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Day
Four: Living Landscape - Market Day in Broadland
- Trinity
Broads While the Broads is known as an area of water and
wildlife, it is also inextricably linked to the towns and villages
dotted throughout the area. Indeed, the Broads themselves were
man-made, and have to be maintained by man on an ongoing basis
otherwise they would revert back to woodland over a period of
around 25 years. This day is designed to provide an insight into
the communities living and working in the Broads National Park,
while also enabling you to explore some of the less well known
stretches of water, the Trinity Broads. Our suggestions will take
you to market day in a modern Broadland village; lunch at an
independent, locally-owned Broad-side restaurant; followed by an
afternoon exploring the peaceful Trinity Broads by rowing boat.
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Drive to Acle and park, for free, at the leisure centre,
before strolling through this typical Broadland village, past the
church and Budgens supermarket, to Horners auction yard. |
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OR, for a more
environmentally friendly option, you can catch a train to Acle from either Norwich or Great Yarmouth, with the
station only a short walk from the auction yard and the village. |
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Thursday is market day in Acle, starting around 10am, with
viewing allowed earlier in the morning, and the combination of the
varied stalls selling local produce and the auction conducted by
Horners provides a vibrant taste of life in a modern Broadland
village. |
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After your visit to the
market, either drive along the A1064 towards Caister, or in the summer months, catch the circular
village bus service run by Our Hire, stopping at Filby Bridge. On
the way, you will cross the River Bure at Acle Bridge. The old
bridge, which was replaced many years ago, was the scene of many
grisly executions in olden times, with the unfortunate criminals
left to rot, hanging from the bridge itself. The bridge’s
reputation for being haunted is well-deserved! |
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Filby is a fine example of
how small communities can survive and thrive. Located
along the A1064, the village supports two pubs, a
family-run restaurant and tearoom (serving the best Eccles
cakes in the Broads!), centred around the village shop and
post office run by the Thompson family, which provides a
wide range of services for the local community. The
Thompson family also help to co-ordinate the village’s
entry into the national and regional Village in Bloom
competition, won on several occasions. If you are lucky
enough to visit during the spring and summer, take some
time to linger in the village and experience the riot of
colour spread along the main village road. |
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Back at Filby Bridge, you
can enjoy lunch at the restaurant, with its lovely views
over Filby Broad. In the afternoon, why not hire a rowing
boat to enjoy one of the most peaceful stretches of water
in the Broads. This is because the Trinity Broads, as
Filby, Rollesby and Ormesby Broads are known, are no longer connected to
the main waterways system for navigation purposes, with the result
that there are no hire craft on the water here. |
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These Broads are also
ideal for fishing enthusiasts, either out on the water or
from the recently built fishing platforms incorporating
disabled access at Filby, with parking located just to the
west of the Broad on the A1064. You can explore south on
Filby Broad under the road bridge, or north into Rollesby Broad (and the small Lily Broad, inaccessible
by any other means). |
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On the north shore of
Filby Broad, you can even moor up for a pint at the Eels
Foot Inn, located right on the Broads edge. Sunsets from
these Broads can be magnificent, and we can think of no
better way to end a day exploring the Broads than paddling
gently back to Filby across the water, with the sun
slipping down over the horizon. |
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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Waterside Leisure
The Norfolk Broads Houseboats are located in the picturesque village of Horning the heart of the Norfolk Broads. They offer an ideal base from which to explore the Broads and surrounding area, or to just sit quietly and fish or watch the world go by.
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Weavers Way, Halvergate to Great Yarmouth
The Weavers Way crosses the large expanse of Halvergate Marshes, which are managed as traditional grazing meadows and are of international importance. The route across the marshes can often be quite wet so suitable footwear is recommended.
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Bure Valley Railway, The
Opened in 1990, the Bure Valley Railway offers an 18 mile round trip through picturesque countryside which is as varied, interesting and beautiful as any to be found on a railway journey in England.
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Norfolk Mead Hotel, The
Built in 1740, the Norfolk Mead, formally a merchants house, is set in 8 tranquil riverside acres on the river Bure. Just 7 miles from the city of Norwich and 10 miles from the coast. An ideal location for a weekend or longer break.
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Sutton Pottery
Small studio workshop in rural East Norfolk, established by Malcolm Flatman in 1977 in the Broadland village of Sutton, near Stalham. He uses the Potters Wheel and the fire of a gas kiln to create a large range of reduction stoneware entirely by hand.
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grid reference TG402107
