The Broads
The Broads are a series of rivers and lakes situated in the English counties of Norfolk and Suffolk.
The Broads were for many years thought to be a natural landscape, but it is now known that they are a network of flooded man made peat excavations dating back to the middle ages, which were formed after local monks had excavated peat which they used to sell for fuel.
This flat, marshy landscape which is dotted with a myriad of windmills, wind pumps, man made drainage dykes, extensive reed beds and hundreds of archaeological sites consists of seven navigable, lock free rivers which provide one hundred and twenty miles of navigable waterways, and sixty three broads (lakes) which between them cover an area of one hundred and seven square miles, all of which are situated in the Broads National Park, which is Britain's largest protected wetland. consisting of twenty eight special scientific sites of interest (SSSI) and eight national nature reserves (NNR).
The main river of the area is the River Yare, which travels for thirty one point six miles from it's source at Shipham in Norfolk to it's mouth on Breydon Water, a three mile long estuary and RSPB Nature Reserve, situated near Great Yarmouth on the North Sea Coast.
The river is accompanied by six of it's tributaries, the rivers Ant, Bure, Chet, Thurne, Waveney and Wensum.
The area is also served by two long distance walking paths, the fifty six mile long, Weaver's Way, situated between Cromer and Norfolk and the thirty five mile long, Wherryman's* Way, situated between Norwich and Great Yarmouth. Also situated just outside Norwich, is the two hundred and eighty acre, Whitlingham Country Park.
The rivers of the area form sixty three broads, the largest of which is the five hundred square acre, Hickling Broad in Norfolk.
The rivers flow through several villages and historical, market towns, including Acle, Aylsham, Beccles, Cantley, Coltishall, Horning, Ludham, St Olaves and Wroxham, the traditional capital of the Broads, situated on the River Bure in Norfolk, a title which has been attributed to the small town since the first boat hire company and subsequently the first Broads holidays, were established there 1874, the seaside resort of Great Yarmouth, famous for it's Golden Mile, Grade II listed, Winter Gardens, modern sea port, two nineteenth century piers and the ruins of an ancient, Saxon Shore fort, and the City of Norwich, famous for it's Norman castle and Norman cathedral, it's abundance of theatres and Grade II listed buildings and the University of East Anglia.
As well as being Britain's largest protected wetland and home to hundreds of species of flora, fauna and bird life, the rivers of the broads, are also home to some of the most diverse fish habitats in the country, where an abundance of bream, carp, perch, pike, roach and tench can be found. The area's rivers, along with their network of interconnecting lakes, are also renowned for being being a major waterway network for pleasure boats of every description, yacht races, boating centres and picturesque marinas.
* A Norfolk Wherry, pictured above, is a traditional, sail powered, cargo vessel which has been used on the Broads since the 1600's.
SOME BROADS WEBSITES
Broads Authority - www.broads-authority.gov.uk
Visit Norfolk - www.visitnorfolk.co.uk
Norfolk Broads - www.norfolkbroads.com
Broads Map - norfolk_broads_map
