Since the early days of Broads holidays Wroxham, in the north, has been known as the capital of the Broads, but one of the interesting things about the Broads is that it can sometimes seem a bit elusive – are you in it, past it or not there yet?! The boundary follows the river valleys, so with five main rivers the Broads is shaped a bit like a hand. Is it the water (the broads, like shallow lakes) or is it the land, or both? It’s both. And can you be in a national park on the A1151 in Wroxham? Yes, you can! Some parts of the Broads countryside and waterways are immediately obvious, such as the view of the River Bure from Wroxham Bridge, while some others take a bit of exploring to find them…
1. Take a Broads National Park boat trip on wheelchair accessible Ra. Many other boating activities are available in Hoveton and Wroxham – larger boat trips, paddlecraft and other day hire boats, and holiday boats.
2. The narrow gauge Bure Valley Railway follows a scenic route to Aylsham. A path for walkers and cyclists runs beside the railway from its station at Wroxham. Heading in the same direction on the river or by road you’ll come to Coltishall (about 2.5 miles). You can do a walk at Coltishall or have a stroll at Horstead Mill, just across the river from Coltishall. Staying with railways, there are monthly open days at Barton House (miniature) Railway, with a ferry to it from Wroxham Bridge.
Go walking in the Broads (visitthebroads.co.uk)
3. A 20-minute walk from the information centre will take you to Caen Meadow by Castle Staithe, great for a stroll, a picnic and some waterbird watching. Follow Norwich Road (towards Norwich), turn right along Church Lane (which then bends to the left), then at the fork take Skinners Lane, which will take you to the entrance to Caen Meadow and then carries on into the countryside.
4. Wroxham Miniature Worlds (on Station Business Park, about 5 minutes’ walk from the information centre) is the UK’s largest indoor modelling attraction.
5. Wroxham Barns, about 1.5 miles by road, has shops for crafts, and local food and drink, plus a children’s farm and fun park. Talking of shopping and food, there are plenty of other local options as well, including Roys of Wroxham, still known as the world’s largest village store, from when two brothers started a shop in Coltishall in 1895!
6. The lovely Hoveton Hall Gardens including lakeside and woodland walks, and a cafe are about 1.5 miles away by road.
7. BeWILDerwood (about 2 miles by road, with foot and cycle path) is a children’s woodland adventure park. Bike hire is also available.
8. Barton Broad Boardwalk (just under 4 miles by road) is accessible to wheelchair users and will take you through mysterious wet woodland to a platform with a panoramic view over the broad.
9. Salhouse Broad (about 3.5 miles by road) offers short walks, play space, canoe hire and camping. Across the broad is Hoveton Great Broad Nature Trail, accessible only by boat. Maybe hire one of those canoes? The village of Ranworth (about 6.5 miles by road) has another Broads National Park information centre and boat trips on our electric launch, Liana plus lots of other things to do.
10. Our How Hill National Nature Reserve is just under 7 miles by road, near Ludham.
While Wroxham may be the capital of the Broads, Beccles, in the south, is one of the gateways to the Broads. It’s been a flourishing market town since Anglo-Saxon times and the Old Market once housed a great fish market, particularly for herring, for which the east coast was famous. The New Market actually dates from the 14th century, but while there’s lots of history to explore, it’s not all old, there are lots of new things too.
1. St Michael’s Church is right in the centre of town. It’s unusual in having a separate tower, which you can climb for wonderful views of the surrounding Broads countryside. Beccles Museum will show you the history of Beccles and is housed in Leman House, built around 1570 and restored and modernised – in the 1760s!
2. The Friday Market in New Market is still going strong every Friday, 6am-4pm, offering lots of local products. Beccles Food and Drink Festival takes place each May.
3. Beccles also offers many boating opportunities with paddlecraft and other day hire boats. The stretch of the River Waveney between Beccles and Bungay is very green and tranquil. Here are some more details on paddlesports.
4. If you’d rather let someone else take charge of boating, try the Big Dog Ferry. Look out for otters, kingfishers and marsh harriers along the way and enjoy local brews, food and live music at its destination – the Locks Inn, Geldeston. Alternatively, you can do a circular walk from Beccles to Geldeston. The Angles Way also goes west from Geldeston to Bungay, where you can explore the remains of medieval Bungay Castle.
5. If you like to be in the water then the Lido is the place for you – it’s even heated and stays open all year. There are three pools, a children’s adventure play area and a cafe. All facilities are fully accessible.
6. The Public Hall offers concerts, films, theatre and other events, and Beccles also hosts antiques markets and a carnival. At Bungay (about six miles by road), the Fisher Theatre offers events and activities.
7. Beccles has lots of small specialistshops, many in interesting old buildings. There are plenty of tempting places for coffee, lunch, tea, and of course a drink and dinner if your shopping is very extensive… Many of the road names end in ‘gate’ (such as Blyburgate, Saltgate), coming from the Old Norse for street. Beccles also has ‘scores’, believed to come from an Old English word meaning to cut. They are little paths going down to the river, particularly from Northgate. They don’t go along the river but were used for various ‘industrial’ activities and river access in the days when the waterways were widely used for transport. Look out for dutch gables too.
8. If exploring the countryside is more your thing, then take a walk on Beccles Marsh Trail, heading east along the river from Beccles Quay. You can do a circular route to return to Beccles and there’s a short accessible route too.
Go walking in the Broads (visitthebroads.co.uk)
9. For more walking and wildlife, try Suffolk Wildlife Trust’s Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve (about 7.5 miles by road). It has several trails, including accessible routes, plus play equipment and a cafe. The reserve has recently been extended and if you’re on a boat there are moorings available. (If you’re starting from Oulton Broad you can walk to the reserve in about 30 minutes.)
10. Oulton Broad (about 8 miles by road and another gateway to the Broads) is just a little further east, with boat trips, day boats for hire, Nicholas Everitt Park and Lowestoft Museum.
Hoveton & Wroxham Station is on the Bittern Line, with frequent daily trains from Norwich (journey time about 15 minutes). Beccles is on the East Suffolk Lines and Oulton Broad is on the Wherry Lines. Here are some public transport details.
This blog is an extract from our Broadcaster visitor magazine, which is full of information and advice, including water safety and news from the Broads. It’s available free from our visitor centres and many other local outlets, or you can browse the digital version of Broadcaster.
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