| The Southern Broads, Traveling from Norwich to | | | | After 3hours of literally the same scenery all the way |
| Oulton Broad. As you go from the sugar factory on | | | | you will cross the Oulton/Beccles crossing, after |
| the Norwich stretch of the southern broads you | | | | another 500yards you turn sharp left and then Oulton |
| reach a small right hand turn, TAKE IT, you will be in | | | | Broads come into view. |
| for a nice surprise, you will need to go for about 5 | | | | Spreading out in front of you is a very pretty broad |
| miles, as you turn the last corner you arrive at the | | | | that forms out in a bell shape with good parking for |
| most pleasant little town I have seen to date on the | | | | hire boats and private craft, a very well appointed |
| Norfolk Broads its name I can not remember at this | | | | Hotel and suitable shops to stock up at (and the only |
| time, but the impression it leaves on you is very | | | | Kebab shop near to the water on the whole Broads). |
| memorable. At first look it seems a very quiet town | | | | When arriving at Oulton I usually stop just as you |
| large village, but actually it is quite a hive of activity. | | | | enter the broad, as there is suitable mooring and |
| As you cross the field from the parking zone app. | | | | good fishing at the beginning of the broad. The only |
| ¼ mile you walk through a gap between the | | | | problem is that it is a good 1/2hour walk to the |
| houses to find a very busy town with all the facilities | | | | shops. But don't let that put you off, it is well worth |
| you could wish for. The first thing you see is a | | | | mooring here as I said the fishing is great, Tench, |
| supermarket well stocked with all the things you will | | | | Skimmer Bream, Roach, and the occasional Carp. |
| need for the boat. Next door a fish & chip shop, | | | | To be honest I quite often spend a couple of days |
| across the road a Chinese, next door to a bank. | | | | here fishing as I consider this to be one of only three |
| Going up the road a greengrocer, a hardware shop. | | | | decent fishing spots on the entire Broads, that you |
| Need I go on? | | | | can always catch plenty of fish on. The other 2 being |
| If you walk round the side of the river when | | | | on the Northern Broads at (1) Irkstead and (2) Acle |
| returning to your boat you will pass a number of | | | | Bridge, of course that is another story! |
| small boat yards, well equipped to deal with any | | | | Being a typical bloke, I have got to say that I tend |
| problems you may have with your boat, including | | | | to cruise down to the Hotel at dusk, moor up get a |
| water and pump out's. | | | | kebab then a couple of hours having a drink and |
| After a few hours rest at this haven, it is time to | | | | playing cards. I return back to my fishing spot at |
| move on, and head for Oulton Broad to start fishing | | | | dawn, moor up, set up my fishing lines, put alarms on |
| in a serious manner. When you reach the end of this | | | | the lines, then go to sleep for a few hours, great eh? |
| river you bear to the right and head to the new link | | | | After a few days it is time to head towards the |
| canal, which saves you about 5 miles and a couple of | | | | Northern Waters and take the boat back. I would like |
| hours going round the bird sanctuary. | | | | to tell you about the journey back to the North |
| Just a quick note about the sanctuary, It is now an | | | | South Crossing, but most unfortunately there is not |
| island full of wild life and some good Pike fishing, but | | | | much to say as it is all the same, big grass banks all |
| used to be part of the main land until the canal was | | | | the way, with the exception of a little Hamlet |
| built to make life easier for boaters, and wild life. | | | | approximately half way, which has parking for 2 |
| If you bear to the left at the canal junction it takes | | | | boats and a pub that does food. This is as previously |
| you up to the North South connection Broad. There | | | | stated how it is till you reach the crossing. |
| is a nice little pub at the start of the broad, which is | | | | Please don't get me wrong I love the Southern |
| ideal if you have to wait for low tide. This wait is | | | | Waters, especially the fishing, but it does need |
| obligatory especially if you are using a two deck cabin | | | | developing like the Northern Waters, it needs to be |
| cruiser, as you would not get under Great Yarmouth | | | | more orientated towards the Holiday makers and the |
| Bridge. | | | | boats that they use. There needs to be more |
| Right back to where we are going, after the canal | | | | facilities, not just at Beccles, Oulton, and Norwich but |
| we rejoin the main river, then comes the long cruise | | | | in between. |
| down to Oulton Broad about 15 miles, and all you | | | | I am aware of the Bird Sanctuary and the Canal, but |
| pass is one tiny hamlet with only 2 parking spaces, | | | | that is only a start, in the Northern Broads they have |
| admittedly there is a pub but nothing else, and all this | | | | been working towards this end for quite a few |
| at 4 to 5 mph. | | | | years. |