Day Three: Conservation in action - Salhouse and
Cockshoot Broads The Broads are a unique landscape within the
UK, but they do not manage and maintain themselves. This day is
designed to show you two completely different approaches to the
conservation and sustainable management of the Broads. Our
suggestions will take you on a tour of Salhouse Broad; to lunch at
the local pub, home to one of the UK’s best known independent
breweries; followed by an afternoon spent exploring Cockshoot
Broad and the Bure Marshes nature reserve. To complement the theme
of sustainable development, an environmentally friendly transport
option is also available using the Broadshopper bus.
Our recommended itinerary is as follows:
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Drive to Salhouse Broad car park, situated on a minor road off
the B1140 between Acle and Wroxham |
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OR, for a more environmentally friendly option, leave your car
at Acle and catch the Broadshopper bus from outside the King’s
Head pub in the village centre, which stops at Salhouse and
Woodbastwick. |
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The Broadshopper is a great value bus service, which has room
for your bike as well. Linking Blickling Hall to Acle, and serving
key locations en route, it’s the perfect way for visitors and
locals to enjoy the Broads National Park. |
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Privately owned,
Salhouse Broad has an active group of Friends
who help to manage the Broad and organise a programme of events
throughout the summer months to encourage visitors to enjoy the
many and varied bird life living in the area. The Broad is home to
the only pair of Australian black swans living in the Broads. |
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Take a walk from the car park down through the woods to the
Broads edge, enjoy some refreshment from the ice cream boat plying
its trade around this part of the Broads, and perhaps take a boat
trip across to Hoveton Great Broad Nature Trail, not accessible
from land, a true wilderness within the Broads National Park. |
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Make your way to the Fur & Feather Inn at Woodbastwick for
lunch, within walking distance from Salhouse Broad along the quiet
lane (turning left out of the Broad car park). Attached to the
Woodforde’s Brewery, this iconic Norfolk inn serves great beer and
food in a picturesque setting. The Brewery Shop is also worth a
visit after lunch before continuing through the village of Woodbastwick, either by car, or on the Broadshopper bus (asking
the driver to let you off at the junction of the road to the
marshes and Cockshoot Broad). |
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Feeling re-energised after lunch, amble down the lane through
the Bure Marshes to the river, bearing in mind that this road
floods easily and may be wet. This is a popular spot to sit and
watch the busy river traffic pass by, but if you follow the
boardwalk to Cockshoot Broad you will enter a different world -
one of peace and tranquillity overlooking a Broad closed to boat
traffic and as a result recovering to represent a haven for
wildlife. Around one metre of mud was pumped out following its
damming off, and within three months, seeds which had lain dormant
at the bottom of the Broad for decades started to shoot, and the
water became clear again. |
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You can expect to see a
wide variety of insect and bird life along the boardwalk
and from the bird hide overlooking the Broad, including
herons, marsh harriers, several species of duck,
dragonflies and butterflies. |
Useful Norfolk Broads Contacts
Below you will find suggestions for accommodation, activities, attractions,
food & drink and shopping. All useful
contacts while visiting the Norfolk Broads.
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Clippesby Hall
Clippesby Hall is in a perfect location to explore the Norfolk Broads National Park, a unique network of waterways and lakes, as well as the delights of the Norfolk coast, with its range of beaches to suit all tastes.
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The Broads by Bike
The Norfolk Broads is an ideal place for cycling; quiet lanes, gently undulating countryside, unique and beautiful landsape. These combine to make the Broads a truly special place, just waiting to be discovered by cyclists of all ages and abilities.
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Norfolk Windmills Trust
The Trust is responsible for twenty mills within Norfolk, and is financially and technically supported by Norfolk County Council.
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Sutton Staithe Hotel
Sutton Staithe Hotel is located yards from the River Ant in the heart of the Norfolk Broads. The Hotel boasts thirteen fully en-suite letting rooms all with internet access and Satellite television. Special offers can be found on our website.
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Linda H. Matthews Artist
Working artists studio & gallery, in the beautiful northern broads. Paintings & gifts from Lindas work. Also offering structured painting courses and private tuition, for individuals & groups, with an experienced tutor & art materials for sale
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"Cockshoot
Broad
had enough mud
pumped out to fill
around 44
Olympic-sized
swimming pools
in the 1980s to
help improve
water quality"
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Wildlife Fact File |
THE BLACK
SWAN
Cygnus atratus
An Australian species, the only pair on the Broads live on
Salhouse Broad. Approximately 110 to 140 cm in length, they are
easily recognisable from their black plumage and bright red bill. |
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TOP TIPS |
| 1. |
If you are planning to use the
Broadshopper bus, ring the timetable information line
on 0870 6082608, visit the
Traveline website, or pick up a leaflet from a
Visitor Information Centre |
| 2. |
For details of events taking
place at Salhouse Broad, or to
book a trip to Hoveton Great Broad Nature Reserve, contact the
ranger Tobi Baker
on 07795 145475 or 01603
722775. |
| 3. |
The Fur & Feather Inn
opens at 11.30am, while the Brewery Shop is open from
10.30am to 4.30pm all year round (11.30am to 4.30pm on
Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays) |
| 4 |
There are public lavatories
located at Salhouse Broad, and
customer toilets with baby changing facilities at the Fur &
Feather Inn. There are no toilet facilities at Cockshoot Broad |
| 5. |
The boardwalk at Cockshoot Broad is suitable for disabled
access |
| 6. |
There is free parking
at Acle for the Broadshopper bus next to
the leisure centre |
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Each of the days suggested on this website are covered by the OS Map, Landranger 134
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grid reference TG319150
