Walking Holidays & Outdoor Adventures Across the Norfolk Broads
Open Waters, Big Skies, and Classic Broadland Landscapes
Where wide rivers open onto expansive broads, windmills rise above grazing marsh, and walking routes follow open water beneath some of England’s biggest skies.
The Norfolk Broads form the northern and most expansive part of The Broads National Park, covering large areas of Norfolk in the East of England. Defined by wide navigable rivers, open broads, reedbeds, and grazing marsh, the Norfolk Broads offer a more open, water-dominated landscape than the quieter, more enclosed Suffolk Broads to the south.
Walking holidays in the Norfolk Broads are shaped by space, water, and horizon. Routes follow riverbanks, flood embankments, waterside paths, and quiet lanes linking broads, villages, windmills, and nature reserves. The landscape feels broad and open, with long views across marshland and water creating a strong sense of calm and scale.
The River Bure, River Ant, River Thurne, and River Yare form the backbone of walking in the Norfolk Broads. These waterways connect some of the area’s best-known landscapes, including Barton Broad, Hickling Broad, Horsey Mere, and Ranworth Broad. Walking routes link villages such as Horning, Wroxham, Ludham, and Potter Heigham, offering gentle distances and varied scenery with frequent access to water.
Walking here is defined by rhythm and light rather than elevation. One stretch may follow a reed-fringed river alive with birdsong, the next cross open grazing marsh beneath vast skies. Windmills, boatyards, and historic churches punctuate the landscape, while riverside paths provide constant visual connection to the water.
Beyond walking, the Norfolk Broads are ideally suited to water-based and wildlife-focused outdoor adventures. Canoeing, paddleboarding, and boating integrate naturally with walking routes, allowing journeys that combine land and water. Reedbeds, fen, and open broads support internationally important birdlife, making the area especially rewarding for nature-led travel.
Cycling is gentle and accessible, with flat terrain and quiet roads linking broads, villages, and nature reserves. Floodbank routes and rural lanes favour relaxed exploration rather than speed, making the Norfolk Broads well suited to slow cycling holidays alongside walking.
Accommodation is widespread across the area, with riverside inns, guesthouses, and B&Bs positioned close to walking routes and waterways. Bases such as Horning, Wroxham, Ranworth, Ludham, and villages around Hickling and Horsey provide excellent access to the Broads while remaining well connected by rail, footpath, and river networks.
For walkers seeking open landscapes, water-rich scenery, and a classic Broadland sense of space, the Norfolk Broads offer one of England’s most distinctive and relaxing walking environments.
Where to Walk and Explore
River Bure & Northern Broads
Riverside paths and embankments linking villages, windmills, grazing marsh, and open broads in the heart of northern Broadland.
River Ant & Barton Broad
Quiet walking through reedbeds and wetland scenery, ideal for gentle day walks and wildlife watching.
Hickling Broad & Horsey Mere
One of the most open and wildlife-rich parts of the Broads, offering wide skies, open water, and expansive marshland walking.
Ranworth Broad & St Benet’s Abbey
A distinctive combination of open marsh, historic ruins, and waterside paths along the River Bure.
Adventure Highlights
- Wide rivers and open broads with expansive views
- Riverside and floodbank walking across grazing marsh
- Canoeing, paddleboarding, and boating alongside walking routes
- Exceptional birdlife in reedbeds, fens, and open water
- Gentle cycling on flat lanes and embankments
- Classic Broadland villages, windmills, and waterside landscapes