Norfolk Broads Discounts and Offers Newsletters

March 2023

It's the 1st March, which means it's meteorological spring! Well. it doesn't feel like it at the moment, but longer days and gently rising temperatures are just around the corner. The Norfolk Broads are coming alive. Easter is just six weeks away as I write. Who's for a holiday afloat to renew our association with the great outdoors, wildlife and letting your cares just float away on the wonderful Norfolk Broads? The boats have been given a wash and brush up, pubs and restaurants are now open and everything is revitalised for the start of a new season.

There is still availability if you want to getaway on a family adventure this Easter, with prices starting at £89 per person for a 4 night stay aboard Merrymore, an eight berth cruiser starting from Wroxham. This month's newsletter lists twelve suggestions for boats of all standards, available for a break over the Easter period.

Somerleyton is a great lunchtime stopover if you're on your way to Oulton Broad. For a small village, Somerleyton has much going for it, including the nearby Somerleyton Hall and being the home of the invention of the hovercraft. For what to see, places to eat and where to moor, see this month's newsletter.

February 2023

It only seems a few weeks since the booking season came to an end. Amazingly, it all starts again for the children's February Half Term break. One boatyard has prioritised having a small number of it's craft refurbished and available to hire over the school holiday. So if you're aching to get the family together for a few days or a week away, take a look at what's on offer. There's more information in this month's newsletter.

The booking season is now in full swing, and although there is still good availability across all dates, you may find that a certain boat type, or some popular dates make finding your ideal boat difficult. The newsletter talks about our "Other Boats of this Design" finder. Put simply, if you like the look of a particular boat, but can't find availability, use this search to bring up a list of outwardly similar craft to compare starting points, deck plans, and a brief rundown of it's onboard facilities. By clicking the availability button for each boat, you can then compare hire charges to see which is the better value for the facilities offered.

Great Yarmouth needs no introduction, and as a very popular stop off point. it's featured in this month's newsletter. Yarmouth sits at the confluence of the Rivers Bure and Yare and as such, needs special care and attention when mooring. The newsletter points out the intricacies of coming in to moor at the Yacht Station, what there is to see, where you can eat and gives a link to a comprehensive guide to travelling to or through Yarmouth.

January 2023

New Year, new boating season on it's way! Well, in less than six weeks, the holiday fleets will begin being let for their first weeks of the season. You can now hire from week commencing 13th February, to cover the Half Term Break. Following that, the Broads really awakens at Easter, when the full fleet is available to hire. There's also an extra public holiday on Monday the 8th May to mark the King's Coronation. Add a few days from the weekend, and you have yourselves a short break.

So with all these break possibilities, I've introduced a search tool to help find holiday availability over these public holidays. More information in this month's newsletter. The holiday sales have got underway, with four boatyards offering up to 10% discount if you book before the end of March. In most cases, this applies right across the summer too.

The village of Cantley, on the river Yare, is dominated by the huge sugar processing factory that lines the bank. Cantley is the subject of our latest in depth look at villages of the Broads. Cantley has it's own train station, so in addition to some fine walks around the area, you can be in the city of Norwich in a little over 20 minutes. To find out more about what there is to see, where you can eat and the free moorings, see our latest newsletter.

November 2022

Well, the boating season is more or less at an end and now begins the task of lifting the boats in preparation of them being worked on, to get them looking refreshed when the new boating year begins around mid-February. We've already put the clocks back, so we know we're all on our way to shorter days and miserable weather between now and then. Nevertheless, bookings for next year, especially the summer school holidays, will continue strongly for a while yet. So this month's newsletter is focused on what's available over the key six weeks or so of the children's school holiday. Understandably, disposable income will be tight for some, so I've hand-picked a variety of offers that range from budget through to superior boats. There's still good availability, though once the booking season proper gets going in January, the best deals will go first.

Horsey Mere, that's an unusual name isn't it. It refers to a broad located the far side of Potter Heigham bridge. As few boats can reliably get under this bridge, the areas above (around 5 miles of river) have been protected from the commercialisation you see in some centres, and the feel when cruising, is that you're almost travelling back in time. Horsey Mere leads on to Horsey Dyke and it's wind pump, a very picturesque setting. The best way to visit if you can't get under the bridge at Potter Heigham, is to moor up and hire a day boat from one of the local boatyards there. It's well worth a visit. To find out more about what there is to see, where you can eat and the free moorings, see our latest newsletter.

