The Broads National Park is the place for fun days out, and our small and friendly boat trips on Ra, Liana and the Electric Eel will all give you the chance to experience the wilder side of the Broads, with our staff aboard to ensure your safety and comfort. They all know and love the Broads, and whether you’re a new or returning visitor, there’s always something to discover.
Hoveton and Wroxham lie either side of the River Bure. Take to the water here on Ra, our solar-powered boat, and you’ll find yourself drifting into another world, transported along a beautiful and tranquil stretch of the river, going to Caen Meadow on the short trip and into Bridge Broad and along to Belaugh on the long trip. Listen to the birdsong and relax in a green world, with meadows and wet woodlands on either side that can’t be explored by land. Willow trees abound, watch for water birds such as herons and grebes, and in early summer look out for yellow irises. It’s hard to believe that you’re just minutes from the centre of Wroxham. You can also find out more about solar power, and how the Broads Authority and partners are developing the greener next phase of boating on the Broads.
These trips depart from Hoveton Riverside Park, close to Hoveton Broads Information Centre, Hoveton & Wroxham Railway Station (which is on the Bittern Line between Norwich and Sheringham) and the Bure Valley Railway’s Wroxham Station. There are free 24-hour moorings close by too. Ra is accessible via a ramp.
Trips
1 hour or 1½ hours, up to nine passengers (at driver’s discretion) including up to four wheelchair users – please check when booking as number depends on the type of wheelchair
Easter / April, May, October: weekends, bank holidays, Easter week and local half-term only 10.30am (short trip), 11.45am (long trip), 2pm (long trip), 3.45pm (short trip)
June-September: daily 10.30am (short trip), 11.45am (long trip), 2pm (long trip), 3.45pm (short trip)
Cost
Short trip £10 adult, £8 child, £30 family; long trip £12 adult, £10 child, £40 family
Bookings
Hoveton Broads Information Centre, 01603 756097
Hoveton Broads Information Centre
Station Road, Hoveton NR12 8UR
01603 756097
hovetontic@broads-authority.gov.uk
Open (free entry)
Easter / April, May, October: Monday-Friday 9am-1pm and 1.30-5pm;
Saturday-Sunday 9am-5pm
June-September: daily 9am-5pm
More fun at Hoveton
For ideas on how to extend your fun day out at Hoveton read our 10 Things to do…. Hoveton has toilets by the information centre, and plenty of shops and places to eat.
Set off on a voyage of discovery from Ranworth on board Liana, our Edwardian-style electric launch. As we cross Malthouse Broad, the activity of birds at the staithe subsides and there’s a wonderful view of St Helen's Church, known as the cathedral of the Broads. We go past the entrance to Ranworth Broad (the broad and marshes are part of the Bure Marshes National Nature Reserve) and if we’re very lucky, we may catch a glimpse of an otter or two as we pass along Ranworth Dam on our way to join the River Bure, heading towards Cockshoot Dyke. Birds peer out of the reed fringes at us, a kingfisher may be zipping across the water and look up too, a marsh harrier could be soaring overhead. These trips depart from Ranworth Staithe, where there are moorings (with charge) and parking.
Trips
55 minutes, up to eight passengers (at driver’s discretion)
Easter / April-October: daily 10.30am, 2pm, 3pm
Cost: £10 adult, £8 child, £30 family
Bookings: Ranworth Broads Information Centre, 01603 756094
Ranworth Broads Information Centre
The Staithe, Ranworth NR13 6HY
01603 756094
ranworthtic@broads-authority.gov.uk
Open (free entry)
Easter / April-October: daily 9am-5pm
More fun at Ranworth
Expand your fun day out with a free visit to Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s floating Broads Wildlife Centre (follow the boardwalk from the staithe, taking you through the nature reserve). They also run a ferry service from the staithe (small charge) and boat trips. There are toilets near the staithe and refreshments available, including a tea shop at the church’s Visitors’ Centre. Climb the church tower for a bird’s-eye view of the Broads.
How Hill National Nature Reserve, close to the village of Ludham, has something of everything that makes the Broads special. The River Ant runs through the reserve and there are reedbeds, grazing marshes, wet woodlands and even a broad – all full of wildlife for you to discover.
Visit Toad Hole Cottage, lived in by generations of eel catchers, and imagine home life on the marshes in Victorian times. Then take a boat trip to see where the marshmen worked. Explore the Wildlife Walking Trail, Secret Gardens, riverside walks and maybe even Hathor, one of the Broads sailing wherries. How Hill is still a working marsh – reed and sedge are cut for thatch, so you could see a marshman at work.
Entry to the site is free, there are public footpaths, and there’s a free car park (open all the time) and 24-hour free moorings. Visitors with disabilities may find it helpful to telephone in advance to check if How Hill is sufficiently accessible for you. In the summer and autumn you may find it helpful to bring an insect repellent for the How Hill trails.
How Hill, Ludham NR29 5PG
01603 756096
toadholetic@broads-authority.gov.uk
Open (free entry)
Easter / April, May, October: Monday-Friday 10.30am-1pm and 1.30-5pm;
Saturday-Sunday 10.30am-5pm
June-September: daily 9.30am-5pm
Step on board, leave the River Ant behind and enter a tranquil, secret world, where reeds and flowers fringe the narrow dykes. Glide along until we stop for a short walk to a bird hide overlooking Reedham Water. The changing seasons bring changing wildlife. In May, the birds are showing off their breeding finery and, when the sun shines, the hidden warblers are in full song. June sees the Norfolk hawker dragonfly and the swallowtail butterfly on the wing. Summer is the season for flowers, including water lilies. In autumn, the birds are on the move again. The summer visitors leave for warmer climes and soon, duck including teal and wigeon will arrive from the north, as the marsh moves towards winter.
Trips
50 minutes for up to six passengers (at driver’s discretion)
Easter / April, May, October: weekends, bank holidays, Easter week and local half-term only 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm
June-September: daily 10am, 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm
Cost
£10 adult, £8 child, £30 family (not suitable for children under two)
Bookings
Toad Hole Cottage, 01603 756096
Wildlife Walking Trail
Explore the trail to see wildlife for all seasons. In June look out for huge and very rare swallowtail butterflies; sometimes there’s a second brood in August. Assistance dogs only on the trail please.
Open
Easter / April, May, October: daily 10.30am-5pm
June-September: daily 9.30am-5pm
Cost
£3 adult, £1.50 child, includes guide booklet
Riverside walks
From Toad Hole Cottage the riverside footpath continues downstream to Ludham Bridge and St Benet’s Abbey. Or you can take a short stroll upriver, past the boat shed, to Boardman’s Mill. The path then goes on to Sharp Street.
Explore the Secret Gardens, open all the time, entry by donation. These water gardens were created by local architect Edward Boardman for the family home at How Hill, which dates from 1904. The gardens are always lovely and secluded, and in early summer there are spectacular displays of azaleas and rhododendrons. Follow the signs from the car park, moorings and main house. The formal gardens surrounding the house are sometimes open too – check the signs on the gates.
01692 678555
Before you go on these three trips…
More info from our visitor centres
New for 2024 – boat trip gifts
Give your friends and family the experience of one (or more!) of our wildlife boat trips. Full details from our staff at Hoveton (Ra trips), Ranworth (Liana trips) and How Hill (Electric Eel trips).
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