Canoeing in Norfolk

Norfolk has a wealth of canoeing opportunities from small secluded rivers and the unique Broads to the estuaries and marshes of North Norfolk. For both day trips and longer journeys there is a great variety of canoeing to be done in unspoilt countryside with the chance to see some rare wildlife.

The rivers and the Norfolk Broads
Access to water is problematic throughout the country but generally in Norfolk we have greater freedom of access than in other parts of the UK, largely due to the work of the Local River Advisors (LRAs). We strongly advise you to contact the appropriate river adviser, given in useful contacts, to get up to date information on what the situation is for your planned trip. Failure to comply with agreed access arrangements could result in other canoeists being refused access in the future.
The Norfolk Broads are a wealth of rivers and man-made lakes. To paddle on the Broads and any tidal rivers connected to them you must have a Broads Licence. BCU members however have a licence negotiated directly with the Broads Authority. You must have evidence of membership/licence with you on the Broads - you may well be asked for this.
Plans are in progress to provide detailed guides of where you can paddle and where you can get access to the water and it is hoped in future that this site will link to these. The Broads Authority will, on request, send a list of launching places, although these are simply boatyards that are happy for us to launch, and may require payment!

The Coast
Canoeing on the sea is, of course, a potentially dangerous occupation and should only be done with appropriate training and safety considerations. North Norfolk offers some sheltered estuary canoeing at Blakeney Point and Brancaster/Burnham Overy although the tides and changing weather conditions can make these places dangerous. There have been difficulties with the operators of Seal Trips at Blakeney in the past and we urge all visitors to keep well clear of the sand banks where the seals sit as we are likely to draw them off the banks. If anyone experiences any threatening behaviour from seal boatmen inform the Police.

Whitewater
Norfolk does not have any real whitewater but there are however one or two playholes
that experienced paddlers use, for example Hellesdon Mill, Horstead Mill and Mendham Mill. Please seek advice before using any of these places and ensure that sessions are supervised by suitably qualified coaches.
The nearest full facility is the Nene Whitewater Centre near Northampton (www.nenewhitewatercentre.co.uk) which offers both group bookings and individual use. It is hoped that Norwich will have a similar facility in future.(see New developments).

Left - Hellesdon Mill