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Day Two: The Hidden Heart of the
Broads - Picturesque Ranworth If the
Broads can be described as having a spiritual heart, then the
village of Ranworth is surely it. With its imposing church of St.
Helen’s looking down on the village from the hill, known as the
‘Cathedral of the Broads’, the village showcases the
quintessential nature of the area from a variety of viewpoints.
Our suggestions will take you around this lovely village on foot,
including the church and its many delights; the floating visitor
centre managed by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust; a short ferry ride
back to the staithe; lunch at a local pub; followed by an
afternoon visit to Fairhaven Garden Trust, a unique, sustainably
managed Broadland garden, with its own tearoom.
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Drive to Ranworth village
car park, situated on a minor road off the B1140 between
Acle and Wroxham |
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OR, for a more
environmentally friendly option, leave your car at Acle
and catch the Broadshopper bus which stops at Ranworth
staithe |
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The Broadshopper is a
great value bus service, which has room for your bike as
well. Linking Blickling Hall to Acle, and serving key
locations en route, it’s the perfect way for visitors and
locals to enjoy the Broads National Park. |
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Spend a fascinating day
exploring the village on foot, starting with a walk up the
hill to the church. From the staithe, turn right along the
boardwalk. When this ends, cross the lane and use the
off-road footpath up the hill to St. Helen’s church. |
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Open every day, and known
as the ‘Cathedral of the Broads’, the church is a national
treasure, and is worth more than a passing visit. The
church is home to the most complete and best preserved
painted screen in Britain, together with a beautifully
illuminated antiphoner, or service book, dating from the
Fifteenth century. A visit is not complete without
climbing the famous tower, which provides panoramic views
of Broadland, although the ascent is not for the
faint-hearted. A number of spiral stone steps and ladders
through the bell tower await you, but the views are worth
the effort! |
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Back on the ground, don’t
forget the tea room behind the church, serving hot and
cold drinks and refreshments, with a delightful aromatic
garden and terrace overlooking the Broad |
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On leaving the churchyard,
turn immediately right down the hill, following the lane
until you see the sign for the visitor centre on the left.
Follow the boardwalk trail through the woodland literally
out onto the Broad to the floating visitor centre |
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As you follow the
boardwalk, you will see the landscape change from woodland
to reedbeds and then to open water, illustrating the
natural processes at work, albeit in reverse, that left
unmanaged by man would see the Broads revert to oak
woodland over a period of around 25 years |
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Entry to the visitor
centre is free, and it contains an exhibition on the
creation and development of the Broads, together with a
viewing gallery overlooking Ranworth Broad and its varied
birdlife |
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For your return trip to
the staithe, why not wait for the electric powered boat,
Helen of Ranworth, to take you on the short journey by
water through Malthouse Broad back to the moorings. There
is a small charge for the ferry. This is a popular
destination for holiday craft and the contrast between
this Broad and Ranworth, closed to boat traffic, will be
immediately apparent |
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For lunch, we recommend
you make your way to the Ship Inn at South Walsham, either
by car turning left out of the staithe car park, or on the
Broadshopper bus |
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A busy village local, we
can heartily recommend the carvery offered on Sundays from
12pm to 3pm; excellent home cooked food combined with
attentive service and a good range of vegetarian options |
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Feeling refreshed after
lunch, spend a pleasant afternoon exploring Fairhaven
Gardens, located just off the road heading back towards Acle (turn right out of the pub car park, and take the
first left turning).
This is one of the three gardens we recommend around
Broadland in order to gain a full appreciation of the
different aspects of this skill present in the National
Park |
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Organic, and sustainably
tended using traditional gardening and woodland management
techniques, there are over 3 miles of wonderful woodland
walks, a children’s nature trail, superb views across the
private Fairhaven Broad, boat trips from April to October
and a tea room and restaurant for that afternoon cuppa! |
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A varied programme of
events runs throughout the year, from guided walks, to
live music and even murder mystery evenings, and George
and his colleagues are friendly, knowledgeable and always
happy to talk about the garden! For more information on
the Gardens and event programme, telephone 01603 270449 or
see the website at
www.fairhavengarden.co.uk |
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Useful Norfolk Broads Contacts
Below you will find suggestions for accommodation, activities, attractions,
food & drink and shopping. All useful
contacts while visiting the Norfolk Broads.
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Fineway Launch Hire
Operating from our boatyard situated in the heart of the Norfolk Broads on the river Bure in the busy village of Wroxham we provide rental services of day boats, a cabin cruiser and a riverside cottage.
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Bure Valley Railway Walk or Cycle
Why not combine a nostalgic journey by steam with a relaxing bicycle ride or walk through the Norfolk countryside? A footpath and cycle path runs alongside the entire length of the track from Aylsham to Wroxham.
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Linda H. Matthews Artist
Working artists studio & gallery, in the beautiful northern broads. Paintings & gifts from Lindas work. Also offering structured painting courses and private tuition, for individuals & groups, with an experienced tutor & art materials for sale
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White Horse Inn
Traditional Norfolk pub, serving several real ales and tasty home made food
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Linda H. Matthews Artist
Working artists studio & gallery, in the beautiful northern broads. Paintings & gifts from Lindas work. Also offering structured painting courses and private tuition, for individuals & groups, with an experienced tutor & art materials for sale
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"The Broads consist
of
over 120 miles of
lock-free navigable
waterways, the
largest such area
in Britain"
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Wildlife Fact File |
SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY
Papilio machaon britannicus
Perhaps the most elegant of British butterflies,
they are completely dependant on the survival of one plant, milk
parsley. A relic of the last ice age, surviving only on isolated
ice-free pockets of Broadland as conditions deteriorated after a
warm period. They can be seen in late May, June and July at
Ranworth. |
"Left
unmanaged,
the Broads would
revert to oak
woodland over a
period of
around
25 years"
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TOP TIPS |
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If you are planning to use the
Broadshopper bus, ring the timetable information line on
0870
6082608, visit the
Traveline website, or pick up a leaflet from a Visitor
Information Centre |
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St. Helen’s Church at
Ranworth is open every day, and the tearoom is open from
10.30am to 4.30pm Mondays to Fridays; from 2pm to 5pm at
weekends, and is only open at weekends from November to March |
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The boardwalk at Ranworth is
open all year, but the Visitor Centre opens from April to
October from 10am to 5pm |
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The Ship Inn opens at
11.30am, and serves food
from 12 til 2pm Monday to Saturday, and to 3pm on Sunday. |
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There are public lavatories
located at Ranworth Broad, and customer toilets at Ranworth
church tearooms, the Ship Inn, and Fairhaven Gardens. There
are no toilet facilities at Ranworth Broad
Visitor Centre |
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The boardwalk at Ranworth
Broad is suitable for disabled access, as is most of Fairhaven
Garden. |
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There is free parking at Acle
for the Broadshopper bus next to the leisure centre |
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Each of the days suggested on this website are covered by the OS Map, Landranger 134
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