Yay I've gone bronze and no tanning bed in sight!!
Thanks to everyone for your ratings and comments...
Yay I've gone bronze and no tanning bed in sight!!
Thanks to everyone for your ratings and comments.
I always try to return all ratings and if I promise an E and don't get back to you feel free to give me a poke.
Sue
Member since:30.05.2009
Reviews:410
Members who trust:91
"THE NORFOLK BROADS "
"THE BRITISH HOLIDAY OF MY CHOICE "
Now I warn you all in advance, I could be here some time. I have had a long and passionate love affair with the Norfolk Broad, I hope though, through my passion I can tell you something about this lovely area of England and explain a little of the draw it can have on you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WHERE AND WHAT ARE THE NORFOLK BROADS ? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
No the Norfolk Broads is not a group of East Anglican women of loose repute!!
The Broads is a series of rivers and man made lakes (known as broads) in the Norfolk and Suffolk. Although in the two counties,the majority of the waterways are in Norfolk and is generally known as The Norfolk Broads. The total area of these waterways is 303 km² (188 sq). miles with over 200 km (125 miles) of navigable waterways.
Since 1989 the seven rivers and sixty three broads, mostly less than four metres (twelve feet) deep, have been designated as a National Park by the Broads Authority. The Norfolk Broads is now Britain's largest nationally protected wetland and an important area for wildlife. It is surprising to think that it was only in the 1960's it was proved that the broads were man made, prior to this they were regarded as natural features of the landscape.
The broads in fact were formed in Medieval times after the area was dug for peat,later the holes created by this were flooded. In Victorian times the waterways were used for transporting heavy loads but today they are here purely for pleasure and holiday making. Just one of the many attractions of the waterways to holiday makers is the fact that there are no locks on the seven navigable rivers, the River Yare, Bure, Thurne, Ant, Waveney, Chet and Wensum. but no they are all subject to tidal influence - some more than others depending on their distance from the sea. The broads themselves range in size from basically just small pools up to the larger ones Hickling Broad, Barton Broad and Breydon Water. . Below is a list of all the broads
Belaugh Broad
Bridge Broad
Wroxham Broad
Hoveton Great Broad
Salhouse Broad
Decoy Broad Round End
Hoveton Little Broad (sometimes called 'Blackhorse Broad')
Trinity Broads The Trinity Broads have no navigable connection to the rest of the broads. These broads are::-
Rollesby Broad
Ormesby Broad
Filby Broad
Lily Broad
Ormesby Little Broad
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NATURE ON THE NORFOLK BROADS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All these broads and rivers have become home to many rare plants ,water fowl, birds butterflies, fish, mini beasts and mammals, so it isn't surprisingly the area is blessed with several popular and interesting wildlife reserves. The swallowtail is one of Britain's rarest butterflies, and can now only be found in the Norfolk Broads. Many varieties of dragonfly also make their home on the Norfolk Broads. The otter and water vole are also present on the broads and can occasionally be seen swimming or scurrying around. Perahps one of the mose famous habitants of the broads is the Bitten - this was once almose extinct but is much more common now It has a wingspan of between 100-130cm and breeds solely in reed beds. It feeds mainly on fish, frogs and insects and makes its nest from dead reeds built at water-level. A relative of the heron ( an ever present visitor on the broads) it is a large buff-brown bird with loose throat feathers and short legs. It is rarely seen on the ground as it stays hidden in the reed beds. The male has a very distinctive song which is a foghorn-like booming sound which can travel up to 5km on a calm night - this is know as 'the boom of the bitten'.
As regards to the waterfowl - just about every variety you can imagine are in abudance on the rivers and broads - from the common Mallard to Egyptian geese - there are always plenty of willing beaks waiting for the remians of your breakfast. Below are a list of Nature Reserves to visit on the Broads.
Alderfen Broad
Barton Broad - National Nature Reserves
Berney Marshes and Breydon Water
Broadland Conservation Centre - Norfolk Natuarlists Trusts
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE NORFOLK WINDMILLS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Or to give them their proper title - wind pumps.
As you travel around the Broads you cannot miss the windmills ( sorry I know it's not the correct name but habit must out!!) dotted around the landscape, sadly many of these are little more than brick stumps, missing both the sails and the bonnet tops. These windmills were designed to pump out the water that drained from the peaty earth and send it out to sea, they were also used as well as this to grind flour and corn. Most mills fell into disrepair, but many windmills have been restored and are regularly open to visitors. There are even a few that once more produce flour in the traditional way, demonstrating a traditional rural craft which was almost lost forever.
One of my favourite windmills is on the River Bure, near Acle. It is the Stracey ArmsMill, a good spot to moor with a cafe, some animals and a shop and also the opportunity to go into the windmill.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MY BOATING EXPERIENCES ON THE BROADS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The interesting bit!!!!
My involvement with this holiday destination started in the early 60's; although I didn't partake of the holiday - it was a 'men only' affair with my father, future husband and his brothers this started the addiction in our whole family to the Broads. Since then I have lost count of the number of holidays we have had on ther - but it in excess of 50 one of which was our honeymoon. So why do I love it - let's see if I can explain......
What better way is there to relax than taking a holiday - a real true break - on the Broads? Until you have experienced it I don't think that you can begin to understand the peace, tranquility, beauty and sheer pleasure that it holds. The memory of a boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads stays with you forever. From choosing your boat from the many on offer the excitement begins. For me it is a 4 - 5 hour journey to reach Norfolk - but we love every minute of it - travelling over the pennies, throughCheterfield with it's famous crooked spire, travellin through Nottinghamshire and into the ever flattening Lincolnshire - all places having particular memories for us after our years of making the trip. As we pass Kings Lynn we begin to get excited - we are nearing our destination. Soon we start to see sign posts for 'The Broads' - and it isn't only the children in the party who get excited at this!!
