Suggestion for a Norfolk Broads Itinerary
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After a short tuition from your boatyard, you are ready to cast off. You need to head up-river not passing under Acle bridge. Soon after you pass the signposted entrance to Upton Dyke on your left. Continue on for a while until the river diverges. Take the right hand channel, up the River Thurne which is signposted. On your right you will see the large imposing white Thurne Wind-pump, which marks the entrance to Thurne Dyke. Continue on up the Thurne passing the entrance to Womack Water on the left bank. Eventually you will see the lines of chalets which mark the start of Potter Heigham. Continue on until you see the low stone bridge which straddles the river. Free moorings are available either on your right bank just before the bridge or in Herbert Woods boatyard, which is accessed by passing under the wooden footbridge on the left bank. Potter Heigham has two public houses and two cafeterias, together with a large discount stores.

A short cruise this morning will bring you to the entrance to Womack Water, on the right hand bank of the river. Proceed down the dyke which eventually opens onto a Broad. This is Womack Water. Continue on until you see the stern-on moorings for visitors on your right hand side. Once moored up, the walk to Ludham village, with its public house and small supermarket takes around 15 minutes.

Retrace your route out of Womack Water, down the dyke and turn right onto the River Thurne. Continue on past the entrance to Thurne Dyke on your left. At the junction with the River Bure, turn right. The Bure will now take you through to Horning. You will pass the entrance to the River Ant on your right as you continue. Further along on the left bank is the short dyke which leads to Ranworth. Pass by for now and shortly you will cruise into Horning. Moorings are outside any of the three public houses which line the right bank as you pass through the village. The Ferry Inn has the most extensive set of moorings and is the first you happen upon. The village stretches for just under a mile with various restaurants, cafés and stores towards the far end.

We leave Horning for the short cruise to Wroxham by continuing on in the same direction. You pass the entrances to Salhouse and Wroxham Broads on your left hand side and the nature trail on your right hand bank before cruising into Wroxham. Moorings are available at Barnes Brinkcraft on your right or Faircaft Loynes, just before Wroxham Bridge on your left. Wroxham proclaims itself to be the capital of the Broads and has a wealth of shopping opportunities ranging from a department store to a large supermarket, DIY and a garden centre. Two public houses situated either side of the low bridge offer food as do a variety of restaurants and cafés.

Wroxham has much to entertain so we leave the afternoon free to explore this picturesque holiday village. Those wanting to visit the city of Norwich could instead take the train from here for a 15 minute trip into this fine city.

You onward cruise from Wroxham involves passage under the low bridge. Fortunately a bridge pilot is at hand to take you through and is located just before the bridge on the right bank. Moor up and await the pilot to take you through. Continue up-river until you see Coltishall Green and two public houses on your right hand side. Free moorings are available alongside the green. The village centre is a 20 minute walk away.

.About turn and make your way back down the River Bure towards Wroxham. A the bridge, wait for the pilot to take you through once more before cruising on out of Wroxham. Continue on past the entrances to Wroxham and Salhouse Broads on your right and then continue on through the village of Horning. A short while later you will see the signposted entrance to Ranworth on your Right bank. Take this turning and cruise on until you see the free moorings of Ranworth Staithe. You will need to moor stern-on here. Close to the moorings are the Granary Stores and Restaurant, together with the Maltsters public house.

Retrace your steps back out onto the main river, turning right at the junction with the Bure. Soon you will see the signposted entrance to the River Ant on your left bank. Take the turning and continue up the Ant until you see Ludham Bridge, a road bridge which crosses the river. There are ample free moorings just after the bridge on both sides of the river. Close to the bridge you will find a small shop and a restaurant. A little further on is the Dog public House.

Continue in the same direction away from the bridge. You pass the extensive moorings of How Hill Education Centre on your right before cruising through the pretty village of Irstead on your left bank. A short way from here the river opens out onto Barton Broad. Your route across is marked by posts. Keep to the right hand channel and head for the far side of the Broad. Here you will see signposts for Stalham and Sutton. Keep to the right hand channel until you see the river diverge again. Sutton is signposted on your right. Take this channel on across Sutton Broad (not really broad). Sutton Staithe moorings can be sign at the far end down a narrow dyke. There are ample moorings here together with an area for turning around at the top of the dyke. The Sutton Staithe Hotel and bar is a short walk from the moorings.

Track back across Sutton Broad until you meet the main river and then Barton Broad. Continue on looking out for the yellow and black marker post towards the far end which marks the channel leading off to the right and the moorings at Neatishead. The Broad will narrow to a dyke which has a signpost for Neatishead. Continue on until you see the free moorings on your left hand side. To visit the village centre turn right at the moorings and walk around 5 minutes, passing a small stores before arriving at the White Horse public house.

You need to return to Barton Broad and follow the posts back to the entrance to Barton and the adjacent village of Irstead. Continue on passing the How Hill moorings on your left, passing under Ludham Bridge and back out onto the River Bure. Turn left here and cruise on for a short distance until you see the signposted dyke which leads to South Walsham on the right bank. Cruise on down the dyke until you see the free moorings on your left hand side. The village of South Walsham, with its small stores and a public house is a 30 minute or so walk from here.

Cruise back down the dyke, turning right at the junction with the River Bure. Continue on past the ruined St Benets Abbey on your left and the entrance to the River Thurne also on the left bank. A short cruise will lead you to Acle Bridge, where you started your cruise. Pass under the bridge and continue on until you see the village of Stokesby on the left bank. Limited free moorings are available at the village green or alongside and beyond the Ferry Inn public house, though these attract a small charge. Besides the Ferry Inn, Stokesby has a cafe and a village stores.

A 30 minute cruise back up the Bure to Acle Bridge will return you to your home boatyard. Moor at your home yard to avoid paying fees at the Bridge Inn or Pedros Restaurant, which are situated either side of Acle bridge. A 30 minute walk along the main road will take you to the centre of Acle, which has a public house and a supermarket.

Time to hand back your boat after what has hopefully been a very enjoyable holiday.