The Good Boat Company

Whitlingham

The Rivers Yare and Wesum join at Whitlingham, and continues on towards the sea as the Yare. Just beyond the point where the rivers join there is an 80 meter stretch of free 24 hour moorings, along side Whitlingham Country Park and Whitlingham Broad.

Whiltlingham Broad was created in the 1990's through gravel extraction. Gravel from the site has been used in many of the cities more recent major developments, including building the Castle Mall, The Forum, the A47 bypass, and most recently Chapelfield Shopping Mall. Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre can be found on the south bank of Whitlingham Great Broad. It is a purpose built centre that offers a wide range of water and land based activities, including sailing, wind surfing, paddel sports, climbing, and cycling, to name a few. A historic flint barn on the site has been converted into a visitors centre for Whitlingham Country Park, and hosts a cafe and public toilets.

New cut and Thorpe Island

Further along the river divides into two channels. The original coarse of the river flows to the left, under a railway bridge. This is one of two bridges built at either end of Thorpe Island. Boats should approach these bridges with caution, they are very low so double check your height before attempting to pass beneath them. The channel to the right is know as New Cut, this was built at the same time as the railway line, to allow larger boats to continue sailing up to Norwich. If you are able to pass under the bridges you will find free 24 hour moorings at Thorpe River Green. This is the heart of Thorpe St Andrew, an ancient village (and now suburb) on the edge of Norwich with a history stretching back to the Roman age. The village has a charming cafe with an adjoining hair dressers, a florists, and 4 pubs. The River Garden has an excellent reputation for its food (one the author is pleased to confirm), and has some moorings avaiable to passing boats. Further along, just before you reach the second bridge, is the Rushcutter. The building is 16th century, and a coaching inn is recorded on the site since the 1700's. It is now a Chef & Brewers owned pub. Across the road from the green is the Buck Inn, a distinctive building recognised by its multi-gabeled end. Next door to the Buck Inn is the village church, notable as the ruins of the original medieval church stand at the entrance to the Victorian church behind it. The Town House, a Beefeater branded pub, is located further along Yarmouth Road. It does have river frontage, but at the time of writing boats were not able to moor up there.

Past Thorpe Island there is a charming little picknic spot, with several free 24 hour moorings avaiable, at Whitlingham Cut. Most of the boatyards in the Norwich area, including the Good Boat Company, are located along the river beyond this point. You'll pass some of the smaller yards before comming across the Broads Authory river works base, and just past that you will find Griffin Marina, Wroxham Marine, builders of the Sheerline range of motor cruisers, City Boats who operate day boats and the Norwich river bus service, and The Good Boat Company, the last of the Norwich based boating holiday companies.

Bramerton

Pass under postwick viaduct, which carries the A47 norwich bypass, and your out in to some of the most beautful broadland countyside. The river is teaming with wildlife as it winds round Postwick Marshes, and is popular spot for fishing. About 20 minutes on from Postwick viaduct is the Bramerton Woodsend pub. The history of the pub stretches back to before the 1700's and it has been popular since the first torists started visiting the Norfolk Broads. There is a statue outside the pub of William Cullum, better known as Billy Bluelight. In the 1920's and 1930's he would challenge boaters to a race, and is famed for his claim "My name is Billy Bluelight, my age is 45, I hope to get to Carrow Bridge before the boat arrive".

Just beyond the pub is Bramerton Common, where you'll find free 24 hour moorings for roughly 19 boats. Adjacent to the common is Bramerton Pits, a site of special scientific interest. The area gave its name to an early glacial stage, known as the Bramertonian Stage, due to the distinctive shelly, sandy deposits that indicate a temperate climate. The fossilised remains of marine fish, otters, voles, and a mastodon have been found in the area.

Surlingham & Brundall

The Yare continues to wind its way between the villages of Surlingham and Brundall. The know history of this area streatches back to the Neolithic age, with a flint axe head discovered in a sand pit in Surlingham Wood. Brundall gets its name from the Roman town of Brundisium (modern day Brindisi in Southern Italy). Brundisium was a major ship and boat building centre in the Roman world, and men were brought over to Brundall to build river boats for use on the Yare. To this day Brundall continues to be a major boat building centre, and is the home of Broom Boats. Founded in 1898, Broom is oldest established boat builders in the UK, and until very recently was still run by the Broom family. Broom offer diesel, water, and pump-out facilities around the year, from a station conveniently located on the main river. 

 The area is also incredibly rich in wildlife, with RSPB Surlingham Church Marsh, RSPB Strumpshaw Fen, RSPB Buckenham Marshes, and Wheatfen Nature Reserve all in the local area. To get to Surlingham Chruch Marsh by boat you have to moor at Bramerton Common, and walk just under a mile along the riverside footpath. To access Stumpshaw Fen and Buckenham Marshes by boat you would need to moor at Brundall. Strumpshaw Fen is a about a mile and a half walk through the village, and along some quite county lanes, Buckenham Marshes are another mile along the road. However, its well worth the walk as the area is home to marsh harriers, hobbies, kingfishers, and a population of bitterns, to name only a few of the species! There are free 24 hour moorings at Brundall Church Marsh, and right opposite on the other side of the river is the Surlingham Ferry House pub. The pub has a number of stern on moorings available and the food is excellent. Overnight moorings are also available at Brundall Bay Marina, these are privately owned moorings so there will be a charge. Facilities at the marina include water, electricity, and showers and toilets. At the other end of Brundall is the Coldham Hall Tavern, next door to the Coldham Hall Sailing Club. There has been a sailing regatta held here for over 150 years. Coldham hall tavern offers an excellent range of real ales stright from the cask, a great wine menu, and some of the best freshly prepared food available on the Broads.

Hidden away off the main river is Surlingham Broad, a series of shallow lakes accessible via two dikes, one at either end of Brundall. The largest of these waterways, and the only one accessible to larger boats, is Bargate. Chained off at one end of the broad is the remains of a Norfolk Wherry, visible at low tide. A narrow stream connects Bargate to Surlingham Inner Broad, you'll need a canoe and an adventurous spirit to navigate the stream, but its worth the effort. If you want to explore the shallows beyond remember to take a good map, the are several miles of twisting shallows inaccessable to anthing but a canoe and its easy to get lost.

Rockland St Mary & Buckenham

Beauchamp Arms

Rockland Broad

Cantley

http://www.thereedcutter.co.uk/

Reedham Ferry Inn

The Lord Nelson

The Ship Hotel