Boat Hire on the Norfolk Broads

A boating holiday on the Norfolk Broads has been popular for over 150 years and it’s network of quiet backwaters and open reaches are as popular as ever. There are over 20 independent and family firms and boatyards offering Norfolk Broads boat hire. You can hire cruisers, yachts or day-boats.

Key Facts about a Norfolk Broads Boating Holiday

  • The Norfolk Broads one of the UK’s National Parks and are a great place for pottering in a holiday cruiser! In the Broads National Park you can enjoy the fresh air and big skies. Moor up for a spot of fishing, climb church towers for the views, watch the wildlife, and visit pubs and villages. In short, relax!
  • The Broads are tidal, unlike canals, so water levels change twice a day. This affects cruising, mooring which is often to pontoons, and a few bridges can only negotiated on low tides. The further from the sea, the less the effect of tides, most Broads waterways are shallow and tranquil.
  • Broads boats are different too. Most boats for hire are either cruisers or yachts or open day boats, including increasing numbers of electric craft. With the only access to the Broads via the sea at Great Yarmouth or Lowestoft few canal based narrowboats risk the tricky sea voyage.
  • There are 7 rivers and 13 navigable Broads. The northern Norfolk Broads include Ranworth Broad and Hickling Broad, the River Ant and River Thurne connecting them to the River Bure and Great Yarmouth. From Great Yarmouth the southern Norfolk Broads can be reached via Breydon Water. Breydon Water also connects to the Suffolk Broads and Lowestoft.
Norfolk Broads Map

Norfolk Broads Map

Nancy Oldfield Trust

How to Find the Best Hire Boats Norfolk Broads

Hiring and cruising a boat is easy, with dozens of hire firms offering a variety of boats, including day boats.

See our listings below for details of top boat hire companies. Compare companies and book directly for the best deals. These firms are a great alternative to the ‘corporate big boys’!

Hirers will advise about any experience needed to hire a sailing boat.

There’s more information and advice about Broads cruising, speed limits etc., on the Broads Authority website.

Boat Hire from family firms on or around the Norfolk Broads

Our Listings

We provide contact telephone and email details free of charge for canal based companies, click for details.
Please note: We provide all contact details as an information service. We rely on traders to keep us informed about these listings so we can't guarantee that details are accurate or up to date. Please see our Terms of Use.

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Norfolk Broads
Barnes Brinkcraft
Riverside Rd, Hoveton, Norwich NR12 8UD.
Bridgecraft
Acle Bridge, Acle, Norwich NR13 3AS.
Broom Boats
Riverside Estate, Brundall, Norwich NR13 5PN.
Connoisseur Boating Holidays
Wroxham, Norfolk Broads
Eastwood Whelpton Sailing Holidays
Upton Yacht Station, Boat Dyke Rd, Upton, Norwich NR13 6BL.
Ferry Marina Ltd
Ferry Rd, Horning, Norwich NR12 8PS.
Herbert Woods
Broads Haven, Bridge Rd, Great Yarmouth NR29 5JD.
Horning Pleasurecraft
Ferry View Estate, Horning, Norwich NR12 8PT.
Hunter’s Yard
Horsefen Rd, Great Yarmouth NR29 5QG.
Martham Boat Building & Dev Co Ltd
Cess Rd, Martham, Great Yarmouth NR29 4RF.
Mayfield Boats
Norfolk Broads
Nancy Oldfield Trust
Irstead Rd, Neatishead, Norwich NR12 8BJ.
01692 630572
info@nancyoldfield.org.uk
www.nancyoldfield.org.uk
Oliver’s sailing Holidays
Riverside, Martham, Great Yarmouth NR29 4RG.
Pacific Cruisers
Pits Ln, Chedgrave, Norwich NR14.
Richardson’s Boating Holidays
The Staithe, Stalham, Norwich, Norfolk NR12 9BX
Wherry Yacht Charter
Barton House, Hartwell Rd, Wroxham, Norwich NR12 8TL.

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