Departing Potter Heigham, travel South down the River Thurne, until you reach the junction with Womack Water where you turn right (East) heading up towards the picturesque village of Ludham. As you travel along Womack Water, keep your eyes open for the Hunters heritage fleet of wooden sailing yachts and historic Wherry (Wherries were the traditional Broads cargo yachts). Womack Staithe is a popular mooring for a first night stopover and offers a flat gentle walk into the village with a choice of pubs, village stores and attractive church. On departing Womack Water, continue down the Thurne, passing the iconic white wind pump at the entrance to Thurne Dyke - a favourite photographic landmark. Continue south until the River Thurne meets the River Bure at Thurne Mouth. From here, you can turn left (West) towards Great Yarmouth or right (East) towards Wroxham. For our suggested route, we will turn right to head upstream along the Bure heading for Wroxham.
After a stretch of picturesque river with far reaching views over the reed beds, the ruins of St Benets Abbey will become visible on your right. There are some excellent 24 hour moorings allowing you time to explore these romantic ruins which include the remains of an ancient wind pump built within the Abbey's crumbling gatehouse. On leaving St Benets, take a detour off the River Bure and head South onto South Walsham Broad. This Broad is one of the most picturesque, with its stunning waterside cottages, abundant wildlife - a haven of peace and tranquility. After taking in the sights of South Walsham, head north once again to join the River Bure and then turn left (West) towards Wroxham. Your next stop should be the quaint village of Horning with its excellent choice of waterside pubs and restaurants. Moorings in the village are very popular so you may need to arrive early if you are taking your holiday during peak season and plan to spend the night here. Continuing West from Horning you will next arrive in Wroxham after a further one and a half hours gentle cruise. Wroxham is often referred to as the Capital of the Broads and is a bustling village with the atmosphere of a lively seaside resort. For your return cruise to Potter Heigham, take time for a detour through Wroxham Broad and Salhouse Broad before returning to the River Thurne and heading back to base.
For a relaxed one week cruise, we suggest remaining on the Northern Broads (north of Great Yarmouth) and following the extended short break route above but with the added additional excursions from Neatishead up to Wayford Bridge and Stalham Staithe. Here you can spend a few hours visiting the delightful 'Museum of the Broads' which gives a fascinating insight into the working history of these unique wetlands. You can also take a trip down to Barton Broad on the Museum's small steamboat. Whilst passing back through Barton Broad (famous as the place Nelson learnt to sail) take time to explore the Millennium Boardwalk, home to Swallowtail butterflies and offering fantastic views across the Broad. As you proceed back down the river Ant to the River Bure, continue past the turn for Potter Heigham and pass under Acle Bridge and continue on the Stokesby where there is a good choice of refreshments available next to the overnight moorings. For those planning a longer trip (see below) this is the point to start a journey to the Southern Broads. For the one week route however you will need to turn here and head back upstream, turning right (north) up the River Thurne for the homeward journey to Potter Heigham
For those looking to spend a little longer on the Broads, a trip to the Southern Broads offers a completely new experience. Simply follow the suggested weekly route above but instead of returning to Potter Heigham you will continue on to Great Yarmouth, pausing at the moorings at Stokesby to check the best time to continue to Great Yarmouth. You will need to wait until slack water - one hour either side of low tide at Great Yarmouth (tide tables are provided) before proceeding to allow maximum clearance under the bridges at Great Yarmouth as well as the minimum effect of the tides. Pass through Great Yarmouth and then cross Breydon Water (keeping in the channel between the marker posts) and then on to Reedham (taking care when passing the chain ferry) and Norwich beyond.
The Broads South of Great Yarmouth are generally much quieter with fewer boats. There is also a larger rise and fall of the water levels (2 to 3 feet compared to just a few inches on the Northern Broads) which means taking extra care when mooring as you may have a larger step up or down to access your boat. If you have a week on board, proceed directly to the Medieval City of Norwich with its spectacular Cathedral, Castle and open air market. Before your arrival at Norwich, you will pass Rockland Broad - perfect to moor up and enjoy a scenic walk as well as Whitlingham Broads - ideal for learning a water sport. With an education centre located on the Great Broad, you can try your hand at sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, canoeing or rafting. The walks around here are very popular, plus there is a children's play area and a cafe, as well as opportunities to hire bikes. Cruising into Norwich city you pass under several bridges, so just be aware of the height of your boat before passing under. The moorings at Norwich Yacht Station make a perfect base to enjoy all of the attractions on offer.
If you are lucky enough to have longer than 7 nights, take time on the return journey to explore The River Chet which branches off the River Yare towards Loddon. You can then also take a detour down the River Waveney which takes you to via St Olaves and then on to Oulton Broads - the only Broad which permits water skiing. Drop by at Waveney River Centre before proceeding along the winding attractive section of the Waveney as it meanders West towards Beccles. On reaching Beccles Bridge, turn and head for home, remembering to check the tide times for your passage through Great Yarmouth and then on to Potter Heigham.
Remember - these are just a few ideas to whet your appetite. A boating holiday is all about freedom to explore where you wish and at a pace that suits you.
