| As mentioned in other articles there is a world of | | | | Wroxham unless you fancy a long trek into the |
| difference between the Northern and Southern | | | | centre of Horning. There are now two major boat |
| Broads. The Northern Broads run from Great | | | | yards opened in this area and to be fair I would |
| Yarmouth to Wroxham with off-shoots going to | | | | say that the best hire boats are available from |
| to Hickling Broad and another going to Stalham via | | | | these yards, but of course they are in the |
| Barton Broad. They are vastly more popular than | | | | majority new boats. As there is still a lot of |
| the Southern Broads, and have considerably more | | | | building going on here one assumes that the |
| facilities for boaters and tourists. The majority of | | | | owners have replacement facilities in mind, but at |
| the boats for hire are to be found on the | | | | this time facilities are very limited and it does |
| Northern Broads, and recently 2 more boat yards | | | | effect the fishing. |
| have opened at Horning. | | | | From Horning to Wroxham the scenery is lovely |
| I will start my recollections of the Broads at | | | | but there is only 1 mooring area a small lagoon |
| Great Yarmouth as it is at the quiet end of the | | | | half way, it does have mooring for about 50 |
| Northern Broads, that is if you can call Great | | | | boats £5 a night and a nice park area for |
| Yarmouth quiet? Broads wise Great Yarmouth is | | | | nice country walks but that is all, except that |
| quiet, there is mooring there for about 100 boats | | | | each afternoon an ice-cream boat comes along. |
| plus a few little boat yards , none of which hire | | | | Wroxham is I would say the most if not the best |
| out boats of any sort. If you moor up there | | | | town on the broads. there is 6 or so boat yards |
| overnight it will cost you £10, and from | | | | with all types of boat for hire from cruisers to |
| where you moor up it is a good mile walk to any | | | | Yachts to day craft. The only problem is finding |
| decent shops etc. Yes there is water and pump | | | | some where to moor up as there is a jungle of |
| out facilities available at the moorings but not a lot | | | | small off shoots with a different boat yard up |
| else. So of course this puts most off from | | | | each. Though when you have overcome that |
| staying there any length of time. Great Yarmouth | | | | problem, it is well worth the walk round the town |
| I found is usually used as a stopping off point | | | | especially Roy's for bargain's, getting supplies, or |
| between Northern and Southern Waters, as in | | | | just sight seeing. To go past Wroxham requires |
| which ever direction you go it will take you at | | | | the aid of a pilot to get under the low bridge |
| least an 1 1/2 hours at 6 MPH to get to the next | | | | there, and to be honest there is nothing worth |
| stopping point, depending on the tide and time of | | | | going to further along. The river gets very |
| day. | | | | narrow with no turning spots for quite a distance. |
| As you go along the river North the first place | | | | Going back to the 2 other major rivers first to |
| where you can stop is an old refurbished windmill | | | | Potter Higham. As you motor along this stretch at |
| approximately half way to Acle Bridge. Here you | | | | no more than 3MPH (bad risk of flooding houses if |
| will find water facilities cheap mooring | | | | you go faster), you come to the lowest bridge on |
| £3.50p a shop well stocked, a cafe with | | | | the broad.It can only be accessed at low tide and |
| excellent food and small area full of animals to | | | | then with the aid of a Pilot, once through you can |
| amuse the kids. I usually spend a night here on | | | | slowly carry on to Hickling Broad. All facilities can |
| my way south and upon my return. The food in | | | | be found here including a boat yard for the hire of |
| the cafe is to die for, best bangers I have ever | | | | cruisers. Be warned though the broad has lots of |
| had, and a nice bit of fishing by the overflow, I | | | | weed banks that will quickly foul your propeller, |
| thoroughly recommend this place to all. | | | | but is very good for fishing with most species |
| Just a stone's throw further on about 1/2 hour in | | | | present. The other serious warning for this area is |
| your boat is the best pub on the broads in my | | | | that if the rainfall is heavy you will not be able to |
| opinion. There were 2 that I would recommend | | | | get any cruisers under the bridge. |
| this is one and the other at Horning has been shut | | | | The other major area is the River Ant, as you |
| down recently, I will tell you about that later on. | | | | enter it it looks a very narrow river, but |
| Coming back to this pub, the reasons that I would | | | | appearances can be deceptive, it is actually quite |
| suggest its a good stopping place is ; | | | | a major river with good areas, and the first that |
| | | | you come to is Loddon Bridge. Good mooring for |
| 1. The best food on the Broads, set or a la carte. | | | | about 30 boats a repair yard with all facilities and |
| 2. The beer is always in good condition | | | | a general store. One hundred yards up the road |
| 3. They have draft Bitburger | | | | good toilet and wash facilities, and another one |
| 4. They have a Pool table | | | | hundred yards an excellent pub with a high quality |
| 5. Good mooring right outside | | | | restaurant. All in all a good break point on the |
| 6. It is set in a beautiful village with village store | | | | journey along the Ant. |
| and candle factory | | | | Further along app. 1/2hour there is a free parking |
| If you cant get moored outside the local farmer | | | | area, where there is a wild life sanctuary, and |
| has provided about another 12 mooring spaces | | | | room for about 12 boats this the only official |
| and you can double moor there and it is only | | | | stopping area before Irksted. I mention this |
