The Broads National Park – Wetlands, Rivers, and Open Skies

A Low-Lying Wetland Landscape Shaped by Water Management and History

The Broads National Park is a unique protected landscape in England, forming a defining part of the East of England. The park spans large areas of Norfolk and Suffolk, shaped by a network of navigable rivers, shallow lakes, and low-lying wetlands collectively known as the Broads.

Unlike upland national parks, the Broads are defined by water, openness, and wide horizontal landscapes beneath expansive skies. This makes the area especially well suited to gentle walking, slow travel, and nature-led outdoor adventures, with routes following rivers, floodbanks, and quiet lanes rather than steep terrain. The landscape complements nearby coastal walking in the Norfolk Coast National Landscape, offering an inland contrast of wetlands, waterways, and grazing marsh.

Walking here is calm, immersive, and unrushed. Waterside paths, embankments, and peaceful lanes link villages, windmills, river crossings, and nature reserves, creating routes ideal for self-guided exploration at a relaxed pace. Walking in the Broads is shaped by light, weather, and wildlife as much as distance, encouraging slow movement and time spent absorbing the landscape.

The national park is commonly understood as two closely connected areas — the Norfolk Broads and the Suffolk Broads — each with its own character. The Norfolk Broads are broader and more expansive, with wide rivers and open grazing marsh, while the Suffolk Broads feel quieter and more enclosed, shaped by narrower waterways and woodland fringes along the River Waveney.

Beyond walking, the Broads are one of the UK’s most important landscapes for wildlife-focused outdoor adventures. Reedbeds, fens, and open water support rare birds, insects, and plant life, making the park internationally significant for biodiversity. Canoeing, paddleboarding, and boating sit naturally alongside walking, while cycling is gentle and exploratory, favouring flat terrain and quiet rural lanes.

Accommodation is spread across villages and small towns throughout the park, from traditional inns and riverside guesthouses to countryside B&Bs and waterside stays. Bases such as Horning, Wroxham, Ranworth, Beccles, and the area around St Benet’s Abbey provide excellent access to walking routes, river crossings, and wildlife-rich sections of both the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads.

Whether you’re following riverside paths, linking villages across open marsh, or combining walking with time on the water, The Broads National Park offers a peaceful and rewarding alternative to England’s upland walking landscapes.

Where to Walk and Explore

River Bure & Northern Broads

‍Waterside walking routes linking villages, windmills, and open grazing marsh, with frequent opportunities for wildlife watching.

River Ant & Barton Broad

‍Quiet paths through reedbeds and broadland scenery, well suited to relaxed day walks and short linking routes.

River Waveney & Southern Broads

‍A calmer, more enclosed landscape on the Suffolk border, offering riverside walking between market towns and nature reserves.

Hickling Broad & Horsey Mere

‍Open wetland walking with big skies, coastal influence, and some of the richest birdlife in the park.

St Benet’s Abbey & the River Bure

‍A distinctive historic landmark set within open marshland, reached via footpaths, quiet roads, and river crossings.

Adventure Highlights

• Flat, accessible waterside walking routes
• Wildlife-rich wetlands, reedbeds, and grazing marsh
• Big-sky landscapes and changing light
• Canoeing, paddleboarding, and boating alongside walking
• Gentle cycling on quiet lanes and floodbanks
• One of England’s most peaceful national parks for slow travel