October 2022

The end of the boating season is almost upon us, though it won't go out without a last hurrah for the October Half Term week. The last week of October will see an increase in the number of visitors, wanting to make the most of this last usable school holiday of the boating season. It's popular as the prices are around half that of August, and everything is still open and welcoming. The pubs, restaurants and shops don't start to wind down until the start of November. So if you're trying to think of somewhere that you can get all the family together before winter proper sets in, you'll find a few suggestions in our latest newsletter. Prices start at £113 per person including fuel deposit and security waiver aboard the six berth San Lucia from Stalham (details in the newsletter).

Burgh Castle is a small village on the edge of Breydon Water, so quite close to Great Yarmouth. As such, it makes a good stop off point to wait for the tides to lower should you craft need more headroom to get under the bridges at Yarmouth. Burgh Castle has it's interests and is worth a visit in it's own right. The village is named after a third-century Roman Fort, the walls of which can still be seen on the adjacent site. Also, a pathway along the edge of Breydon Water will delight those who like spotting wildlife. For more information, including help on where to moor for free, see our newsletter.

September 2022

The weather has overall been really kind to us over the summer school holidays, and it won't be long before the children are back in class. But that doesn't have to be the end of the family adventures this year. The kids are off again in the October Half Term week, and recognising this, one boatyard has reduced it's prices by 10% for all holidays and short breaks beginning anytime in the month of October. So whether you want to relive your week's break with the kids, or just spend time with your partner for a few days outside the school holiday, you can now do it at a discounted price. Prices are already up to half what they would be in August, and the rivers are much quieter meaning you're more likely to get your first choice mooring spots.

Bookings for 2023 are already coming in, so there's a feature in our latest newsletter discussing how to search for the facilities you desire in your ideal cruiser. The village of Coltishall, to be found beyond that bridge in Wroxham on the River Bure, is a lovely place to spend a day or overnight. Picturesque free moorings and a choice of eating places, plus what there is to see are highlighted in the newsletter.

August 2022

The summer seems to be ticking on at an alarming rate. The last public holiday of the summer is on Monday 29th August. Rather than just letting it slip by, why not organise a family adventure on the Norfolk Broads. We have 3 night weekend breaks starting on the previous Saturday, 4 night midweek breaks beginning on the Bank Holiday Monday, and full weeks available for those with enough annual leave remaining. Prices start at less than £150 per person onboard Broadland Orion, a 4 berth cruiser available on the 27th August for 3 nights. I've come up with twelve example breaks which I think will suit all pockets, detailed in this month's newsletter.

This month, we feature the little village of Surlingham on the River Yare. The moorings are outside the well thought of Surlingham Ferry Inn. This community run pub is situated on a bend in the river, just a mile or so from Brundall. There's lots to see and do once there. Read our guide to the village which details where to moor for free, what's worth seeing nearby and find out about the "graveyard" holding 13 wherries which were purposefully scuttled here.

July 2022

Last month's newsletter focused on boating holidays on a budget, bearing in mind the huge price rises we have all seen recently in the general cost of living. With the delays and cancellations at our airports, many people are deciding to opt for another holiday within the UK this year, in the hope that overseas holidays will be more attractive in 2023. So I thought this month I would highlight some breaks over the summer school holidays, which feature our superior range of cruisers, for those who might have gone for four star accommodation overseas. I've selected twelve such craft as examples of what's still out there, in this month's newsletter.

For those who haven't come across it yet, there's a mileage and journey time calculator on the site, Select your start point from one of the 38 locations listed, then a destination and quick as a flash, you'll be presented with stats on the journey time, the actual river mileage, the tidal rise and fall at the destination and useful notes if the route includes stopping or passing through Yarmouth. There more info and a link to the calculator in the newsletter.

This month, I've included a guide to Hickling. This pretty village is located above Potter Heigham Bridge and as such, may be a block to those people unable to get their boats under. But as it's easy (and desirable) to hire a day boat from Potter Heigham to explore the upper reaches of the Thurne, I've included the village in the newsletter.

June 2022

The cost of living is on everyone's mind at the moment. Prices are rocketing just as thoughts are tuning to the annual summer school holidays. So what can you get for less than £1,000 for a family of four on the Norfolk Broads? This month's newsletter explores just that and comes up with twelve holidays starting at £616 for a family of four on Clarion, from the 22nd August for 4 nights, and £859 for 4 people onboard Chelsea Bridge for the week commencing 29th July. These are just a few examples of the affordable holidays still available at the time of writing. See the newsletter for more information.

There's also a link to our choice of first and last night stopover moorings, so you can make the most of your time afloat. The last night suggestions are good for those who don't want to spend it in their home boatyard. Stalham, Horning, Wroxham, Acle and Brundall are all covered. Finally, the little village of Somerleyton is featured in the newsletter. Somerleyton is renowned for being the place that Sir Christopher Cockerell invented and developed the world's first hovercraft. There's more, together with where to moor, local attractions and places to eat and drink, in the newsletter.

