays in summer. Two trails are fully wheelchair friendly, and parts of the reserve are accessible by mobility scooters (hire is available on site).

Good to know: Tucked into fenland countryside near Surlingham, there’s a hidden gem privately run by the Ted Ellis Trust. Wheatfen Nature Reserve backs onto the River Yare, a little-known area of tidal marsh with reed beds and open fenland. You won’t find a gift shop or café there, but you will hopefully spot herons and kingfishers as you follow the easy-access boardwalk linking the car park to the bird hide.

Wheelchair-friendly walking and cycling

Physical disability should not limit your enjoyment of the Broads National Park and its unique watery landscapes. Here are five top tips from Pitchup staff for getting active in the fresh air:

• Try these access-tested trails overseen and maintained by Norfolk Council.
  

• The pleasantly flat Bure Valley Railway Path runs between Aylsham and Wroxham, following the Bure Valley heritage railway on a nine-mile/14.5-km one-way route. If you can’t quite get that far, you have the option of picking up the train at Brampton, Buxton or Coltishall, where you can board accessible carriages. 

• There are wide, level paths around the broad in Whitlingham Country Park, as well as a tactile map for anyone with limited vision. Please note, paths can get muddy after rainfall, so it's best to visit in summer.

• Access for everyone is an ongoing theme at Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden; some of the routes have been turned into boardwalks, the walking is gentle and you can take a breather at frequent rest stops while admiring the plantings. Anyone with mobility issues can hire mobility scooters for a small fee – it’s best to book in advance during high season.
  

• Cyclists who are blind or partially sighted can get together with a friend to hire a tandem from Broadland Cycle Hire near Horning.

Accessible boating experiences

Happily, several Broads cruising companies hire out boats with disabled access or offer tours of the waterways on specially adapted craft with features including ramps, lifts and modified controls. Thanks to a lack of tidal flow and the complete absence of cumbersome locks on the 125 miles/200 km of waterways, you should find cruising in the national park a safe and enjoyable experience.

Guided boat tours

Here are five suggestions of cruisers with accessible features so you can revel in the tranquillity of the Broads from the water.

• Departing from Hoveton Riverside Park on the River Bure, the sustainably solar-powered open-top boat Ra has several spaces for wheelchairs, accessed by ramp. There are four trips daily during Easter week and between June and September, and weekend cruises in April, May and October.  

• Broads Tours offers cruises along the River Bure from Wroxham, aboard wheelchair-friendly boats with a limited number of spaces available for each sailing. Please book in advance, especially for the themed musical trips on high-season evenings. 

• Up the glamour stakes with a sail on Southern Comfort, a traditional double-decker paddle boat cruising from Horning down the Bure and onto Ranworth Broad, passing windmills and reed beds en route. Access for wheelchair users is via a ramp, and the lower deck (the one with the bar – result!) is accessible.

Accessible boat day hire

• Pre-booking is essential for the wheelchair-accessible day boat hired out by Broads Tours, which is fitted with a wheelchair lift and is available for between three hours and a full day. Departing Wroxham, the cruiser can take up to five passengers, with at least two people in the party being over the age of 18. 
  

• The Nancy Oldfield Trust has a range of accessible boats ranging from motor cruisers to pedal launches and sailing dinghies that can be hired for a couple of hours or by the day. All trips are supervised by experienced Royal Yachting Association-qualified staff and volunteers.

Good to know: The trust also runs free motor cruiser or sailing trips for anyone receiving palliative care or with a terminal diagnosis. 

Adaptive sports and recreation

If you want to get involved in other outdoor pastimes on the Broads, here’s how and where to do just that.

• If you’re looking to get off road on rough or uneven ground, rent an all-terrain wheelchair from Whitlingham Country Park. 

• As well as hiring out boats for the day, the Nancy Oldfield Trust rents out a ‘mega’ paddleboard, which has supported seating if you need that bit more stability.
  

