Preparing to Go Boating on the Norfolk Broads
If you are going to explore the Northern or Southern Broads, it is advisable to hire a cabin cruiser and do it in style. There are many places on the Broads where you can hire a suitable craft, from Wroxham to Acle Bridge to Stalham on the Northern Waters, and from Norwich to Beccles on the Southern Waters. Once you have decided on a suitable boat that is ideal for your needs look up the internet type in boating on the broads select a suitable company, look at all the pictures of the craft available, and pick one. As you will notice there are two major companies working through a number of different Boat-Yards. Be care full how you choose as the price varies greatly, depending on number of people, age of boat, prestige of Boat-Yard, site of yard, and availability.
To save the most off-season is best and can net you 50% app savings, this is any time between Mid-September to Early-July. To give you a general idea prices for 4 berth boat can vary between £400 to £900.
Once you have decided on a boat, time of year etc etc. it is just a matter of getting there with what you will need for your cruise, things that the boat yard do not supply like; food,extra toilet rolls.towels, extra bedding etc. What they all supply is; Duvet’s (single or double), television, 12 or 240 volt power supply (depends on boat), cutlery, crockery, etc. All boats come with a full tank of fuel and water, and there are p[plenty of stopping places to top up or get sumped out all along the broads, both Northern and Southern waters.
The other essential for first time boaters is a map of the rivers and a guide of what you can and can’t do, most boat yards provide this with your boat, and you can purchase a good map there as well. I would also suggest that you look up the internet and read items like the Norfolk Broads News sheet and guide.
If you are thinking of fishing holiday, you won’t go wrong if you know where to go and don’t expect to catch monsters, though there are some big fish on the Broads they are far and few between. My recommendations are as follows:
- Oulton Broad (Southern water) largest fish I have caught on the Broads a Bream of 7 to 8 LBS, but Tench,Pike, and Carp of reasonable size have been caught there up to 30lbs as well as plenty of small Roach, Perch, and Skimmers as well as an odd Gudgeon and Eal
- The Waverney Centre (Southern water nr. Beccles) lots of small Roach etc.(ample overnight mooring and pub that provides meals)
- The Sugar Factory (Southern waters) moor at the Reedcutter pub area. Some Tench mainly small Roach and Perch
- Acle Bridge (Northern waters) lots of small fry as previously mentioned plus Weather Loaches be warned
- The Monument (Northern waters) half way between Acle Bridge and Horning. Used regularly by the local fishing club for matches, mainly small fish
- Irksted (Northern waters River Ant) Large Tench opposite free mooring area small fish a plenty along most of river
- Hickling Broad (Northern water) Hard to get to need pilot to get under bridge, lot of weed have to be carefull where you moor up, good selection of all fish including Pike, Carp, Tench etc.
Please note these are just my best spots, fish on the broads have spread over the last few years and you can now catch anywhere from the Windmill on the Yarmouth Stretch to Wroxham, and from Irksted to Stalham( reliable informed that the Tench have returned to Stalham on stretch from Stalham to Barton Broad (look under the Lily pads).
My best advice that I can give is consult the people in the boat-yards when you collect your boat, they are a mind of information on where to go what to do and what to see. It is well worth chatting them up when they show you round your boat.
This is an account of my experiences on the Norfolk Broads over years of Boating holidays for relaxation, fishing, and exploring the Broads. I am quite surprised by the store of information that I have accumulated over the years of visiting the Broads, especially the difference between North and South Broads (chalk and Cheese).