May 2022

Long sunny days and short nights. That's June for you. Daylight hours stretch from 4.30am to 9.30pm. Just think what you can do with all that time on holiday. A steady cruise down the River Ant to Buddha Bridge for lunch - An afternoon nap in the sun, before setting sail for the "bright lights" of Wroxham? An early morning visit to the marshes of Breydon to see the waterfowl? - An afternoon sitting watching life come and go on the moorings at Ranworth, followed by an evening sat outside one of the riverside bars in Horning watching the sun go down? In June, the days are as long as the Norfolk landscape is wide. Plus the hire charges are much less than you'll find just a few weeks later when the kids start their summer holidays. What's not to like? You'll find suggestions for June breaks in this month's newsletter.

You've picked your boat up and are ready to start out on your great adventure. But where do you go for your first night? We've put together a page of first & last night stopover recommendations, starting from Stalham, Wroxham, Horning, Acle and Brundall, so you can make the most of every minute of your trip. See them here: https://www.norfolkbroadsboathire.biz/suggested-first-night-last-night-stopovers.asp

Potter Heigham is well known for it's low arched medieval bridge, which acts as a barrier to larger boats wanting to cruise to Hickling, West Somerton and Horsey Mere. There are alternatives if you can't get under, which are discussed in this month's newsletter. Best places to moor, good places to eat and what's worth seeing, are all highlighted. Click the image for more information.

April 2022

We get an extra day's holiday on the 2nd June this year, to mark the Queen having served 70 years. It's her Platinum Jubilee. In addition, Spring Bank Holiday Monday has been moved from the end of May, to the 3rd June, enabling the country to celebrate the Jubilee, right through the following weekend. Many people have cottoned on to this opportunity to get away for a few days, but there is still availability should you wish to join them. So in this month's newsletter, I've put together twelve suggestions to get you afloat over the Platinum Jubilee.

One boatyard in Brundall, is discounting it's boats by up to £210, on holidays starting on or before the 27th May 2022. You must book the holiday no later than the 30th April, to qualify for the discount. Full details are in the newsletter.

Oulton Broad, .is a holiday playground on the southern rivers. This wide expanse of water, is home to all manner of water sports, including speedboat racing most Thursday evenings. It's well served for pubs and restaurants, and has good moorings for visitors. If you've never visited, you're missing out. .Find out more in our latest newsletter.

March 2022

Well, that's come around fast. Meteorological Spring is upon us, and Easter is just six weeks away. Easter marks the start of the boating season, and being mid April this year, hopefully the weather will be kind. So if you've lamented being stuck indoors all winter, and are missing the open countryside and fresh air of the Broads, now is the time to start thinking about a few days break afloat. There's still quite good availability, and this month's newsletter, gives suggestions and prices, so you can see what's available.

Further to the above, if you are able to take a midweek 4 night Easter break, one boatyard in Wroxham is discounting by up to £120 to attract you to this less popular time. There's more information in the newsletter, and it's worth pointing out that this boatyard includes fuel, damage waiver, parking and wifi in it's hire charge.

Horning is a picture-perfect village on the banks of the River Bure, just 5 miles below Wroxham. If you haven't already moored there, you will surely have cruised through, on your way to or from Wroxham. There's plenty of moorings, some of it free for overnighters. This month's village guide points out mooring locations, free or at a fee, together with a directory of pubs, restaurants, shops and things to see and do locally.Find out more in our latest newsletter.

February 2022

It's interesting that bookings for 2022, are on a par with last year at this time. With the gradual winding down of testing for overseas travel, I would have expected to see a slight decline in reservations. Certainly, many people who took to the Broads in the last two years, did so as first-timers and it looks like a good proportion of them, liked what they saw, and are planning to revisit the area in the coming summer months.

One time of the year that has always sold out, is the summer school holidays. There's still good availability as I write, so in this month's newsletter, I've picked out a few examples of what's on offer during the first two weeks of August. Prices start at £161 per person, based on 4 people sharing Ruby Gem, for 4 nights on the 2nd August. You would just need to add fuel and the damage waiver to this cost.

This month we're featuring the small town of Loddon, on the River Chet, as a place you might want to visit on your voyage. Just off the River Yare, in the south of the Broads, Loddon is definitely worth an overnight stop. There's pubs, restaurants, takeaways, a lively shopping centre, with a monthly Farmers Market, all within walking distance of the moorings. Find out more in our latest newsletter.