Britain 2011 - Day 25

Introduction

This was our day in the Norfolk Broads. We had a loose plan to drive to Wroxham and walk around Salhouse Broad and then maybe find a boat tour, before continuing out to the coast again at Yarmouth and down to Lowestoft. But first we visited the seaside resort of Cromer.

Cromer

Cromer is yet another British seaside town, with sandy beach and pier. Although the day was fine and clear there was a cool wind blowing along the coast so we did not linger. But we were intrigued by the the local architecture and the use of split flint nodules in the walls of houses.

The beach at Cromer	The path down to the beach.
Hotels lining the beach esplanande	More hotels.
Stairs down to the sand.	Every seaside town has a pier.
And somewhere for the dogs and grandchild to play.	Walls made of flint..
Close up example...	of the architecture..
And of the church.	The flint nodules split in half..

Wroxham

Now into the Norfolk Broads at Wroxham. Boats everywhere. Big boats, small boats, tour boats, hire boats, fake paddlesteamers. They are all at Wroxham. So after a quick look we headed out of town to walk in the quiet of Salhouse Broad.

Wroxham from the bridge...	is full of boats...
lines of them ready to hire.	Even with fake paddle wheels
The Broads Tour boat.	And the low bridge that keeps most boats out of the next broad.

Salhouse Broad

Nearly all of the Norfolk Broads are man-made. They are the result of hundreds of years of quarrying for peat and flint, as this was the only source of hard stone in the area. The quarries became flooded and a tourist and nature reserve was formed. Salhouse Broad is one of these, and is particularly recognised for the wildlife and birds. It is an easy walk and well worth the time.

The carpark at Salhouse Broad,	leads to the path to the Broad....
through the trees	and more trees
until the water appears.	And some birds.
Then the main broad with swans	and this guy....
and gal....	who turn out to be Egptian geese.
A shag and a.....	coot.
Then the Broads tourer	and the fake paddler.
A hire boat. With all those birds I am sure she is feeding them. (She was.)	A lone fisherman in a tin boat
And another holiday boat.	These reeds were everywhere
as were these seed heads.	In close-up.
Wild parsnip.	Also in close-up.
Bullrushes.	and a strange tree..

A tour of the Broads

We decided that we could not leave Wroxham until we had been on a boat, so we chose the large tour boat that did a leisurely trip around the broads. After a quick lunch at the pub by the bridge we boarded our boat and set off. It sailed past houses, trees, birds, yachts and eventually went into Salhouse Broad and past the area we had walked before lunch. An enjoyable time, especially the chance to see all the houses built at lake level and with boats in the garage instead of cars.

A typical waterside house.	You can fish from the front lawn.
But you need room to park the cruiser and the small runabout.	Thatching is the in thing....
The more detailed the better,.	Every house had some..
Then we reached the open broad.	Where yachts abound..
All tied up.	even near the clubhouse..
But a few were out sailing.	.
Wroxham - mooring fees and all..	Even the Broads have fences.
And the ice cream comes by boat..	Early autumn and there were lots of berries..
Holiday boats all in a row.	Then into Salhouse Broad.
And another fence to keep you out..	A gaff rig, how unusual..
More ducks.	And a shag.
Autumn colours.	Back to Salhouse Broad. I stood by that tree to photograph the tour boat earlier in the day....
Birds in a line.	Road signs!
Fishing is such great excitement......	But you can get off and go for a walk..
Hire boats - these ones were full of Boy Scouts.	Back to Wroxham, past the thatched houses.
That one again.....	Every the garage gets thatching.
or a kayak at the front door..	A row boat, how unusual..
The geese have come to town....	and so has the heron.
A boat in the garage.	Home of the entertainer George Formby.
and his canalside seating.	More thatch....
and a house about to be (t)hatched.	This couple are still fishing.
Duck for Wroxham Bridge..	And now you can see why.
Hire boats lined up....	this way and that.

Lowestoft

Lowestoft is a town built around a busy port. It does not have much to commend it except for a small brass monument on the coast. This is the location of the most easterly point of mainland Britain. So we had to visit, to go with the most northern and southern points we had already bagged. Now to find the most western....

The foreshore at Lowestoft.	The easternmost point on mainland Britain.
Lowestoft	Pointing to Lizard (been there).
Lands End (been there too).	And JOG and Dunnet Head to the north (been there as well).

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Last updated: 19/06/2017