Maps & Guides

Britain's Newest National Park

The Broads National Park is one of Britain's major tourist destinations and also Britain's largest protected wetland with 125 miles of water and no locks to stand in your way, the Broads are a favourite with first time boaters.  They offer the perfect combination of thriving wildlife, fishing, birdwatching, landmark sites, shopping and picture perfect pubs along the riverbank.

The Broads we see today are the result of medieval peat diggings between the 9th and 13th centuries. The peat was used as fuel for heating and cooking. Over the centuries, as water levels rose, the diggings flooded and the Broads were formed. The waterways of the Broads were important routes for transporting cargo between local villages and towns. 

Visitors have been coming to the Broads for boating holidays since the 1890's. The Victorians discovered the appeal of sailing through the enchanted waterways of the Norfolk Broads when, for an extra pound you could hire an on-board piano for a week! Today over a million people visit or enjoy a break on The Norfolk Broads. 

Three rivers, the Bure, the Waveney and the Yare, together with many tributaries and over forty wider expanses of water known as broads, flow through the Broads National Park. The Broads range in size from tiny lakes to the largest expanse of water, Hickling Broad.

The landscape is made up of drained grazing marshland, sedge and reed-beds and wet woodlands. The broads developed through the digging of peat in the 9th-13th centuries. Eventually as water levels in the area rose, the peat pits flooded and the Broads began to form. This is a wonderful part of Britain to find many species of birds, over 250 species of plants and a huge variety of insects and wildlife.

The beauty of The Broads is best appreciated from the water and many different types of craft can be hired for day or longer trips. The Broads attract thousands of visitors each year, to sail, canoe or simply to enjoy time on the waterways in a peaceful atmosphere. There are however many activities to enjoy, from walking the 185 miles / 300 km of footpaths in The Broads National Park, cycling through the gentle countryside, or fishing for Bream, Perch, Pike or Eels, to name but a few.

Many of the picturesque villages have a staithe where boats can be moored, to allow exploration inland. Visitors can see historic buildings, ancient churches, old mills, water-pumps and museums all with a story to tell about The Broads. 

3 Day Guide	7 Day Guide
Videos
Simon Calder - Enjoy the Broads	Nicholas Crane welcomes you to The Broads	Better Boating Guide