Boating on the Broads

The Broads may be the UK’s smallest national park, but it's also Britain's largest area of protected wetland. With around 125 miles/200 km of lock-free cruising, calm waters and little daily tidal effect, the rivers and channels wend their way through serene landscapes under wide open skies. Add into the mix welcoming pubs, cafés and restaurants – most with easy mooring outside – lining the banks of the waterways and you have an idyllic destination for boating holidays. The joy of cruising on the beautiful Broads is that you’re in charge; you can draw up your own itinerary and be as active or lazy as suits.

Choosing your boat

The type of boat you hire for your Broads adventure will depend on your experience, who’s holidaying with you and what you’d like to achieve in terms of distance travelled.

 

Types of boats available for hire

Whatever style of boat you decide upon – traditional or modern – always bear in mind Pitchup’s top tip: choose a craft with more space on board that you think you’ll need.

Sailing boats

Traditional wooden yachts have been used to navigate the Broads since the early 17th century, and exploring the national park under sail today makes for a wonderfully eco-friendly holiday. You can charter black-sailed ‘wherries’ and a crew from the Norfolk Wherry Trust, or go ‘bareboat’ at Wherry Yacht Charter. These boats do need a certain amount of skill to handle, but the calm, open waters of the Broads have no noticeable tides and offer a safe training environment, and an official sailing qualification like day skipper is not required. 

Motor cruisers

Ideal for families and parties of friends (some are dog-friendly too), wooden or glass-fibre motor cruisers are the most popular choice for sailing on the Broads. They are easy to handle and moor up, and are designed to fit underneath the low bridges on the waterway system. The steering can be single- or dual-handed; if you’re a first-timer, go for a model that has a bow thruster – a mini-engine on the bow that can turn the front of the boat left or right without you having to reverse or move forwards.

No experience is needed to hire a motor cruiser on the Broads. If you’re at all concerned about handling a vessel, rest assured that you’ll have a full tour, a demonstration of all the equipment and a trial run of driving and mooring up before it’s handed over to you. You should also be given a ‘skipper’s manual’ packed with useful operating and navigating tips as well as 24-hour emergency contact numbers.

Electric boats

Most craft available for holiday hire run on diesel, but eco-friendly electrical boats are increasingly being added to fleets. Using batteries to power an electric motor, they have generators that cut in when the batteries need recharging, and offer a peaceful cruising experience and lower running costs (as you won’t have to fill up on fuel). However, rental charges are higher, and running the generator can be very noisy.

Good to know: Not ready for a full week on the water? Hire a boat for the day to see whether cruising is for you and yours. Not confident about handling a vessel? The Broads Authority runs guided boat trips from its hubs at Ranworth Quay, Hoveton and How Hill.

Where to hire boats

You should have no problems finding a boat that suits you as long as you book well in advance – especially during summer and other peak holiday times. There's a multitude of boatyards and rental agencies at major hubs around the Broads including Great Yarmouth, Wroxham, Lowestoft, Stalham, Reedham and Beccles, as well as Potter Heigham, Oulton Broad, Sutton Staithe and Brundall.

Best time of year for boating on the Broads

The Broads are wonderful to visit all year round, but many hire companies only let their boats out between February and November. When’s best for you to go? 

• Early spring and late autumn see fewer visitors to the Broads than in the height of summer, and are the cheapest and quietest times of year for a holiday on the water. Granted, the weather may be a tad colder (and sometimes wetter) but most cruisers have heating systems and a trip at this time does mean that you may have the waterways to yourself.

• Warmer temperatures make an appearance in May and June; they are both relatively quiet months that see boat rental prices start to creep up, but it's the school summer holidays that see the real hike in holiday costs across the Broads, alongside an influx of tourists. If you’ve got kids and need to book your Norfolk break during this peak time, do so weeks in advance as competition for boats is steep.    

• Cruising companies that do let boats out in December and January include Martham Ferry Boat Yard and Ferry Marina. Wrap up warm to experience the peace of the Broads in winter, bring binoculars to spy on overwintering birds, chug from welcoming pub to welcoming pub and watch out for dark skies full of glittering stars on clear nights. 

Good to know: Hire boats are limited to cruising between sunrise (a glorious time to be on the water) and sunset, so plan your day to ensure you’re moored up by dusk. As the speed limit on the Broads is between three and six mph, always check journey times between your destinations to ensure they are viable.

