Narrowboat? Canal? Broads Cruiser? Norfolk Broads? Which Do We Prefer? | VLOG 06 

I did feel that you rather misrepresented the Broads. There are many free moorings and also places where you can book moorings outside a pub if that's what you really want. Whilst you don't have the same "stop anywhere" feel as you seem to have along the towpaths on the canals, there are still plenty of quiet places where you can be fairly well on your own, or just with one or two other boats. A lot depends on the time of year that you're there. This year with everyone cramming the season into a much shorter time because of the lockdown, even the day boats are getting very booked up and so the rivers are busy. The short stretch from Wroxham to Horning is not really representative of the Broads as a whole or as a holiday destination.

Considering you live locally I’m surprised that you don’t realise what the Broads has to offer, I would like to comment on your points. The Broads is like any other water networks it’s always courteous to slow down past moored boats, the speed limits may be higher than canals but they are there as a maximum when safe to do so and not creating a big wash and not a target. There are many river side pubs, most also have moorings too Northern Broads: The Rising Sun at Coltishall, At Wroxham,The Kings Head, Wroxham Hotel, Liberty. Horning, The Swan, The New Inn, The Ferry Inn. Sutton Staithe hotel. The Lion at Thurne, The Pleasure Boat Inn at Hickling. The Bridge Inn at Acle, The Ferry Inn at Stokesby. Malthouse Broad also known as Ranworth has The Maltsters one minute away from the Staithe. Southern Broads The Bell, St Olaves. Oulton Broad has The Wherry and The Commodore. Reedham has The Lord Nelson, The Ship and Reedham Ferry Inn. Cantley has The Reedcutter. Rockland St Mary The New Inn. Brundall Coldham Hall. The Ferry House Surlingham. Waters Edge at Bramerton. Rushcutters Arms and The Town House are at Thorpe. Norwich has loads of riverside pubs moor at yacht station and take your pick. The short stretch you cruised between Wroxham and Horning has limited space for 2/3 boats free moorings at Wroxham Broad. The rest of the Broads network all Broads Authority free moorings are all 24 hours only because it can get busy so gives everyone a chance. There are lots of places to moor and take a great picturesque walks it just takes a bit of prior homework and planning. The Broads are a stunningly beautiful place I hope you can get the chance to explore more of them. My kindest Regards Ant Addington 👍

I've been holidaying on the Broads since I was a kid, been too many times to count, I can understand what some have said about it being busy, but get south of Breydon Water on the southern waters and that changes, nowhere near as many dayboats and the rivers are wilder and sky's bigger. As for canals too much like hard work with all them locks. Give me a tidal river system any day. :D

There are thousands of places to moor on the north rivers where you were, you just didn't go far enough. Had you gone to Coltishall, not only is it stunning scenery, but loads of free moorings, as there are in the direction you went, you just have to more to a tree, much better than the man made canal side. The best way to get to know the broads is to hire a cruiser for a week and cruise around, and you will see there are loads of pubs. 2 on the Riverside at COltishall, 3 in Wroxham, 3 in Horning 1 at Ludham bridge, 1 at Thurne, and 1 at Axle bridge, and all within a couple of hours cruising from your start point at Wroxham.

Having spent my first 60 years living in a small Oxfordshire Village close to the Thames and Kennet before moving to Norfolk. Ilove Norfolk but other than my photography dont fancy the boating, too busy for me. Much happier walking beside canals and photographing the Narrowboat. Owning a narrowboat is a dream and i envy you.. Happy boating and hope we are out of lockdown soon.. Regards.

Jan is the person which will never going to ignore you. Love you Jan ❤️❤️❤️💋💋💋

Interesting hearing a canal boater's perspective on the Broads although they didn't seem aware of much of the Broads. Agree with their Pub andmoorings viewpoints though - despite all the hype, any newbie could be forgiven for thinkinv you can moor anywhere (you cannot) and expect pubs on every corner (thdre aren't).

really enjoy these vids. lovely to see Jan outside of the work place so happy

Some nice views on the Broads...but a lack of mooring is a no no....

On Hickling Broad or Horsey Mere, which are quite shallow, you can moor using the sand weight in the middle of the broad.

I can comment now lol, it’s since you tube updated lol. We have holidayed on the broads a couple of times and holidayed on the north oxford canal, for us it’s the canal, just a lot more relaxing.

i usually love the broads , it's usually quite relaxing , we've been going for over 20 years , but it was'nt this year , we went in september & it was really busy everywhere , so we're hiring a houseboat at wroxham next year , i know what you mean about mooring spaces , there's not much left , it seems to becoming private everywhere , which does'nt leave us much room .& like you say , you have to pay nearly everywhere .

I found cruisers much easier to handle than a narrowboat, and that was only a short narrowboat as well. There was only a couple of pubs I wanted to go in on the Broads but couldn’t moor anywhere near, most of them were fine.

Love the broads, l wouldn't touch a narrow boat with a bargepole 😜

We've added some useful resources in the Description if you need info on The Broads.

Nice Vlog! - We live up the road from the broads but have a canal boat in the Midlands. The Broads we find are very 'samey' with few places to stop - very different to canals and often way too busy with loads of you following each other about for the day. Travel is very limited on the broads compared to the 2,000 miles of canals, and they have no locks, so you dont get to meet and chat to interesting locals and other boaters! Canals for us!

saw some properties with their own piers, it is lovely. is it for sell ? love to live in it

Southern broads is lodes better far to busy in the north side with all the rental boats