The Norfolk Broads is a fantastic family-friendly destination. Whether you’re travelling with toddlers, teenagers or just the young at heart, you’ll find plenty to keep you busy as you navigate these picturesque waterways. If you’re planning a family day out or a holiday on the Broads, here are a few of our favourites to get you started.
If you're on or around the Broads in the coming weeks, we've put a quick handy guide to show at least 1 pub on every river on the Broads where you can catch the latest game! Some are also doing some great deals which we've included too!
As anyone who’s been to Norfolk will know, windmills are a fixture of the county’s landscape. Built to help local millers grind corn and to provide power for water pumps on the Broads, these windmills and windpumps help to make the region even more picturesque.Visiting a few of these historic buildings during your stay on the Broads is a fantastic way to enhance your trip and get to know the region a little better.
Boating holidays in Norfolk offer you the perfect chance to see a little more of the UK’s spectacular countryside, relax with friends and family and enjoy some peace and quiet. If all that isn’t enough to get you excited, here are ten more reasons why boating holidays in Norfolk are the perfect choice for your 2018 getaway.
When arriving on your Norfolk Broads boating holiday, we’re often asked where the best place is to moor for the first night.
It really just depends on two factors. Firstly, the time you collect your hire boat as this will dictate how far you can travel until it gets dark and secondly the time of year. It goes without saying June will see the most hours of daylight and sunsets past 9pm will give you more time to moor somewhere for the night.
If you’re hiring a boat on the Norfolk Broads, one of the first questions you might ask is where to eat if you’re not wanting to cook on board every day. The Broads offer a vast array of delicious places to eat and drink but you won’t find numerous restaurant chains whose menu’s you might be more familiar with if you are looking for vegetarian and vegan dishes.
With our local knowledge, we’ve saved you some leg work and selected some of the best vegan and vegetarian friendly places to eat in the Norfolk Broads.
From the 1st April to 7th May 2018, we’re celebrating National Pet Month along with animal lovers everywhere. The perfect opportunity to give our furry friends the recognition and the appreciation they deserve, this month-long animal extravaganza sees a number of exciting events take place around the country.
Come rain or shine, there’s so much to do around the Broads this Easter!
Spring has officially arrived, and Easter is just around the corner. We’ve selected some of the best events around the Norfolk Broads happening this Easter. From classic Easter egg hunts & getting up close with nature, become a crime scene investigator at Norwich Castle or find the fun of Great Yarmouth as it springs into life with fireworks, pirate shows and take in the thrills and spills of the visiting Easter Fair.
The Norfolk Broads is a fantastic place for dogs and dog walkers. You’ll find miles and miles of walking routes, a great choice of hire boats and a selection of pet-friendly pubs and eateries. To help you make the most of your trip to East Anglia, we’ve put together our list of the best pet-friendly pubs in the area.
Looking for a day out in Norfolk this February Half term with fun for the family, friends and even pets?
Avoid the crowds this half term and do something a little different!
Get out and up close to nature, take a day and explore the Norfolk Broads at your leisure, aboard a Herbert Woods picnic boat
Romantic walks, star gazing, sunsets & waterside pubs with roaring fires....
Celebrate Valentine's Day on a cruiser for two or a stunning waterside apartment on the Norfolk Broads. Prices under £400 for a 4 night stay.
Here at Herbert Woods the work never stops.
After a busy season the boats embark on their winter maintenance. First the cleaning team go on board and de-rig the boats, removing all curtains and galley equipment, and the deck gear is tidied away as well.
Winter boating holidays, with crisp air, peace and tranquillity, some of the most stunning sunrises and misty mornings with the still water reflecting the stunning landscape. Taking the opportunity to watch and photograph the undisturbed wildlife and the rare sightings of birds that appear in this migratory time frame. It also helps that prices are at a low.
With the leaves turning a variety of vivid colours, the walking routes a little quieter and the days crisp and bright, autumn really is one of the best times to explore the Norfolk Broads. At this beautiful time of year, the region’s wildlife is in full swing with a wide array of birds, mammals and insects making an appearance on the waterways.
