Boating & Water

Canoeing & Kayaking the Norfolk & Suffolk Broads.

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Canoeing and Boating Holiday information for the Norfolk Broads National Park UK, Suffolk and East Anglia with general information for Canoe & Kayak Enthusiasts.

The Norfolk Broads web site is the Canoeing, Kayaking and Sporting guide for the Broads, East Anglia and the East of England. Content ranges from Canoeing and Boating holiday information for the Norfolk Broads UK and Suffolk with Guides and Information for Canoeists and Kayak enthusiasts.

Helpful and informative advice to make your holiday, or visit, that much more enjoyable and safer. Guides are offered as an essential aid to help you get the best out of your visit.

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Canoeing & Kayaking in the Norfolk Broads

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You don’t have to be an experienced canoeist in order to get afloat on the Norfolk Broads you don’t even need to have your own equipment – there are a variety of Hire centres throughout the broads as well as Guided trails that are run on a regular basis.

The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads and their feeder rivers offer a variety of canoeing opportunities for paddlers of all craft and all levels of experience. The major tributaries outside of the area controlled by the Broads Authority offer canoeing on quiet waters away from powered traffic there is only one company that offers access to these areas – TheCanoeMan.com, whilst the rivers within the Broads system there are numerous canoe hire centres that offer the opportunity to survey this special conservation area and its wildlife from close quarters, albeit in company with other, larger, craft. The Broads themselves offer what can be at times challenging canoeing for the more experienced paddler, particularly during less settled weather, whilst the advanced paddler can find extreme conditions around the mill races on the major rivers and on those rivers and broads subject to strong tidal flows.

Licencing
Licences are not required on non-navigable stretches of Norfolk’s rivers although access & egress points can often be difficult to find. For more information about the rivers outside the Broads authority area contact TheCanoeMan (details below). However all craft using the navigable stretches of the Broads are required to be licensed. Licenses may be obtained from the Broads Authority, Dragonfly House, Norwich, NR3 1BQ, tel: 01603 610734 or alternatively, membership of the British Canoe Union covers your craft for the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads as well as British Waterways Board and other navigation authority waters. Details can be found at www.bcu.org.

The Norfolk Broads are probably one of the most easily accessible wetlands in the country they offer many miles of canoeing & kayaking in beautiful surroundings. It is however important that you are aware of where you are allowed to get in / get out and what areas are suitable for the less experienced. It is important to note that there are few inland waters in which there is an automatic right to navigate. Within the Norfolk Broads many areas of water are privately owned, and their use regulated to varying degrees. There is limited land access to the rivers and broads, and access is often over land in the guardianship of parish councils or private trusts. Rivers outside the jurisdiction of the Broads Authority are also subject to riparian rights of ownership, and in some cases can only be canoed by arrangement with the riparian owner, normally through the BCU’s voluntary Access Officers. Generally speaking, individuals and small groups are less likely to encounter difficulty. Larger groups should seek local advice before their trip. If in doubt current upto date access information can be sort from the BCULocal Coaching Officer Mark Wilkinsonwww.TheCanoeMan.com

REMEMBER - Do not canoe alone - wear a buoyancy aid - undertake a course of training - paddle within your ability.

The area can be broken down into the river systems:

Bure
Ant
Thurne
Waveney
Wensum
Yare

The River Ant:

Starts well above North Walsham but unfortunately the river has little to offer, other than narrow field ditch paddling, until you reach Honing. Access at Honing Lock is somewhat challenging to find and has very limited parking (a maximum of 2 cars). If you intend to use this access point you are better of to arrange a shuttle transport (getting you and your equipment dropped off. Whilst leaving your vehicle at the get out point) this can be arranged via TheCanoeMan. The first half a mile of this trip is along a very narrow reed lined stream which at the wrong time of the year can be a 'jungle warfare' but all good fun. The further along you get the river widens – this is the disused North Walsham Canal – very peaceful and beautiful. Just before you reach the main (A149) road bridge a network of dykes joins from the right. Well worth an explore if you have the time. Immediately on the right after the road bridge is a very easy get out at the Weyford Parish Staithe beside Banks boat there is also parking available here. From here on your likely to encounter more day boats and cruisers but you should still find quieter stretches. The river winds and widens on it way down to Barton Broad just before it enters the broad a tributary enters from the left – this runs down from Stalham where there are several boatyards, a hotel as well as 'The museum of the broads' which is well worth a visit. The Ant runs through Barton Broad a wonderful broad a real haven for wildlife probably Norfolk’s best Otter spotting territories. It is also home to the Norfolk Punt Club and has regular sailing regattas. As with all the broads it is recommended that paddlers should stay close to the windward bank for several reasons but not the least to avoid being run over by a high speed sailing yacht!

There is good access and egress as well as parking at Barton Turf and an excellent pub and Tea room at Neatishead accessibly by a small network of dykes marked on the right hand side of the broad. You leave Barton via 'The S?????' just above Irstead. When you reach Irstead church (on your right) there is a nice green where you can picnic or access or egress. Please be aware the locals have added signs saying no canoes but as this is a Broads Authority key heading access/egress is allowed. The river here is initially quite pleasantly tree lined but soon deteriorates into quite desolate open fields, combine this with the river being relatively narrow, putting you in close proximity to other river users. Having passed by 2 or 3 derelict windmills you will eventually reach Ludham Bridge where there is a small general store, boatyard and 200yds down the road a pub. The river before Ludham bridge is generally of little interest and tends to be quite busy at peak times. The Ant finally joins the Bure just before St. Benets Abbey.