Safety and regulations

As mentioned, you don’t need a licence or any experience to rent a vessel on the Broads. You’ll be given a safety talk when you pick up your boat, but always follow these sensible tips to ensure your safety and that of your family when on board your craft. 

Boating safety tips

Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned boater, these rules will keep you safe on your Broads boating holiday. 

• Wear a buoyancy aid/life jacket at all times, from the moment you get on the boat to when you get off. 

• Be sure to wear flat-soled, non-slip shoes to prevent slipping when moving around on deck.

• Make sure you all know where the mandatory emergency equipment (lifebelts, flares and fire extinguishers) is located.

• Keep a close eye on children; they can fall overboard without you noticing. If someone should fall in, either throw out a lifebelt or grab their clothes with your boat hook.

• When you’re mooring up, never jump off the boat until it has stopped moving. It’s all too easy to fall between the side of your boat and the bank.

• Don’t use your hands or feet to stop the boat; this can cause a severe crushing injury.

• Always use the fenders to protect the hull of your boat when moored up. When motoring, tie the fenders neatly just above the waterline so they don’t drag in the water and slow you down.

• If you’re reversing a motor boat, always check that there’s no-one in the water behind you. Contact with the propeller will cause serious injury.

• Swimming in the water is dangerous. The water is always cold – even on a warm sunny day – and that cold can cause shock and kill somebody quickly. As well as the presence of other boats, natural hazards like fast currents, underwater weeds and blue-green algae add to the danger.

• If you’re determined to go wild swimming, consider joining an organised open-water swim.

Local boating regulations

Boating regulations are in place for your own safety on the water, and rangers with speed guns constantly patrol the Broads to make sure skippers adhere to them.

• As mentioned above, the speed limit on the Broads varies between three and six mph. These limits are clearly signposted on the banks and are set for safety reasons. Keeping within the limit also helps reduce erosion damage to the banks of the channels.

• Always keep your vessel as close to the right-hand bank of the waterway as you can.

• Specific channels to follow in the water are occasionally provided for your safety – they will be clearly signposted so please stay within their limits.

• Craft under sail always have right of way. Pass them as they move away from you on a tack/zig-zag manoeuvre.

Navigating the Broads

Follow the rules laid out above and make use of these hints and tips for a stress-free break on the water.

• The Broads are tidal rivers, and while there may not be a huge daily range, it’s still important to know tide times for navigating certain low bridges. That’s particularly true of the two bridges on the Yare and Waveney rivers at Breydon Water, which opens into the North Sea in Great Yarmouth.

• You can check bridge heights, mooring facilities and tide status on Aweigh, and the Norfolk Broads App is useful for mooring and sightseeing information.

• There are no locks on the Broads, giving you one less thing to worry about!

Support services

Discovering the Broads on the water is a fantastic experience for everybody; there are facilities in place throughout the national park to ensure that your holiday is problem-free.

Marinas and moorings

There are guest moorings, fuelling stations and other essential boating services throughout the national park. Many are managed by the Broads Authority, while others are privately run. You’ll never find yourself far from a mooring point.

• During the high season, the Broads Authority operates marinas and moorings at Norwich and Great Yarmouth. These are open daily 8am–8pm; facilities include rubbish disposal, pump-out services, electric charging points and fresh water onload. Handy amenities include toilets and hot showers; you can pick up electricity cards, maps and tide tables too. Both these marinas charge for overnight stays. 

• The Authority also has 24-hour paid moorings at Reedham Quay – handily near Pettitts Animal Adventure Park if you need a family day out – and the pretty village of Ranworth Staithe. These two popular moorings are both fully staffed 9am–6pm in summer, and novice boaters can expect help with mooring up from Quay Rangers in all four of the marinas mentioned above. 

• Countless other stops can be found at boatyards, staithes (landing stages) and pubs, which may charge for their services. However, there are more than 50 sites overseen by the Broads Authority where you can stay 24 hours for free (unless specified otherwise). 

Fuel and water

Both fuel and water tanks will be full when you take over your boat; while you should easily have enough fuel for a one-week cruise, there are many outlets if you do need to top up. As you’ll be using water for washing, drinking and washing up, it’s a good idea to replenish your supply daily. Adding it to your ‘to-do’ list before you leave your mooring each morning is the easiest way – but don’t stress if you forget, as you’ll never be more than an hour away from a water refill.

