Practical Boat Owner - July 2018

S

ome years ago I made a fi lm for

the Broads Authority promoting

this wonderful wetland. I’ve sailed

here for 20 years and written

children’s books set in the area. I know

that in the height of summer the Norfolk

and Suffolk Broads can become busy and

bustling, but within the 125 miles of

lock-free, navigable waterways, there are

still places where you can fi nd a little

peace and some open water, if you know

where to look.

The gateway guarding some of the

quieter corners of the Northern Broads is

the Potter Heigham Bridge on the River

Thurne. It’s old, low and unforgiving.

There’s a clearance at average high water

in the summer of around 1.9m or 6ft 6in.

The Broads Authority has a list of bridge

heights and tide times on its website

which is essential reading, and there are

depth boards either side of most bridges.

This low stone structure restricts the size

of hire craft from going through, so calmer

waters can beckon on the other side. Hire

boats that are able to pass

under Potter Heigham

Bridge must use a pilot –

details are available from

the Broads Authority

website (www.broads-

authority.gov.uk/boating).

I’ve seen plenty of yachts

go under at low water, but

as the pilot once asked me

when I called to check:

“You in a canoe boy? Cos

tha’s the only thing that’ll

get under today.” There

are areas to de-mast a

yacht both sides of the

bridge, but do plan ahead.

You can trail your boat

and launch at a number of places, and it’s

a lovely destination for dinghy cruising.

You will, though, need a temporary Toll

from the Broads Authority. Whispering

Reeds boatyard on Hickling Broad has a

slipway, which is £10 each way; or £10 on

the same day, launch and recover (www.

whisperingreeds.net). It can take boats up

to 25ft long. It also has a crane for bigger

craft, which costs £95 each way.

Whispering Reeds hires out day boats, a

Boats moored up at the

delightful Horsey Mere

Phil Johnson is a

former BBC and

ITV producer and

reporter. He’s the

author of several

children’s books,

including The Little

Blue Boat and the

Marsh Man’s Gold! and tries to spend

three months of the year cruising

the Ionian with his wife Fi, in their

Hallberg-Rassy 34, Panacea.

CRUISING

Quieter Broads

ABOUT AUTHOR

Potter Heigham

bridge – the

gateway to the

quieter Broads