| £3.50p. The atmosphere is always good, | | | | because on this next stretch in my opinion, is the |
| the locals are very welcoming and pleasent, and | | | | most prolific fishing on the broads( if you are a |
| again there is reasonable fishing. | | | | noddy basher) and sometimes the best. At |
| After leaving what I consider to be the best pub | | | | Irksted there is only 2 mooring places so those |
| on the Broads the next stop Acle Bridge has to | | | | that know about the fishing create and moor |
| be the worst pub in my opinion, this of course is | | | | where they can, usually tied to a tree or with |
| a shame as the other facilities here are very | | | | there mud anchor down. It is rare to be able to |
| good. The pub has slowly got worse over the | | | | moor at Irksted for a couple of reasons and that |
| years that I have been coming here, it actually | | | | being, Directly behind the mooring is a lovely old |
| was the best, then they started cutting corners | | | | church that is worth a look round and a small gift |
| with the food. The so called hot meals weren't, | | | | shop. The main reason being for those in the |
| the meat was from packets very thin slices | | | | know that it is the best spot on the Broads for |
| nearly see through, just thrown on the plate and | | | | Tench 10lbs + as well as all the small fry.about a 1 |
| the other contents just frozen then micro waved | | | | 4mile on you arrive at Barton Broad a beautiful |
| YUK! The prices are the highest on the Broads. | | | | place but quite shallow, stay within the markers or |
| On the other side of the bridge opposite side | | | | else you easily ground your craft. Be careful in |
| there is a general store, which carries enough for | | | | the summer as school trips are very common on |
| most boaters to top up with, and fishing supplies. | | | | this broad and it is a main centre for sailing clubs. |
| Again directly opposite there are 2 boat yards | | | | There is 3 exits of this broad one to Barton Turf |
| with all facilities that you might require, and there | | | | a nice little village, I can't say I have ever been |
| is mooring on both sides for about 50 boats, fees | | | | down there so I can't say much about it. The |
| are £3.50p but rarely collected. | | | | second leads to the Barton boat yard and this is |
| Moving along it is quite a reasonable way before | | | | private. That leaves the third exit which is the one |
| the next official stop and before you get there | | | | to use which takes you on to Stalham. It is a |
| you have a choice to make as after 3/4hours | | | | very picturesque route with woods and lily-pads |
| cruising weather to carry on to Potter Higham or | | | | on both sides, and as I said earlier good Tench |
| turn left towards Horning. I will refer to Potter | | | | fishing. As you proceed there is a turning to the |
| Higham later, and we will turn left and carry on | | | | Left 100 yards up this turning is a very beautiful |
| towards Horning. | | | | Windmill with a lovely garden surrounding it well |
| The next major stop is at an old Abbey | | | | worth a look, but there is no point going on up |
| monument, well actually just past it there is room | | | | this river as it gets quite narrow and 1/2 mile on |
| for about 20 boats, and is one of the best fishing | | | | the bridge is to low for boats to go under, so |
| spots on the Northern Broads, used by the Local | | | | back to the main route. |
| fishing club. There are no facilities here, just peace | | | | As you approach Stalham the river splits into 3, |
| and quiet. Opposite the moorings is an offshoot of | | | | the first split to the right takes you to Stalham |
| the river leading down to a small broad. (worth a | | | | Green, again some mooring, good fishing most |
| look but no moorings and no facilities it is all | | | | types but not much else. At the next division the |
| residential). 100 yds. past the moorings you have | | | | river splits into the 2 boat yards, on the left |
| another major split and the beginning of the River | | | | Moonfleet, mainly private mooring, but they do |
| Ant going to Stalham, again I will come back to | | | | have 4 cruisers for hire and day craft, and all the |
| this, and we will continue on to Horning. | | | | facilities of a big yard. To the right takes you to |
| About 1/4 mile before Horning there is another | | | | Richardson's the biggest Boat yard on the broads |
| off shoot leading to another small broad, this one | | | | they have upwards of 200 craft for hire, of all |
| though has mooring and facilities. A yacht club | | | | shapes and sizes as well as varying quality, prices |
| that you can use a boat yard where you can hire | | | | vary from £300 to £2000 per week |
| day craft, a wild life sanctuary on it's own private | | | | app. The yard also boasts of the most mooring |
| broad, and reasonable amounts of fishing. | | | | anywhere on the broads, which is easily |
| As you reach the outskirts of Horning there are 3 | | | | assessable during Tues to Fri. As the largest yard |
| mooring spots for any one to use if they would | | | | their facilities are excellent they even have a |
| like to go to church. (the only one on the broads | | | | burger van on site. As a last note on this area |
| with boat mooring. | | | | just down the road from either of the yards |
| Horning itself has change considerably over the | | | | mentioned there is a Tesco supermarket, which is |
| last few years, in my opinion for the worst. The | | | | very useful when starting a cruise as you can |
| best pub come entertainment area was situated | | | | collect your food and bits and not have to |
| here until it was bought out by the boat yard and | | | | transport them a long distance with you. |
| is now being converted into a marina and housing. | | | | As stated earlier this is recollection's from my |
| This of course means that there is now no | | | | mind, so there may be some minor errors in the |
| suitable eatery's to stop at between Horning and | | | | way I remember things, but i do mean minor. |