Planning Cluster · Routes
Best Norfolk Broads route ideas
Where to head for a good day or a full week afloat. Tried-and-tested itineraries that balance scenery, moorings and good pubs.
The best route depends on where you start and how long you have. As a rule of thumb, the northern rivers (Bure, Ant and Thurne) are gentler and more sheltered, which suits beginners, while the southern rivers (Yare, Waveney and Chet) are wider and more exposed, with the tidal Breydon Water crossing linking the two.
A day out from Wroxham
Hire from Wroxham or Horning and cruise gently up the Bure towards Salhouse Broad and Ranworth. There's open water, easy moorings and a staithe with a pub close by. It's relaxed, scenic, and back well within a day-boat window.
A classic week on the northern Broads
- Wroxham to Horning to Ranworth, settling into handling the boat.
- Up the Ant to Barton Broad and How Hill, which are wild, reedy and quiet.
- Onto the Thurne for Potter Heigham, minding the bridge headroom here.
- Back down to Wroxham at your own pace.
Each leg has its own moorings and pubs, and around the Thurne you'll want to check bridge clearance before you commit, plus the tide times if your route runs onto the tidal stretches.
Which app helps you plan the route?
For a relaxed day-boat loop, Navigator Lite maps the pubs, moorings and points of interest on one friendly screen. For a multi-day passage around the real tides and bridge windows, Navigator Pro does the heavy lifting.