Onshore amenities

There are cafés, pubs and restaurants within a stroll of most major marinas and moorings – Great Yarmouth, Potter Heigham, Coltishall and Stalham in the Northern Broads, and Norwich, Beccles, Loddon and Oulton Broad in the south – as well as convenience stores and supermarkets within 10 minutes’ walk for replenishing provisions. 

Good to know: Pubs sitting directly on the waterways often offer mooring-up for free during the day but charge for overnighting (unless you buy food in the pub, which can qualify you for discounted rates).

Best sailing routes and experiences

So you’re all aboard and ready to cast off on your big Broads boating adventure. But where to go? Here are two routes recommended by Pitchup sailors, offering a family-friendly day jaunt or a more challenging sail.

Wroxham to Ranworth – a five-hour cruise

A spectacular introduction to sailing the Broads on a route that showcases the region’s beauty and prolific wildlife.

Morning

Together with the village of Hoveton on the opposite banks of the River Bure, Wroxham is often dubbed ‘capital of the Broads’ and makes a popular start point for holidays on the water.  On departure, follow the meanders of the river into Wroxham Broad, keeping a look out for grebes, geese and the occasional stork on the water. 

Afternoon

Back on the Bure, cruise past Salhouse Broad and through the lively riverside village of Horning, with its sprinkling of pubs and picture-perfect thatched cottages – an idyllic pit stop for lunch.  When the river banks flatten and open out into reed beds, turn right into Malthouse Broad and on to Ranworth, with its landmark medieval church known as the ‘Cathedral of the Broads’.

Potter Heigham to Coltishall – seven-day itinerary

A week’s cruise will give you enough time to discover the beauty of the Northern and Southern Broads, visit lively coastal towns and bask in the peace of quiet waterways. 

Day One – Potter Heigham to Acle Bridge

From your mooring, turn downstream on the River Thurne, join the Bure and overnight at Acle Bridge – the namesake pub is very popular so book ahead for supper.

Day Two – Acle Bridge to Great Yarmouth Yacht Station

Cruise the River Bure to Stokesby and consult your tide tables to ensure you arrive at Great Yarmouth Yacht Station at low tide when the current is weak and it’s easier to moor up; the harbour master will always help if necessary. Make the most of your day on the East Anglian coast with a trip to Sea Life or take the kids to the Pleasure Beach.

Day Three – Great Yarmouth to Reedham

Before leaving Great Yarmouth, check the height gauge at Yarmouth Bridge to make sure you have enough headroom to pass underneath. Follow the channel posts under two more bridges and cross Breydon Water (which can be rough in wind) to the River Yare. Fork right towards Berney Arms village and cruise up to Reedham. Moor up at the quay; here you can pick up provisions and have a well-earned pint in one of the waterside pubs.

Day Four – Reedham to Norwich Yacht Station

Head upstream to Bramerton, calling into Surlingham and Rockland Broads before stopping at Bramerton Woods End for lunch. Carry on towards Norwich, passing under Thorpe Bridge to Norwich Yacht Station – there will usually be someone there to give you a hand mooring up.

Day Five – Norwich
Spend a day on dry land visiting the Picassos in the Sainsbury Centre, discovering the Tudor charms of cobbled Elm Hill or taking a free tour of the magnificent Romanesque/Norman cathedral to admire its fine medieval wood carvings and altar paintings.

Day Six – Norwich to Burgh Castle

Retrace your cruise back past Reedham and moor up by Burgh Castle overlooking Breydon Water. Be sure to visit the Roman fortifications at the castle; they’re particularly spectacular at sundown.

Day Seven – Burgh Castle back to Thurne Dyke

Time your departure from Burgh Castle to leave half an hour before low water at Great Yarmouth so you can get under the bridges. Head upstream to join the River Thurne and moor up for the night at Thurne Dyke; this leaves you with a leisurely hour’s cruise back to the boatyard at Potter Heigham in the morning.

 

Ready to book your boating holiday in the Broads? Why not add a few days on either end and choose a campsite so you can explore the UK’s smallest national park some more?

Pitchup campsites in the Broads

Looking for a little bit of luxury? Book a Broads glampsite.