• BeWILDerwood Norfolk has several procedures in place to help disabled guests; anyone with disabilities (or their carers) can make a free short recce to assess the play structures before a paid visit. The den-building attraction has been designated as a ‘relaxed’ area for neurodivergent visitors, and there is an autism-friendly woodland playground for children and their families to enjoy quietly. 

• Anglers will be pleased to hear that there are accessible fishing platforms at Rollesby Bridge, Potter Heigham, Filby Broad, at Martham on the River Thurne, and at Worlingham on the River Waveney. The coarse fishing season runs from June 16 to March 14, and with a current rod licence, you can fish for freshwater species like bream, perch, tench, carp and pike at all these spots.

Cultural sites with accessibility features

A visit to the Broads National Park is not all about hiking, birding, boating and camping; there’s plenty of heritage too. Here are just a few of the accessible visitor attractions to consider for your trip.

Bure Valley Railway

Running between the lively Broads towns of Aylsham and Wroxham, this scenic heritage railway meanders through meadowland and ancient pastures on a narrow-gauge line. Operating daily between July and October, all trains have wheelchair-accessible coaches with ramps, and there are accessible toilets at both stations, along with free parking. The café and the workshops at Aylsham are open to all visitors too. 

Burgh Castle Roman Fort

These photogenic remains of an imposing fortified Roman castle offer some of the best views in the Broads, peering over Breydon Water. Helpful facilities here include wheelchair access to a circular path through reed beds and around the fortifications from the accessible car park, which is open every day from 9am until dusk.

Norwich Cathedral

Topped by an elegant Norman spire, this showstopper of a cathedral is packed with medieval treasures, from its rare altarpiece to exquisite roof carvings and wall paintings. There is level access into the church and an adapted lift up to the café. Wheelchair users can join free guided tours (Monday to Saturday, partially sighted visitors will need to book tours in advance), explore the ornate cloister and attend the services – Evensong is especially beautiful. 

The Museum of the Broads

The national park’s main museum showcases the fascinating history of the Broads with interactive displays of historic boats and exhibitions on wildlife. Care has been taken to ensure it is accessible for all, with clear signage, displays all at ground-floor level, self-opening entrance doors and wheelchair ramps. Audio guides and magnifiers are available for anyone with limited vision, and the museum also runs wheelchair-friendly trips on a Victorian-era steam boat and an electric cruiser. 

Other museums with access for mobility-impaired visitors include:

• Lowestoft Maritime Museum: Level access, accessible loos, wheelchair access to the museum (ask at reception for help). 

• Lowestoft Lifeboat Station: Low-level access from the quayside, with accessible parking at seafront car parks nearby.

• Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum: Designated car parking spaces near the museum, hangars all on one level, accessible toilets and access to the gift shop and NAAFI café. There’s also a raised boardwalk down to the River Waveney.

Eating out in the Broads

Most pubs, cafés and restaurants in the UK welcome disabled guests by at least providing a ramp to get up steps, making sure there’s enough room to navigate dining areas and adding an accessible toilet. However, the Broads bring their own unique challenge – if you’re on a boat, will you be able to access these places easily?   

The answer is yes; wheelchair-accessible day boats or rental cruisers all come equipped with lifts or ramps, and there are wooden boardwalks or compacted paths leading to waterside eateries, many of which are on or near the moorings. Among many others, you can find accessible waterside dining in Wroxham, ​​Horning, Filby Bridge and Rollesby. 

Accessible accommodation

Accessible accommodation options are found throughout the Broads National Park, ranging from luxury hotels to quaint B&Bs in pretty riverside villages. And if you’ve set your heart on a peaceful campsite overlooking a waterway, you can find that too. Just search through Pitchup’s list of campsites with accessible facilities in East Anglia. Looking for a slice of luxury on your outdoor adventure? Both Norfolk and Suffolk have glamping choices with accessible features too.