Yare

As a canoeing river the Yare is very much a river of 2 halves – The highest point of easy entry is Bawburgh and the run down for the first couple of miles is truly jungle warfare and at the wrong time of year virtually impossible. From Earlham church initially the river can be very shallow but quickly deepens into a very pleasant tree lined meander running behind the UEA. Next bridge in Cringleford where access/egress is easy long as you can carry the 300 meters to the small car park. From here on down the Yare become more challenging – despite a pretty river – negotiating the next three miles as Keswick, Lakesham and Trowse can prove hard work and is not for the fainthearted. The Yare starts to widen and soon is joined by the Wensum and suddenly turns into a very big, wide and tidal river. The final run from Whittlingham to Thorpe green is pleasant enough especially as it finishes beside the local hostelry! By this point the Yare is of no real interest to most paddlers being wide and flat and exposed there are however a couple of areas of interest and worth a visit in their own right and that is Rockland Surlingham broads. Beyond the Whittlingham the river becomes more tidal and is unsuitable for less experienced paddlers.

Wensum:

Undoubtedly one of, if not, the most beautiful paddling river in Norfolk. Starting high above Fakenham the Wensum winds its way through beautiful unspoiled Norfolk Countryside – the top sections from Fakenham down are more suited to the experienced paddler as regularly trees block the river or convoluted portages are required to bypass the many mills on route. The Wensum is the only river in Norfolk to hold barbel and a good head of trout which unfortunately makes it an angling paradise this has and continues to cause friction between paddlers and fishermen. The lower section are more often paddled with the section from Attlebridge down being quite popular despite a 400yd portage in the middle! It is worth contacting either the river access officer or TheCanoeMan prior to paddling this stretch to get an up to date picture. The river continues to meander through open farmland working its way closer and closer to Norwich. The head of the navigation is at New Mill Yard where a portage is required through a housing estate! After this the river runs right through the centre of the city (which makes for a very pretty night time paddle) before joining the Yare.

Waveney

Meandering along the Norfolk, Suffolk border is the very pretty river Waveney. The upper sections are clear and gently flowing and offer a haven for all sort of wildlife – Otter sightings are not uncommon. Scole is an easy access point, from here down there are relatively easy access, egress points for most of the way along the river – in the last few years there has been an excellent guide to canoeing the Waveney written in conjunction with The Environment Agency and is well worth getting a copy.

Similar information can be found within TheCanoeMan guide to canoeing and kayaking in Norfolk and Suffolk. The stretch from Ellingham Mill down is still somewhat contentious despite many attempts over the years to negotiate an access agreement with the angling club who own the fishing rights.

The highest point of navigation for motor launches is Geldeston Lock (the site of an excellent pub) and you will notice a significant change in the river from this point on as it widens, deepens ad becomes more tidal.

The river continues past Beccles and Bungay heading towards Oulton Broad and ultimately the sea. Below Bungay the river holds little interest to the paddler.

Saftey Points

Before and after leaving the water

All river users must enjoy access to the river in a responsible and safe manner.
Be friendly and polite to local residents and other water users.
Park sensibly without causing any obstruction. Use designated car parks where available (this may involve unloading equipment and parking at a distance from the river).
Be as quiet as possible.
Unload kit tidily, take all litter home and leave no trace of your visit.
Get changed out of public view.
Avoid disturbing farm animals and wildlife and causing environmental damage.
Follow the Countryside Code.

On the Water

Respect other people.
Safety is paramount and you should always wear a buoyancy aid and appropriate protective gear. It is good to practice to paddle in a group of at least three boats (it is not always best practice to stay with the boat, and three boats is recommended, one to stay with the casualty and the other to seek assistance).
Wash your hands before eating/drinking and cover cuts on the skin.
When lifting/moving your canoe follow approved H&S guidelines. On lifting i.e. straight back.
When paddling on large expanses of open water, such as broads, hug to windward shoreline.
Ensure you have suitable emergency equipment i.e. map, spare clothes, mobile phone, compass, First aid kit.
Take advice on river levels before paddling
Never paddle on stretches for which you are not suitable qualified/experienced i.e. tidal stretches.
Respect wildlife and the environmental at all times noting sensitive places, specie and breeding seasons. This is particularly important in the breeding season and the fishing closed season, when canoeing should be kept to a minimum. At all other times, keep away from the banks (except at official access and portage points), and minimise disturbance to the river bed.
Remain quite whilst approaching and passing anyone on the river.
Normally pass on the far side of the river from someone fishing from the bank, or as directed by that person.
If and when it is necessary to stop or to land in an emergency or at one of the approved landing places, keep reasonably still and quiet and in a small area.
Refuse must not be deposited in the river or on the bank of the river.
Visiting groups should not normally exceed 15 craft (larger groups should consult the BCU Local River Advisor). Individual members within a group must keep as close together as possible, especially when passing someone fishing, so as to cause minimum impact on other people and the environment.
If in any doubt about where to pass or on any other point, group leaders should make their presence known to those fishing and ask for guidance.
All river users should do their best to avoid argument.

In the event of a capsize with a canoe

Do NOT panic.
Ensure all other members of your party are ok.
Do not climb on top of the upturned canoe.
Drag the boat to the bank/or shallow area and empty it of water.
Try to secure any lose items i.e. paddles, kit.

Paddling on the Sea

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Click here for Tide Tables.

www.TheCanoeMan.com

TheCanoeMan

Buxton Canoe Hire Centre
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