This is our plan for our April 2015 visit to the Norfolk Broads. 

Apart from above Potter Heigham, we have now explored all the rivers, except the River Waveney, and as I have read some really good reviews on The Locks at Geldeston, we are determined to visit there. While we are in the "South" we will overnight at a few of our favourite southern moorings; Loddon, Oulton Broad and Reedham.

There are a few places that we have passed and thought that we should visit the next time but never managed it. So we will overnight at Stokesby, a visit to both St Benets Abbey and Cockshoot Broad and have a brunch stop at the Stracey Arms.

When we get back to the northern rivers, we usually like a day on the River Thurne, to overnight at Coltishall, spend some time in Wroxham doing various activities, everyone loves Ranworth, and we would like to revisit Neatishead and eat at the White Horse as it has now been completely refurbished.

DAY 1 - STALHAM TO STOKESBY

Friday 17th April 2015

Get to boatyard and get underway as soon as possible. Cruise down the River Ant turn onto the River Bure, and continue downstream, mooring at Stokesby. Travelling time 3 hours 20 minutes.  Visit nearby Candle Workshop if we get down there in time.  Dinner at the Ferry Inn. 

DAY 2 - STOKESBY TO LODDON

Saturday 18th April 2015

Leisurely morning, with either a visit to Candle Workshop, or a visit to the village, or a walk along the river bank. Short journey downriver to the Stracey Arms windmill, for lunch on board, opportunity to ascend the windmill, and visit the farm animals kept there. Leave at 14:00, and cruise down to Great Yarmouth. Low water here is at 16:42, but we should get down there for 15:30, the bridges here should be navigable then and the boat is powerful enough to cope with the tide still going out, as we don’t want to moor up too late. Follow the River Yare past Reedham, and the turn down the River Chet to Loddon, and moor for the night, ETOA 5:30pm. Explore the village, dinner in the Swan.

DAY 3 - LODDON TO GELDESTON

Sunday 19th April 2015

Morning visit to the village, pick up the Wherrymans Way, by the church, and follow footpath down and along by the river. Leave Loddon by 11:00 and return to the River Yare and back past Reedham, turning down the new cut to St. Olaves, arriving around 1pm. Maybe have lunch in the Bell, and short visit to the Priory. Leave by 2pm, and get down to Beccles around 5pm, hopefully we should be able to get under the bridge and continue to Geldestone for the night arriving at 6pm. Low water in Beccles is at 8:27pm, but the rise and fall here is nearly 3 feet. Dinner in the Locks Inn.

DAY 4 - GELDESTON TO OULTON BROAD

Monday 20th April 2015

Low water 8:51 in Beccles, so not a late start here, journey time 1 hour. Short visit into Beccles, for provisions, the continue back upstream on the Waveney. Turn off for Oulton Broad, journey time 2 hours 15 minutes. Moor either at yacht station, or in front of the Hotel. Maybe a walk into Lowestoft for the afternoon or the Carlton Nature reserve, or enjoy the nearby park.  Carvery for dinner in the Wherry Hotel.

DAY 5 - OULTON BROAD TO REEDHAM

Tuesday 21st April 2015

Journey upstream to Somerleyton and moor, journey time 1 hour. Visit the pretty village,
maybe taking the long walk to Somerleyton Hall, for either a visit of the gardens and maze, or the house too. Return to the boat for lunch, and continue up the New Cut to Reedham for an overnight mooring, journey time 45 minutes. Explore the riverside village, dinner in the Reedham Ferry. 

DAY 6 - REEDHAM TO THE FERRY INN

Wednesday 22nd April 2015

Early start, about 7:00 to cross back over Breydon Water, ideal time 8:11 to cross. Sail up the Thurne, should arrive at Womack Water before 12:00, look around Ludham village and get supplies in supermarket. Have a sandwich in Al Fresco tea shop. Move off and moor at St Benet's Abbey for a visit.  Move on up the Bure and moor for the night at the Ferry Inn, Horning. Overnight here, and have dinner at the Ferry Inn.

DAY 7 - THE FERRY INN TO COLTISHALL

Thursday 23rd April 2015

Cruise across the river, moor and walk down to Cockshoot Broad. Set off and aim to be in Wroxham before midday (journey time 1 hour 20 minutes),  get the pilot to take us under the bridge. Moor in Wroxham, and maybe visit Wroxham barns, or just Wroxham town.  Continue up the Bure to Coltishall (journey time 1hour 30 minutes), if we arrive early enough maybe cruise to the limit of navigation at Horstead Mill, return to the common and moor up for the evening. Nice walk into the village. Enjoy the peace of the common, and then dinner at the Kings Head.

DAY 8 - COLTISHALL TO SALHOUSE BROAD

Friday 24th April 2015

Leave Coltishall and arrive back in Wroxham by 10, get the pilot to take us under the bridge, and moor in Broads Direct boatyard, or moor at the cafe if the yard is full. Walk around to the Bure Valley Railway station and catch the first steam train to Aylesham11:10 (or 14:00), either visit the village, or catch a cab to Blickling Hall if we have time. Return to Wroxham on the 15:30 (or 12:40), and cruise onto Salhouse Broad (40 minutes) and dinner in the Fur and Feather in Woodbastwick.

DAY 9 - SALHOUSE BROAD TO RANWORTH

Saturday 25th April 2015

After breakfast, pop round the corner to the Great Hoveton Nature Trail. Cruise down to Horning (40 minutes), if we get a public mooring we can have lunch outside the Swan after looking around the deli etc, if there are no public moorings moor at the New Inn and have lunch there. Continue back down the Bure to Ranworth on Malthouse broad (1 hour), we should aim to be here by 3pm to be sure of a space. There is a pleasant walk here, or walk through the nature trail to the visitor centre, or visit the church here and climb the tower for great views.  Dinner in the Maltsters.

DAY 10 - RANWORTH TO NEATISHEAD

Sunday 26th April 2015

Leave Ranworth and turn back up the river Ant, and make for How Hill staithe (journey time 1 hour 20 minutes).  Join the lovely nature trail here, then look over Toad Hole cottage museum, maybe take a trip on the Electric Eel through the reed beds. Continue up the Ant to Barton Broad, and turn down Lime Kiln Dike, moor either at Neatishead staithe or Gays staithe. Dinner at the newly refurbished White Horse.

DAY 11 - NEATISHEAD TO STALHAM

Monday 27th April 2015

Wherever we moored last night, leave with enough time to arrive back at Richardson by 9:30, via Sutton broad for a photo stop.