Before long you are passing rivers and bridges that you know so well from your boating experiences and you are soon pulling up at your boatyard. I have to admit this can be the worst part of the holiday - sometimes things can be delayed and you don't get as early a start as you would have liked, but eventually your boat is ready and you begin the seemingly endless job of putting your belongs and groceries ( for groceries read alcohol!!!) for the holiday aboard.
When you are all settled you are given a small demonstration as to how to handle and drive the boat ( although we no longer have these as my hubby could teach them now!!!) and then you are off!!!
Imagine the scene,
Pictures of Norfolk Broads
The windmeill at sunset
the top open, Mr Oldchem ( with hat) at the wheel - one handed so he can wave to the passing craft. the rest of us either lying on the top, sitting on the decks and taking in the scenery as we chug along at a peaceful 4 miles an hour, with a glass of wine, bottle of beer or coke depending on the person involved in hand. The children already giving your first days supple of bread to the swans, geese and ducks - this is our chance for a week ( or if lucky fortnight) where we can escape the fast lane for a quiet piece of nature.
We cruise along winding between wooded banks edged with tall rushes, with pretty glimpses of scenery caught between the trees or alongside wonderful riverside homes and gardens that you could only long to own. Switch off your mobile and you are away from all the pressures of home and work, just lie back and enjoy the utter peace.
Eventually of course you need to stop. There are plenty of free moorings all along the waterways. In some places there may be a small fee payable for mooring. Moor beside a friendly riverside pub and enjoy a meal lovingly prepared with local ingredients. Just drop anchor in a broad and be completely insular, or moor by a children's play area or town for shopping trips etc - the choice is all yours. All the hire boats come with a fully fitted kitchen ( or galley) so you can cook or choose to eat at the plentiful pubs you pass along the way.
So it's our first evening - picture the scene. Still warm ,we moor in the shade of a weeping willow by the gently flowing river. The boat is securly tied, the kids have run off some energy, there's nothing to do except perhaps enjoy a glass of wine, pint of beer or gin and tonic just to add to the relaxation as the water laps around the boat. No phones ringing, no traffic jams, no peak time finishes , nothing just the peaceful, stress-free tranquillity of the beautiful Norfolk countryside.
The evening can be spent as you wish - walking, visiting the local pub, playing games, watching the TV ( which is always included) the choice is all yours. Perhaps you'll hire a sailing dinghy and take some little detours down the otherwise unnavigable rivers or fish from the front of the boat.
A week boating on the Norfolk Broads is one of the most getaway-from-it-all holidays imaginable.
And so your week goes on - i t's amazing how far you can travel by going very slowly, especially when there is nowhere to go Lots of interesting places along the way to stop,places like Salhouse Broad where you can take a safe dip in the waters or hire a canoe, lots of little villages and hamlets to restock with supplies - this is one of the most getaway-from-it-all holidays imaginable. Clubbers and those with a need for a hectic night life will not like the Norfolk Broads at all. It is a place of peace and contemplation, and navigating the beautiful of East Anglia waterways.
I have to say I have taken people of all ages from a tiny baby to pensioners and all those ages in between (including the terrible teens) and every single one of them have loved the holiday and wanted to go back for more!!
~~~~~~~~~~ THE PRICE ~~~~~~~~~~
I had to spoil it didn't I !! The Norfolk Broads is NOT a cheap holiday. Okay, if there were six single people on a boat it wouldn't be too bad but generally we are talking a family. The prices range from £300 to well over £2000 depending on the time of year and size and age of boat. The most we have ever paid was £1800 - that was for two families - 7 people all together - on a brand spanking new boat for a week in August. If you can manage a spring or autumn break ( and both are lovely times on the Broads) a family of four can get a boat from £300 - £600 per week. Our next planned trip is in October hopefully and will be for 4 adults and one child = we are looking to pay around £500 for a boat - on top of that you have insurance and fuel to pay. You usually pay between £50 - £100 a week for fuel ( again depending on the boat) and you get back the value of any unused fuel.
Other extras are things like car parking - around £10 - 15 per week and diving cover in case of tangled propellers ( around £10) - after that it is just food and drink that has to be budgetted for.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WHAT TO PACK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You don't need your own domestic appliances, heaters, lighting equipment etc.some boats even provide hair dryers and Game Stations. Dinghies may be towed behind your boat on the Broads. All kitchen and eating equipment is provided ( I must admit to taking my own corkscrew just in case!!!) I would suggest you pack a torch, camera, binoculars, a map, enough food supplies for a couple of days and non-slipdeck shoes as well as your normal clothes. Remember also that on the water the sun is more powerful so sunglasses, protective cream and a sun hat are recommended to avoid burning
Most boats are fitted with 12 volt colour televisions. It should be remembered that although they are modern TV's, reception at Broad and river level is often very poor. All boats have at least a cigar lighter socket similar to a car. This is 12 volts and if your camcorder or mobile phone adapters will work from your car it will also work on the boats.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE PLUMBING BIT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All the boats are equipped with central heating and hot water, for showers and/or baths, depending on your boat. All the cruisers are fitted with flushing, sealed unit toilets, similar to those in aircraft and may require a pump-out service during your holiday(although tis is not always needed) which is easily available at the many boatyards on the Broads for between £8 and £12 per service.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WHAT IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is unlikely but if it does simply contact your base and a service engineer will be dispatched immediately. The Hire Base is at your service 7 days a week.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO BOATING HOLIDAYS ? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Of course there are!! Plentifully available in the area are :
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Jun 1st, 2009
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