What are the Norfolk Broads?

The Norfolk Broads are a series of rivers and broads or lakes, nestled in the lovely countryside to the eastern side of the county of Norfolk and northern tip of Suffolk. Although the area is called The Norfolk Broads, locally it is known as Broadland which the encompasses the rivers and broads that wander over the border from Norfolk into Suffolk.  

How Were They Formed?

The Norfolk Broads were formed by natural rivers but also by massive peat extraction in the Middle Ages which of course flooded creating the Broads.

The square area of Broadland, totals 303 kilometres and just over 200 square kilometres of these waterways are navigable, covering seven rivers and 63 Broads.

How Deep are The Broads?

The depth of these waterways is usually less than 4 metres. Thirteen of the broads are completely navigable whilst three others have channels open to navigation running through them. All the Broads which range in size from small pools to large expanses are either on or situated adjacent to the rivers or are more often than not situated to one side and connected to the river by an artificial channel or dyke

Where Are The Broads Found?

They are unevenly scattered with the majority to be found in the northern half of the Broads which have the rivers Bure, Thurne and Ant, and the minority in the central and southern areas of the Broads which have the rivers Yare, Wensum, Waveney and Chet.

Central and Southern parts of Broadland include the Rivers Waveney, Yare and Chet, however all the waterways are tidal but the effect of the tide decreases the further away from the coast until reaches upstream from Barton Broad are almost non tidal.

It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and although the rivers and broads with all their wildlife are great attractions, Broadland is full of quaint villages offering great shopping, restaurants and cafes as well as attractions for the whole family to enjoy and for those with a lot of energy to use, the biking and walking paths are easy to follow and well marked.

The River Bure

The Bure rises near Aylsham and on its way to the sea passes through Coltishall, Belaugh, Wroxham, Hoveton, Salhouse, Woodbastwick, Horning, Ranworth, South Walsham, St Benets Abbey, Upton, Acle, Oby, Stokesby, Great Yarmouth.

The Navigable Broads are Belaugh Broad, Bridge Broad, Wroxham Broad, Salhouse Broad, Hoveton Little Broad (Black Horse), Ranworth Broad, Malthouse Broad.

The Broads that are closed to navigation, but some of which can be explored by canoe or accessed by walking are Hoveton Great Broad, Decoy Broad, Cockshoot Broad, Burnt Fen Broad, Upton Broad and Marshes (Site of Specific Interest), Mautby Decoy Broad, Bure Marshes (NNR Reserve).

The River Thurne

The Thurne rises near Martham and flows for about six miles and then joins the River Bure and on its way it passes through Hickling, Horsey,Martham, West Somerton, Thurne, Potter Heigham and Ludham.

The navigable Broads are: Upper Thurne Broads and Marshes (Site of Specific Interest), Hickling Broad, Horsey Mere, Womack Water, Martham Broad (NNR).

The River Ant

The Ant rises at Antingham and winds is narrow way down to join the River Bure at St Benet’s Abbey passing through or near to Honing, Dilham, Wayford Bridge, Stalham, Sutton, Barton Turf, Neatishead, Irstead, How Hill, Ludham and Ingham.

The navigable Broads are: Barton Broad and Sutton Broad.

Other non-navigable Broads and expanses of water to explore are: North Walsham & Dilham Canal, Dilham Broad, Turkey Broad, Alderfen Broad, Crome’s Broad, Catfield Broad, Broad Fen Ant Broads & Marshes (NNR), Calthorpe Broad (NNR).

The River Yare

The Yare rises south of Dereham and flows through the edge of Norwich on its journey to the sea. On its way it passes through Norwich, Thorpe St Andrew, Postwick, Bramerton, Brundall, Haddiscoe, Surlingham, Cantley, Reedham, Berney Arms, Halvergate, Breydon Water.

Navigable Broads are: Surlingham Broad, Rockland Broad, Breydon Water (RSPB Reserve), Haddiscoe Cut.

The non-navigable Broads to explore are Carleton Broad, Halvergate Marshes (RSPB Reserve), Berney Marshes (RSPB Reserve), UEA Broad, Wheatfen Broad, Strumpshaw Fen (RSPB Reserve), Surlingham Church Marsh (RSPB Reserve), Mid Yare (NNR).

The River Chet

The Chet is a tributary of the River Yare and it passes through or near to Loddon and Chedgrave . Hardley Flood is part of the spillway for the Chet and is part managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust.

The River Waveney

The Waveney is a tributary of the River Yare, joining that river just near Breydon Water and it flows through Norfolk and Suffolk. On its way it passes by Burgh Castle, Beccles, Diss, St Olves, Herringfleet, Somerleyton, Fritton, Gillingham, Geldeston, Burgh St Peter, Bungay, Ditchingham, and Lowestoft.

The only navigable Broad is Oulton Broad Fritton Decoy Broad and Barnby Broad and Marshes are two areas in Suffolk that can be accessed by foot.

The River Wensum

The Wensum rises near Fakenham in northwest Norfolk and flows through the centre of Norwich before joining the River Yare just east of the city. The navigable section of the river is entirely urban and runs from the centre of Norwich, past the Cathedral to the confluence with the Yare.

The Trinity Broads

The Trinity Broads are an exception to the general rule, in that whilst they are connected to each other they have no navigable connection to the rest of the broads. The broads are: Rollesby Broad, Ormesby Broad, Filby Broad, Lily Broad, Ormesby Little Broad.