By Dipika PatelIf you're a fan of natural settings and enjoy being close to stunning countryside scenery on holiday, you're sure to find a boating holiday in the Norfolk Broads gives you just the opportunity you're looking for to get close to nature.
England boating breaks in the region are popular among Britons as well as visitors to the country as the area offers 125 miles of navigable waterways in truly beautiful surroundings. The broads are a fantastic location for UK boating holidays because of their lock-free design and close proximity to the rivers Bure, Ant, Thurne, Yare, Chet and Waveney, as well as to rural villages and bustling towns and cities.
Whatever kind of boating holiday in the UK you're looking for, you're sure to find it on the broads. Whether you want to relax and unwind on the water and visit secluded hamlets to explore history and stock up on supplies, or if you prefer being close to the action in thriving cities like Cambridge, the broads have it all.
As you travel across the waterways in the area, you'll come across all kinds of attractions to visit in each of the locations you pass through. A great place to stop off on a day trip if you're looking to enjoy the scenery of the broads is the Bure Valley. Located in the historic town of Aylsham, near the source of the River Bure, the valley is home to one of Norfolk's most famous railways.
Stretching between Aylsham and Wroxham, the Bure Valley Railway is Norfolk's longest narrow gauge steam line and covers 18 miles on a round trip. If it's beautiful scenery you're after, this is the place to find it, as your steam train will carry you through the rural landscape and stop off at three villages on the way.
Between the beginning of April and the end of October, at least three trains run per day - both steam and diesel - while the rest of the year sees the railway operate special events. The attraction is a great place not only for nature lovers and train spotters, but also for children, who will love the diminutive size of the engines as well as some of the events held throughout the year - in particular the trips to visit Santa in his grotto.
There is also a model railway shop on site, so browse the goodies and maybe pick up a treat for a little one who loved the train ride and would like a memento of the journey to treasure forever.
The historic railway was built on the track bed of the former Great Eastern Railway line, which ran between Wroxham and the junction of the Dereham to Wells-next-the-Sea railway at County School. You'll take in the sight of the River Bure as you travel, as well as the footpath that runs directly next to the railway for its entire length.
If you fancy some exercise during your boat holiday, you might decide a walk along the purpose-built footpath is a great way of doing just that while enjoying the countryside landscape. You could even rent a bicycle and ride the whole nine miles if you choose, but if you prefer to keep things more low key, ride to one of the local villages, where you can alight or board the train for the rest of the journey.
If you travel the entire stretch by rail, you'll stop off briefly in the three hamlets - Brampton, Buxton and Coltishall - where people can alight or get off the train. Once you've completed your journey, you might like to visit the villages in greater depth.
Brampton was once a thriving manufacturing centre in Roman times and has a picturesque round-tower church for visitors to admire, so pay a visit to find out more about the area's history. Buxton also has traces of being a Roman settlement and is known as the home of Black Beauty author Anna Sewell. Here you'll also find some stunning 17th century architecture. Meanwhile, Coltishall has a charming thatched village church and a famous RAF base, so explore at your leisure.
Once you've exhausted the railway and surroundings villages, you're likely to be glad to return to the comfort of your boat for the night, where you can plan the rest of your boating holiday on the broads. If you want to call in at thriving cities you'll find places like Cambridge not too far away, while seaside locations like Great Yarmouth are also within reach. Whatever you want to do, you'll find a wealth of opportunities on the Norfolk Broads.
A UK boating holiday is a great way of exploring the Norfolk Broads. And with boating holidays in the Norfolk Broads widely available, you're sure to find something to cater for your needs on an England boating break. Check out Le Boat for a wide selection of boating holidays in the UK.
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