Broad Appeal

With its big skies and smooth waters, the man-made beauty of the Norfolk Broads has inspired visitors for centuries.

- Matt Kemp

Norfolk is one of England’s great hidden treasures – a county full of welcoming people, beautiful landscapes and flint-laced villages that make any trip to East Anglia an instantly memorable one. Nestled in the centre of this charming part of the world is the UK’s newest national park - The Broads.

Made of up seven lakes and over 60 broads, it’s the closest thing the sleepy county has to a motorway – albeit with a top speed of 6mph. Time spent exploring the Broads National Park will see heart rates slow as tranquil waters wash gently against puttering boats, with nature calming even the busiest soul.

That this tourist hotspot is man-made makes it all the more interesting; a fact discovered in 1952, when a botanist recognised that the steep sides and flat beds of the Broads indicated historical peat extraction. As sea levels rose, the trenches and ditches were flooded, creating a 125-mile-long network of waterways.

This environmental event proved a boon to the local economy, connecting previously isolated villages by river and allowing boats to transport goods to thriving towns. By the 16th century, county capital Norwich was the second largest city in England after London. However, it wasn’t until the completion of the London to Norwich railway line in 1845 that the Broads became a popular tourist destination. A century later, thousands of people were exploring the peaceful waterways each year. Today, that figure is around eight million people.

Unsurprisingly, the best way to explore Britain’s largest protected wetland is by boat. Although it’s possible to reach most villages and towns via car, the sheer majesty of the landscape can only be fully appreciated when messing about on the water.