Whether you’re a keen fisherman or a novice angler, the Norfolk Broads are a fantastic place to cast your line. Norfolk Broads boat hire is the best way to reach the most plentiful fishing spots, although many excellent locations are accessible by foot. To help you make the most of your day on the water, here’s our pick of the best fishing spots in the Broads.
In Season 8 of their popular television show, Great Canal Journeys, Timothy West and Prunella Scales leave the canals behind and head to the Broads National Park. Find out more about the boats hired and their route.
Even on a cold, windy day, a delicious scoop of ice cream makes a fantastic afternoon treat. When the sun is shining and the sky is clear, an indulgent ice cream is even better. Luckily for your taste buds, Norfolk is home to some of the best and most unique ice cream sellers in the country, and even in the very heart of the beautiful Broads, you’re never too far away from tasty scoop.
Can't decide whether to choose a canal boat holiday or a Broads boat holiday? Find out why we think a Broads holiday is better by far.
If you’re planning a day out on the Broads or a family holiday with the kids this spring or summer, here’s our pick of the best activities for kids the region has to offer.
With over 300 square kilometres of rivers and shallow lakes crisscrossing the region, it’s no surprise that the Norfolk Broads are one of the best fishing locations in the UK. With the fishing season about to reopen here are a few things you might want to consider to improve your chances of a big catch.
There are few better ways to enjoy a sunny day out than with a picnic in the Norfolk Broads. Whether you’re spending an idyllic weekend in the region, just visiting for the day or are lucky enough to live close to the Broads, a picnic among the rivers, lakes and waterways is guaranteed to make an afternoon to remember.
Spring is one of the best times to visit Norfolk. With the days getting longer, the sun stronger and a number of bank holidays on the way, May really is a fantastic month to get out and explore the Broads and the surrounding area. If you’re heading to Norfolk for the May bank holiday weekend and are looking for a fun day out, here’s our pick of the very best activities the county has to offer.
We take a look at the things you need to consider when choosing a life jacket or buoyancy aid for your dog.
As the first ever Tour de Broads South race is almost up on us. We thought we would take a look at some other great cycling routes around the Southern Broads. Great for training rides or just for fun.
In 2011 Herbert Woods boatyard managed to buy the former Norfolk Broads hire boat Registration no.'B53' which is now believed to be the oldest of the Norfolk Broads cruisers built at Herbert Woods in Potter Heigham that is still afloat and in use. This is, to the best of our knowledge and belief, the history of this important piece of Norfolk Broads boating heritage.
For most people no holiday in Norfolk is complete without visiting the historic city of Norwich as there are so many compelling reasons to do so.
The inland waterway in East Anglia which we all know as the Norfolk Broads has, officially, got a brand new name!
A great way to see the Norfolk Broads at your own pace, and get fit, is to take to the water in a canoe or kayak and if you pack your tent and sleeping bag it can be a very, economical holiday! Escape with a Canoe Adventure on the Broads.
The winter months leading up to the end of the course fishing season in mid-March are a great time for anglers on the Norfolk Broads as there are very few pleasure craft about and you can almost feel it is you own, personal fishing paradise – so we at Herbert Woods have something very special to offer!
As we come to the end of 2014 we thought it would be a good time to look back and reflect on what has happened at Herbert Woods throughout what has been another action packed year, one theme seemed to keep cropping up – anniversaries!
If you come to visit us at Herbert Woods, especially if you travel from the south or west of Norfolk we have some great news to share with you – the A11 is now dual carriageway for its entire length!
You may not have the splendour of the Sandringham Estate at your disposal but the county still has plenty to offer those on a festive break.
I’ve been fortunate to get around some of the most beautiful areas of the UK during my seven years in the news team of the Angling Times but one that had eluded me until recently was The Norfolk Broads.
Despite being a wonderful holiday location the Norfolk Broads also has a spookier side. Here are a collection of our favourite ghost stories from around the Broads, perfect for those dark nights on board.
