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Boats come in all shapes and sizes on the Norfolk Broads – from rowing boats and sailing dinghies to elegant yachts and graceful traditional wherries; from electric day boats to sleek motor cruisers, some shaped like soap dishes, others resembling Reebok trainers.
For holidaymakers seeking a different experience, the choice is wide and standards high. Modern hire cruisers come with all the conveniences of your own home, including central heating, fully equipped galleys, electric lighting, radio and colour television, hot and cold water, showers, flush toilets and comfortable berths.
Those new to boating will be given instruction in boat-handling, and a skipper’s manual on board will provide more technicalities as well as hints on how to make the most of your holiday afloat.
Rowing boats and day boats may be hired by the hour from boatyards throughout The Broads, and some yards also have canoes, sailing dinghies and windsurfers for hire. Motor cruisers and yachts, from two- to 12-berth, are available for short breaks, by the week or longer.
The major booking agencies for cruisers and yachts are:
Blakes Holiday Boating, Hoveton, Norwich NR12 8DH; tel: 01603 739000.
Faircraft Loynes, The Bridge, Wroxham, Norfolk NR12 8RX; tel: 01603 782207.
Hoseasons Holidays Ltd, Sunway House, Lowestoft NR32 2LW; tel: 01502 500505.
Each of these agencies also has self-catering holiday cottages to let.
A list of independent hire boat operators is included in the Broads Mini-guide published by the Broads Authority, 18 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ; tel: 01603 610734. The mini-guide, which includes a map of The Broads, is also available at each of the authority’s six information centres. These are at:
The Quay, Fenn Lane, Beccles; tel: 01502 713196 (open Easter-October, daily 09.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00).
North-West Tower, North Quay, Great Yarmouth; tel: 01493 332095 (open July-September, daily 10.00-15.45).
Station Road, Hoveton; tel: 01603 782 281 (open Easter-October, daily 09.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00)
How Hill, Ludham; tel: 01692 678763 (open June-September, daily 10.00-18.00; Easter, April, May and October, Monday-Friday 11.00-13.00 and 13.30-17.00, weekend 11.00-17.00.
The Staithe, Potter Heigham; tel: 01692 670779 (open Easter-October, daily 09.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00
The Staithe, Ranworth; tel: 01603 270453 (open Easter-October, daily 09.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00.
If you fancy a traditional sailing holiday aboard a vintage mahogany Broads gaff-rig yacht or half-decker – built between 1932 and 1949 – try the Hunter Fleet. Wholly owned by Norfolk Heritage Fleet Trust, a registered charity, the vessels have no engine and no electricity – lighting is provided by oil lamps – and are available from two hours to two weeks. Contact Hunters Fleet Ltd, Hunter’s Yard, Horsefen Road, Ludham, Norfolk NR29 5QG; tel: 01692 678263.
Some surviving wherries, the traditional Broads sailing vessels originally used for carrying freight, are available for charter from the Norfolk Wherry Trust; tel: 01953 850181; Wherry Yacht Charter; tel: 01603 782470, and the Norfolk Broads Yachting Company; tel: 01692 631330. The Broads Authority also runs a series of wherry cruises during the summer.
The Electric Eel Wildlife Water Trail is a 50-minute trip through the dykes and marshes of How Hill Nature Reserve, Ludham, aboard an Edwardian-style electric launch seating up to eight passengers. The service runs every day, June-September, hourly 10.00-17.00. In April, May and October it runs at weekends, public holidays and local half-term holidays hourly 10.00-15.00.
