bestboatingholidays

Although this was a boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads, it actually starts in Suffolk at Oulton Broad.  Picking up your boat hire at Topcrafts boatyard, which is a family run business, you are immediately impressed with your floating accommodation. It was March so the weather was fairly cold, but thankfully the boat has central heating! In fact, it has all your modern home from home facilities, Microwave, Toaster, Electric kettle, TV, DVD player and  Stereo radio/CD player. The boat is wide and has plenty of big windows so you can see all the wonderful scenery as you travel across the wide expanse of water.

As we make our way towards Beccles we pass various motorboats, yachts, windsurfers and fishermen on the banks, all enjoying this peaceful green landscape. The boat has a steering position in the bow area so you have a clear vision ahead. There are no locks to negotiate as the Broads are a vast network of lakes and rivers, all connected. With so much to see as you motor along there is never a dull moment. Wildlife is all around you, and on your Norfolk Broads holiday you can explore nature reserves and country parks, many with nature trails, bird watching hides, guided trips and special exhibitions. Fishermen have access to some wonderful coarse fishing, and we see lots of people on the banks or in small boats with their rods out.

As we leave Oulton Broad we enter the River Waveney, this then separates into two, so we choose to go left towards Beccles. On our way we pass some lovely sights. The river is narrow as we approach a marina at Burgh St Peter and notice a large leaping pike made of metal! It marks the entrance to the Waveney River Centre. It turns out that the large fish is called Eddie 2. We stop over at the well appointed marina for a short time, which was free! If you need to stay overnight there is a fee.

The Waveney River Centre is set in a grassy green area with trees all around. An Inn called – your’ve guess it – the Waveney Inn is close by and really caters for all the family, with play areas and live entertainment. The town of Burgh St Peter is a reasonable walk away or you can take the bus. But we returned to the boat and set off further up river towards Beccles.

Beccles is an old fashion market town, famous for church and separate tower with houses built over a hundred years ago. There is a good selection of shops, pubs and restaurants throughout the town, all set beside the river. We went to see the town’s museum. A very old building dating back to 1570 it houses a very large number of historic photos of the Broads.

We spend the night here and moor up at the river bank. Next day we retrace our steps back to Topcrafts boatyard at Oulton Broad, again seeing some interesting sights.

If you would like to take a boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads why not enquire here.

When you hire a boat on the Norfolk Broads you are able to enjoy a variety of activities.  Whether it is a motorboat or a sailing boat you can amuse yourself in so many ways.  When on the move, steering the boat should be a family activity; everyone on board should take a turn at the helm.  Lots of fun can start when someone, who has never steered before, takes the wheel or tiller.  As long as it happens away from any danger, it can be enlightening.  Fishing as you move along at 3 -4 mph can be interesting.  Messing about in the dinghy when you tie up for the evening can be really fun for everyone, not just the kids. 

Why not invest in a remote controlled model  boat. Let everyone have a go when you are tied up for the day or evening.  These model boats can provide hours of fun for all the family.  Although I have spent some lovely times in pubs and restaurants throughout the Broads, I have also been with the kids while they fly their kites across and above the waters of the marshlands.  So bring a couple of kites with you on holiday. 

Inflatable dinghies and canoes are popular items to take with you on holiday.  They allow you to explore areas that might otherwise be inaccessable.  Kids can have hours of fun in these boats.  If your dinghy can have a mast and sail attached this can offer other possibilities on holiday.  So think about these various options.

For rainy days the obvious things like books and board games can be packed, but what about computer games and laptops?  Lots of places will have wireless.  So you can keep in touch by email.  Why not keep a diary of your holiday on your laptop?  Download your photos each day and send them to BEBO or MySpace where your friends can follow your every move back home!

There are so many possibilities and activities to do on holiday on the Broads.  With the place teaming with wildlife why not record all the various species of, say, ducks you spot, as you move around the rivers and broads?  With kids on board, a series of photos of wildlife will no doubt help them with forthcoming projects at school.  Good close ups of ducks and other natural inhabitants will no doubt produce a stunning project!

The variety of the Norfolk Broads in scenery allows you to chose what type of holiday break to have for you and your family or friends.  If you want quiet times there are many places to go – if you want busy activity then thats on offer too.  You decide.  Whatever you choose I hope you enjoy your time on the Broads!

On the Broads there are all sorts of boats. Cruisers, yachts, barges, canoes, dinghies etc. All of these can be hired for weekends, mid-week breaks and longer holidays throughout the year. The largest range of boats for hire is offered by Hoseasons, who have been involved in this business for many years and are experts.

The Broads largely follows the line of the rivers and natural navigations of the area. There are seven navigable rivers, the River Yare and its tributaries the Rivers Bure, Thurne, Ant, Waveney, Chet and Wensum.  All the waterways are subject to tidal influence. The tidal range decreases with distance from the sea, with highly tidal areas such as Breydon Water contrasted with virtually non-tidal reaches such as the River Ant upstream of Barton Broad. So plenty to see and visit while you are on holiday!

As mentioned in a previous post the Broads are accessable from the sea by going through Lowestoft harbour into Lake Lothing and from there to Oulton Broad. This does involve a lock, Mutford lock, because of the different tidal ranges. However, for most holidaymakers access to the sea is not a consideration. Your boat hirer will inform you all about where to go, whether it is busy areas for sightseeing or more relaxed quiet spots away from the crowd.
There is something for everyone on holiday around the Norfolk Broads.