At Herbert Woods we are pleased to say we have lots of loyal customers who come back year after year and it’s always wonderful to see them again.
We are very pleased to announce that we are now part of the Love the Broads scheme. Love the Broads is the Visitor Giving scheme for the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. It aims to encourage visitors to care for the unique environment of the Broads by making a small voluntary donation.
Last year we at Herbert Woods bought 30 cruisers originally built in Wroxham by Porter & Haylett. Over the winter these were completely refurbished and rebranded Connoisseur bringing back one of the most iconic names associated with Broads boating holidays.
At last - the school holidays are here! You've booked your beak with Herbert woods and packed your suitcases - you can check our two packing guides to ensure you don't leave anything behind.
It was 25 years ago that the Norfolk Broads became part of the National Parks family – known as Britain’s Magical Waterland – joining iconic landscapes such as the Lake District, Snowdonia, the Yorkshire Dales and the Brecon Beacons.
With the Norfolk Broads being dubbed `Britain's Magical Waterland', it's no surprise to learn it is an angler's paradise.
Wherever you decide to go on your holiday it is always good to have at least a basic grasp of the local dialect. So for those of you wishing to get the most out of your Norfolk Broads holiday why not larn yarself a bit a Norfolk before you arrive?
No, we're not going quackers here at Herbert Woods but we are looking forward to a quacking time.
As one of the Norfolk Wildlife Trusts Investors in Wildlife I was lucky enough to be invited, as representative for Herbert Woods, along to Ranworth Broad this morning to view their renovated visitor centre.
When planning holidays with children, you might feel your stress levels rising ever so slightly. Just thinking about how you're going to keep them entertained en route, and what there will be to do once you get there. Children aren't the best at packing light - I've known a few who would have happily taken all their toys with them and not a single stitch of clothing (there's more room for toys if you don't bring silly things like jumpers).
Norwich is a Fine City. Our signs declare it, our people know it, and those who come here - well they don't really like to leave. Many a university students has stepped for into Norwich for their first time for their degree and found themselves staying on much longer than they ever intended.
At this time of year as though we may never see summer again, but it won't be too long until the sun starts shining and we'll be able to enjoy blue skies and warmer weather once more. Summer isn't the only time you can go on a Norfolk Broads holiday of course, but taking to the Broads by boat in the deep midwinter isn't exactly advisable.
More and more people want to take their pets on holiday as well as enjoying the delights the UK has to offer. The rise of the staycation means man's best friend can also look forward to some rest and relaxation!
One of the things you need to look at before setting off on holidays in Norfolk is what you're going to do once you're here. Whether you chose a boating holiday, or a stay in one of our waterside cottages, it's always good to have some idea of what the area has to offer.
Get away from the crowds and enjoy a winter or early spring break cruising through the beautiful Norfolk Broads!
Two Norfolk Broads holiday companies Herbert Woods and Crown Travel Limited have today announced that the directors of both companies have entered into a transaction whereby Herbert Woods will purchase 30 of the 'Admiral' and 'Emperor' cruisers currently operated under the Le Boat brand name.
Norfolk Broads holiday company Herbert Woods have announced the launch of two new 44' Broads Hire Cruisers ready for the start of the 2013 season.
Herbert Woods provide the essentials for your holiday. However, to ensure that you have the most comfortable and relaxing holiday possible we have put together a checklist of useful items that you may wish to bring with you depending on the time of year.
Visitors to Potter Heigham will now be able to discover the amazing range of wildlife that exists on the Broads with the introduction of the Broads Wildlife Explorer Touch Screen.
Below is a selection of photos of the new Supreme Lights. One is still in the boat building shed, the other has been launched into the water and will have the final stages completed over the next couple of weeks. The Norfolk Broads Hire Boat is now available for bookings.
One of the Royale Light shells is in the boat building shed and out staff are starting work on it. Below is a photo of the shell, with more photo's to come as new sections are completed. As you can see from the photo's the size is similar to the current Regal Lights, but the top deck will have a different design.
