Suggested 4 day itinerary starting from Brundall
Click the village names for more information on where to eat and drink together with information on local attractions.
Day 1 afternoon
Brundall to Reedham
Head down the River Yare past the two entrances to Rockland Broad on your right and the huge sugar processing plant at Cantley, which will be on the left bank. Go past the entrance to the River Chet on your right, which leads to the village of Loddon. Soon you will see the chain ferry which crosses the river from the Ferry Inn on your left. Do not get too close to the ferry which uses chains to drag itself across the river, or you may become "caught" on them. Pass the Ferry Inn to arrive at Reedham village moorings around the next bend. Ensure you come alongside against the flow of the tide, i.e. use the tidal flow to slow you down approach. A quayside ranger should be in attendance should you need assistance.
Head down the River Yare past the two entrances to Rockland Broad on your right and the huge sugar processing plant at Cantley, which will be on the left bank. Go past the entrance to the River Chet on your right, which leads to the village of Loddon. Soon you will see the chain ferry which crosses the river from the Ferry Inn on your left. Do not get too close to the ferry which uses chains to drag itself across the river, or you may become "caught" on them. Pass the Ferry Inn to arrive at Reedham village moorings around the next bend. Ensure you come alongside against the flow of the tide, i.e. use the tidal flow to slow you down approach. A quayside ranger should be in attendance should you need assistance.
9 miles.
Journey time 2hrs 15 mins
Journey time 2hrs 15 mins
Day 2 morning
Reedham to Somerleyton
Leave the moorings against the flow of the tide, even if this means turning your boat before setting off. The Quay Ranger will give advice if needed. Continue in the same direction as you arrived, passing under Reedham rail swing bridge. Shortly after take the right hand channel which leads to St Olaves. This channel is long and straight and will take up to one hour to cruise. At the far end, just after you pass under a high road bridge is the junction with the River Waveney. Take a right turn and proceed past the derelict swing bridge pillar. Some time later you will see another rail swing bridge which marks Somerleyton. The moorings are just before on your left hand side.
Leave the moorings against the flow of the tide, even if this means turning your boat before setting off. The Quay Ranger will give advice if needed. Continue in the same direction as you arrived, passing under Reedham rail swing bridge. Shortly after take the right hand channel which leads to St Olaves. This channel is long and straight and will take up to one hour to cruise. At the far end, just after you pass under a high road bridge is the junction with the River Waveney. Take a right turn and proceed past the derelict swing bridge pillar. Some time later you will see another rail swing bridge which marks Somerleyton. The moorings are just before on your left hand side.
7 miles.
Journey time 1 hour 45 mins
Journey time 1 hour 45 mins
Day 2 afternoon
Somerleyton to Oulton Broad
Continue on in the same direction. Eventually, the river forks. Take the left hand channel for Oulton Broad. Cruise on until the river widens to a Broad. This is Oulton Broad. Moorings are available at the far end of the Broad either outside the Wherry Inn or at the Yacht Station (not just for yachts) on your right hand side.
Continue on in the same direction. Eventually, the river forks. Take the left hand channel for Oulton Broad. Cruise on until the river widens to a Broad. This is Oulton Broad. Moorings are available at the far end of the Broad either outside the Wherry Inn or at the Yacht Station (not just for yachts) on your right hand side.
6.5 miles.
Journey time 1 hour 30 mins
Journey time 1 hour 30 mins
Day 3 morning
Oulton Broad to St Olaves
Retrace your steps across the Broad, looking out for the dyke on which you entered. Continue down the dyke, past the fork in the river and past your earlier mooring spot at Somerleyton. Further on you will see on your left, the dyke you cruised down from Reedham. For now, go past it for you will soon see the village of St Olaves. Moorings are available just before or after the road bridge which crosses the river. You will need to ensure you come into your mooring against the tidal flow to have more control of your boat.
Retrace your steps across the Broad, looking out for the dyke on which you entered. Continue down the dyke, past the fork in the river and past your earlier mooring spot at Somerleyton. Further on you will see on your left, the dyke you cruised down from Reedham. For now, go past it for you will soon see the village of St Olaves. Moorings are available just before or after the road bridge which crosses the river. You will need to ensure you come into your mooring against the tidal flow to have more control of your boat.
8.5 miles.
Journey time 2 hrs
Journey time 2 hrs
Day 3 afternoon
St Olaves to Loddon
Again, ensure you leave your mooring against the tidal flow so as to not drift into any boat in front of yours. Once out into the river, retrace your steps back up the River Waveney until you see the right hand turn for Reedham. This is the same channel you came down yesterday. Cruise back to and through Reedham. Shortly after the chain ferry you will see a channel marked Loddon on your left hand side. Take this channel, the River Chet, which runs for around three and a half miles before reaching Loddon. There are two sets of moorings. The first set you will see are at the start of the narrow dyke where many boatyards are located on the right bank. Or continue on until you reach the basin at the end of the dyke, where stern-on moorings are offered. These are nearest to the town centre.
Again, ensure you leave your mooring against the tidal flow so as to not drift into any boat in front of yours. Once out into the river, retrace your steps back up the River Waveney until you see the right hand turn for Reedham. This is the same channel you came down yesterday. Cruise back to and through Reedham. Shortly after the chain ferry you will see a channel marked Loddon on your left hand side. Take this channel, the River Chet, which runs for around three and a half miles before reaching Loddon. There are two sets of moorings. The first set you will see are at the start of the narrow dyke where many boatyards are located on the right bank. Or continue on until you reach the basin at the end of the dyke, where stern-on moorings are offered. These are nearest to the town centre.
8.5 miles.
Journey time 2 hrs
Journey time 2 hrs
Day 4 morning
Loddon to Rockland Broad
Return back up the River Chet. At the junction with the main river, turn left where you will pass Cantley with it's sugar processing plant. Watch out for the sign-posted entrance to Rockland Broad on the left hand bank. Cruise down this narrow dyke until it becomes Rockland Broad. Ensure you keep between the marker posts which will lead you across to another narrow dyke, at the head of which are the moorings.
Return back up the River Chet. At the junction with the main river, turn left where you will pass Cantley with it's sugar processing plant. Watch out for the sign-posted entrance to Rockland Broad on the left hand bank. Cruise down this narrow dyke until it becomes Rockland Broad. Ensure you keep between the marker posts which will lead you across to another narrow dyke, at the head of which are the moorings.
10 miles
Journey time 2 hour 15 mins
Journey time 2 hour 15 mins
Day 4 afternoon
Rockland Broad to Surlingham
Return down the dyke until you see the Broad. You will notice that the marker posts split into two channels. Take the one to your left, which will lead you onto another narrow dyke before emerging back out onto the River Yare. After a short cruise you will see your start point, the village of Brundall. Cruise through the village and on until you see the Surlingham Ferry Inn on your left hand side, which is where your moorings will be for the night.
Return down the dyke until you see the Broad. You will notice that the marker posts split into two channels. Take the one to your left, which will lead you onto another narrow dyke before emerging back out onto the River Yare. After a short cruise you will see your start point, the village of Brundall. Cruise through the village and on until you see the Surlingham Ferry Inn on your left hand side, which is where your moorings will be for the night.
4 miles.
Journey time 1 hr
Journey time 1 hr
Day 5 morning
Surlingham to Brundall
It will take around 30 to 40 minutes to get back to your home boatyard so ensure you depart with enough time to make it back for whatever your hand-back time is.
It will take around 30 to 40 minutes to get back to your home boatyard so ensure you depart with enough time to make it back for whatever your hand-back time is.
1.5 miles.
Journey time 45 mins
Journey time 45 mins
