Norfolk Broads- 10 reasons to hire a boat on the Broads

The Norfolk Broads is the perfect destination for your next holiday. Known as ‘Britain’s magical waterland’, the Broads offers 125 miles of navigable waterways, and of course, the best way to discover it all is by boat! With picturesque towns and villages, waterside pubs and plenty of visitor attractions, the Broads is just waiting to be explored on your next boating holiday. All ages are catered for, making it a fantastic choice for a family holiday and with dogs welcome on most of our boats; you can even bring your four-legged friend. Read out guide to Norfolk Broads boat hire below or visit our website to find your perfect boating holiday. Al;ternatively, call our boating holidays team on 01252 796400 for help choosing your boat and start location.

Norfolk Broads Boat Hire
A Broads family boating holiday is a great way to enjoy the Broads National Park. No experience needed!

1. Visitor attractions

You won’t be short of options on the Norfolk Broads! There are plenty to choose from for adults and for children. BeWilderwood, an award winning forest with tree-houses, zip wires and wooden bridges is great fun for a family day out. Thrigby Hall also comes highly recommended, take a tour of the gardens or go and visit the tigers and red pandas!

2. Norwich

The beautiful city of Norwich can be easily reached from the Norfolk Broads. Norwich is the most complete medieval city in the UK and hosts an abundance of restaurants, pubs, bars and shops. It is in the top 10 UK shopping destinations, with four department stores, independent and boutique shops, and not one, but two shopping centres.

Norwich Cathedral
Take a trip to historic Norwich with its Castle & Cathedral

3. Food and Drink

Let’s just say you’re not going to go hungry or thirsty! Many pubs and eateries include locally sourced produce on their menus, giving you a real taste of Norfolk. There are many independent, unique places to choose from, including some lovely quaint tearooms and coffee shops.

The Broads offers boaters a great choice of waterside pubs including the ‘Rising Sun’ and ‘Kings Head’ in Coltishall

4. Fishing

There is an incredible variety of fish to catch, making it one of the best known angling locations in the UK. No matter how experienced an angler you are, fishing on the Broads can be a rewarding experience. There are free fishing platforms located on the Broads, or alternatively, why not fish off the back of your very own hire boat!

5. Spectacular Scenery

The views on the Broads are like no other, with wide open skies, day and night you’ll be surprised by the breathtaking scenery. It truly is an area of natural beauty, with the lakes, streams and waterways surrounded by rolling countryside. It’s a great location for budding photographers so don’t forget to take your camera!

Ranworth in the Broads National Park
The Broads National Park offers visitors stunning scenery and easy boating for all

6. The Coast

The seaside town of Great Yarmouth is accessible from the Norfolk Broads. We recommend mooring at Acle and jumping in a taxi. For a fun day out pop down to the pleasure beach and visit the arcades near the sea front or just have a day sunbathing with an ice-cream or two! If you’re more of a sports enthusiast, pop to Greater Yarmouth and try out some water sports or go cycling or horse riding.

7. Rest and Relaxation

They say that boating is the fastest way to slow down, so if you feel the need to get away from it all, the Norfolk Broads could be just the place! Travelling between just 3-6 miles per hour you’ll experience a completely different pace of life. Hire a boat with a sundeck and make the most of the sunbathing opportunities in the summer months.

8. Pubs
As expected, there is a great deal of choice when it comes to pubs! Some are set in stunning locations, offering great views of the Broads while enjoying a drink or a pub meal. The pubs on the waterfront give you a great opportunity to sit and watch other boaters cruising past, or maybe even to spot some wildlife. Many of the pubs are dog-friendly so you can bring them along with you!

9. Shopping

As mentioned before, Norwich is somewhat of a must to visit for shopping fans. Gift shops and farm shops are aplenty on the Norfolk Broads, giving you a chance to sample some of that local produce, and get some presents for those back home. A visit to the Broads wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the infamous ‘Roys of Wroxham’ department store, where you can find anything from gardening tools to toiletries.

10. Wildlife

The Broads are well-known for its wildlife, no matter what time of year you decide to visit. Home to a selection of birds and mammals, including otters, hares, bats, deer and even seals! It’s a haven for keen bird-watchers, being home to kingfishers, owls, grebes, marsh harriers and if you’re very lucky you might even spot the super-rare bittern!

Bittern on the Norfolk Broads
Amazing wildlife can be seen throughout the Broads National Park including the rare ‘Bittern’

No previous experience is necessary to hire a cruiser on the Broads; full tuition is provided as are buoyancy aids for both adults and children.

Search for your Norfolk Broads boating holiday today:

Visit our website: www.waterwaysholidays.com/norfolkbroads or give us a call on 01252 796 400.