Eastlife Spring 2020

Norfolk
bridge. You can hire for four hours up to a full day. If you
are only planning a few hours, take a picnic, as it won’t
give you long enough to reach any of the neighbouring
villages, and mooring over lunchtimes can be stressful
even in a small day boat on this busy stretch of the river.
Take the road to Horning and you will pass
BeWILDerwood; great for kids of all ages with acres of
zip wires, tree houses and massive slides. Entry charges
apply and it’s probably a full day trip versus a pop in, so
plan your visit.
Horning offers your next river Bure access; the main
village is off the main road so follow the signs for the
river. Horning has a very good deli with a cafe-restaurant
and a couple of good pubs with moorings. It is also
home to the Bure River Cottage Restaurant, specialising
in fish and one of the best at it. It’s only open evenings
and bookings are required.
Back on the main road and you will cross the River Ant at
Ludham Bridge. There is a lay-by just before the bridge
and a few shops on the far side, with extensive moorings
on both sides of the river. Another opportunity to park up
and walk along the riverbanks, south towards St Bennets
Abbey or north towards Barton.
We must of course mention
Potter Heigham
The home of Herbert Woods boatyard and boat hire, and
also the home of Lathams, one of the best-loved budget
stores for rainy day recreational shopping. There’s loads
of free parking and footpaths along all riverbanks in
either direction passing behind the cottages, which
make for a fascinating walk. Visit Bridestones cafe great
for a cooked breakfast, lunch or cake and coffee. Pick up
fish and chips shop over the bridge (it closes very early,
even in summer) and you can then sit on the river bank
and watch the boats trying to get under the ancient and
very low Potter Heigham Bridge.
Hickling and Horsey are
best for wildlife
Finally, we could not finish our tour of the Northern
Broads without mentioning the lovely Hickling Broad
and Horsey Mere owned by the National Trust and
a haven for wildlife. You can even moor at Horsey
Windpump and walk to the beach to see the seals.
To explore them hire a day or picnic boat from the
lovely friendly Martham Ferrry Boatyard, to explore this
end of the Northern Norfolk Broads, and you won’t be
disappointed. They even have an electric day boat for
hire so you can enjoy the Broads in peace and quiet.
Fancy learning to sail? They also offer short sailing
breaks in their fabulous classic Norfolk Broads river
cruisers on this quieter stretch of the Norfolk Broads,
where you sleep on board and have a skipper during the
day. Book through Olivers Sailing Holidays.
Apologies for only covering the Northern Broads but we
ran out of space. We will have to save Great Yarmouth
and the southern broads for another day, as there is lots
to discover there too!
About the contributor: Mike Garside is passionate
about sailing, walking, dogs, eating out and Norfolk.
He is owner of a holiday cottage, Gardeners Cottage,
in Blakeney.
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