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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
WELCOME TO FAQ:
The answers to all the questions people ask me about the Norfolk Broads
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| Just what are the Norfolk Broads? | An area of interconnected lakes and rivers in Eastern England. There are over 150 miles of navigable, lock free waterways and many other non connected waterways as well. The area is marshy and much is below sea level. It is a popular holiday venue. If you like boats, you will like the Broads |
| What does the word "Broad" mean? | It's the Norfolk word for Lake. |
| What is a "staithe"? | The word staithe is the old Norfolk word for a landing stage. Most Norfolk villages have one or more staithes. You can moor at many of them and they usually give access to a road, or at least to a pub. |
| What kind of holidays are available on the Broads? | The classic Broads holiday is spent on a hired boat.
Most of
these
are motor cruisers, but sailing boats are avaliable as well and this is
the
traditional way to see the Broads. If you prefer dry land to sleep on
then
there are lots of cottages, caravan parks, hotels and camp sites
available.
Many people stay ashore and hire a day boat to get out onto the water. The East Coast is nearby and this has wonderful sandy beaches when the weather is kind. All the traditional British seaside holiday entertainments can be found at Yarmouth. For the big city, try the historic City of Norwich. |
| What's the weather like? | Norfolk is flat and near the coast, so don't be
surprised if
it is
windy. A good breeze moves the sailing boats along. This is the driest
part
of the country, but you can get rain at any time. If you are lucky you
will
get excellent sunny weather, but this is not guaranteed. Be ready for
anything. In Norfolk, I have seen everything from baking hot sun, to frozen solid rivers. I have seen warm still evenings with not a breath of wind, and horizontal rain driven on by a freezing gale. August is usually the best time of the year. On a still August evening, look up and in the dark clear sky you will see a million stars and the band of the milky way. Sheer magic. |
| Can you recommend any holidays? | There are lots of companies hiring boats. I think they
are
very expensive so try to pick out a luxury one. In spring or autumn get
one with central heating. Blakes or Hoseasons Holidays list a good
selection. For traditional sailing (no engine, no electricity) try Hunter's Yard at Ludham. For cottages try Riverside Holidays at Potter Heigham. There are lots of camp sites and caravan parks. |
| What is there to do? | Messing about in boats is an important Broads activity.
Most
people seem to moor near pubs in the evenings and there are lots of
these. If you prefer quiet avoid the pubs. Better still, drop your
mudweight in the middle of a Broad and spend the night at anchor. I like walking and cycling and there are excellent facilities for both. The Broads Authority information centres have leaflets. There are loads of tourist attractions to cover every taste and again get details from the information centres. The local paper (The Eastern Daily Press or EDP) gives details of what is going on in the area. A free newspaper called The Broadcaster is available from information centres and this tells you what events are going on day to day. |
| What about shops? | There are loads of shops in the big centres of Lowestoft, Norwich and Great Yarmouth. However, there are a couple of shops which are essential to visit. These are Roys of Wroxham and Lathams of Potter Heigham. Smaller village shops are everywhere. Many villages have roadside stalls offering fresh produce in summer. |
| Can I hire Canoes? | There are several canoe hire places in the summer, but
they
are not always there. Get up to date information from the Broads
Information Centres. Canoes are a great way to explore the smaller
waterways on the edges of
the Broads. They are less fun in the main rivers surrounded by big
cruisers. The area above Wayford Bridge is a good place to start. |
| Can I hire Bikes? | There is a long distance cycle trail called the
Marriott's
Way. It
used to be an old railway line and there are hire points along it. The
Bure
Valley railway (narrow gague steam) has a cycle track next to it called
the
Huff and Puff Trail. There is cycle hire at both ends. You can cycle
out
and come back by train if you wish. There are other cycle hire places
as well. Get up to date details at a Broads Information Centre. |
| Can you recommend places to eat? | There are lots of pubs offering good quality food. I can't possibly list them all, but I quite like: The Falgate at Potter Heigham, The Nelson's Head at Horsey, The Thurne Lion at Thurne, The White Horse at Upton, The Kings Arms at Ludham and The New Inn at Horning. Some are better than others, but I find that most pubs are of reasonable quality. |
| What will I need to bring? | You will need a good quality map. I strongly recommend
the
Ordnance Survey Explorer map of the Broads (OL40). The wildlife is
good, bring
binoculars. There is a lot to see, bring a camera. Bring good quality waterproofs, boots and warm clothing even in summer. Evenings are cold on the river. |
| Where should I hire my boat from and where should I go? | The Broads are roughly divided into the Northern Rivers
(Bure, Ant, Thurne) and the Southern Rivers (Waveney, Yare). If you
have 2 weeks, you can do both so start anywhere. The Northern Rivers
are more crowded, but
if you only have a week then start there. You will not be able to do it
all so don't rush about. Enjoy the holiday. Most people visit Wroxham, Horning and Potter Heigham at some time plus Barton, South Walsham and Ranworth Broads. If the tides are low enough then visit Hickling and Horsey. If you have plenty of time go to Yarmouth, Oulton Broad and Norwich. |
| Do I need a licence for my boat? | You can bring your own boat, but you will need a licence even if it is just a canoe. Apply in advance to the Broads Authority, Colegate, Norwich. |
| What is TV reception like? | Lousy. Get a life not a TV. (Actually, reception has
improved
a bit recently.) |
| What is mobile phone coverage like? | I have never had a problem with mobile coverage but the signal can be thin in places. I use O2 and Orange and these seem to work virtually everywhere. |
| Is there any pollution and are there any conservation issues on the Norfolk Broads? | There are lots of problems on the Broads. Once the
water was
clear, but now it is muddy. This is caused by a mixture of agricultural
run off
and boat wash. Lots of efforts are being made to improve the situation.
You
can help by sticking to the speed limits. For more information, visit
the
Norfolk Naturalists Information Centre at Ranworth. It is free and well
worth
a visit. The Broads is a complex and fragile landscape, treat it with respect on your visit. |
| I am trying to trace my
family
who come from Ludham. |
Send me an e-mail with
details
and I will see if the village historians can help. |
| Where can I get more
information
about Ludham? |
The Ludham Community
Archive has
a CD for sale which contains a history of the village as well as nearly
2000 photographs and 17 video clips. E-mail me for details. |
| I am interested in The
Broads,
how can I join in and get more information? |
There is a good website
where
you can ask questions and chat about the Norfolk Broads. You will find
lots of up to date information and pictures there. I often post stuff
on this site myself and it is safe and fun to join in. Follow this link. |
| I see you have a Norman
boat.
Where can I find out more about this type of boat? |
Norman boats are a
familiar
sight on the Broads. They are no longer in production but thousands
were made over the years. My boat (Woodwose) is a Norman 23. For more information follow this link. |
| Did I miss your question out? | Go back to my Home Page and send me an e-mail. (Link below). |
LINKS TO THE REST OF THE WEBSITE
Follow these links to go to other parts of my website or back to the Norfolk Broads Page
Nigel's
Home Page
Back
to Nigel's Norfolk Broads Introduction Page
Nigel's
Photographic Tour of the Norfolk Broads
A
look at Ludham Village