River Bure
The River Bure is the longest of the rivers on the Broads and is navigable from Bure Mouth at Great Yarmouth to Horstead Mill, just beyond Coltishall.
Please see the River Bure Depth Map (PDF) for maps and river depths in the below areas. Please note there are multiple pages to the PDF to click through.
Bure Mouth to Bure Loop
Boaters heading from the Southern to the Northern Broads will pass through Breydon Bridge to enter the River Bure, turning left past the yellow post. This passage is tidal, and currents can be significant. Prior planning is essential, and all boaters should refer to detailed information on how to cross Breydon Water safely. Hire boats are strictly prohibited from entering the Port of Great Yarmouth area.
Immediately upstream of Bure Mouth, there are two bridges that do not open or swing and have limited high water clearance of 2.13m (7’)). We recommend that boats depart or enter at low water or slack water (approximately 1 hour after low tide at Great Yarmouth). You must check your air draught before undertaking this passage. There are emergency and demasting points either side of Breydon Bridge and at Bure Mouth. The strongest tides on the navigation are experienced in this area and it is essential to plan any transit of Bure Mouth well in advance.
Great Yarmouth Yacht Station staff have extensive expertise and experience, and it is advisable to contact them on 01493 842794 (Easter to end October) for guidance as to the prevailing conditions and bridge heights. In winter, please call Broads Control on 01603 756056.
The speed limit here is 5mph and it is important to stay on the right side of the channel. Just above the road bridge is Great Yarmouth Yacht Station. Chargeable moorings are available (Easter to end October) with water points, showers and an electric charging point. There is good access to the town of Great Yarmouth with its shops, beach, entertainment and leisure facilities.
The speed limit here is 5mph. Take great care to stay on the right of the channel. If you are planning to moor at the yacht station, please ensure that the driver of the boat has a window open so they can hear instructions from the staff. Everyone on board should wear a life jacket.
Continue upstream past the yacht station and the disused Marina Quays. Stay within the marked channel due to shallow water and potential hazards on the river margins. At low water, stay towards the centre of the channel because of shallow banks and mud banks that can move with the tides. The speed limit increases to 6mph beyond Marina Quays.
Bure Loop to Scare Gap (Ashtree Farm Reach)
This stretch of the river is reed fringed in places. In places the channel is marked with navigation posts. At low water we recommend that you stay within the middle third of the river to avoid any potential problems.
There is a Broads Authority emergency mooring at Scare Gap on the left bank, a short distance beyond Ash Tree Farm.
Scare Gap to Five Mile House (Mautby Reach)
The river is wide, and meandering and the speed limit continues at 6mph. Stay clear of bank protection works where stone cages have been used and the bank re-profiled.
Five Mile House to Six Mile House (Six Mile House Reach)
This stretch has reed fringes with good water depth although the banks can be shallow around bends.
Six Mile House to Stracey Arms Mill (Stracey Arms Reach)
As you approach the newly restored Stracey Arms Mill the speed limit reduces to 5mph. There are good moorings here, but this is very close to the main A47 Acle Straight and traffic noise is evident. Continuing upstream there are reed fringed stretches with a good depth of water.
Stracey Arms Mill to Stokesby (Stokesby Reach)
Immediately past Stracey Arms Mill moorings the speed limit increases to 6mph.This is an open stretch of river with a good depth of water alongside the reeds fringing both banks. As you approach Stokesby the speed limit again reduces to 5mph. There are some moorings available including Broads Authority 24-hour mooring with electric charging points downstream of the pub. Tidal flow can be significant.
Stokesby to Acle Bridge (Acle Reach)
Beyond Stokesby, the speed limit increases to 6mph until the approaches to Acle. The river is extensively reed fringed as you head upstream and there is a good depth of water. Acle Boat Dyke and moorings are on your left. This is a public dyke with private moorings but it is narrow and large boats may have difficulty in turning. There is a width restriction of 3.8m (12’6”) in the dyke.
Acle Bridge has a high water clearance of 3.66m (12’). The area can be busy with boatyard activity and visitors using the facilities.
Acle Bridge to Upton Dyke (Upton Reach)
The speed limit increases to 6mph past Acle. The river is wide and deep with clear views over the surrounding countryside. Bridgecraft boatyard is located on the left just beyond Acle Bridge. There are pump out facilities, water and diesel available. Opposite Bridgecraft you will also find Broads Auhtority 24-hour moorings, with electric charging points, waste disposal facilities and toilets. You may notice the effect of the tide around the bridge area particularly. Further upstream on the left is the entrance to Upton Dyke. This is a public dyke with private moorings available at the end. The dyke is narrow and large boats may have difficulty in turning. Speed is limited here to 3mph.
Upton Dyke to Thurne Mouth (Thurne Mouth Reach)
This is a wide, open reach which enjoys unobstructed views over the surrounding area. You pass Oby Dyke on your right. This is a private mooring dyke. The depth of water is good but take care near bank re-profiling works on your left. You are recommended to keep a safe distance of 2m from the bank. Thurne Mouth is on the right, just past the Broads Authority 24-hour moorings at Boundary Farm. The speed limit reduces to 5mph at this point and continues to Cockshoot Dyke, Horning.
Thurne Mouth to Fleet Dyke (St Benet’s Reach)
There is a line of buoys on the left, on the Upton Marshes side just after Thurne Mouth. This reach enjoys clear views across the adjoining farmland. The banks have been re-profiled by recent flood defence works and you are advised to stay at least 2m from the edge to ensure adequate water depth. You will pass the site of the South Walsham drainage pump on the left as you continue upstream towards St Benet's Abbey, which will come into view on your right. There are navigation posts here to keep you clear of the dangerous remains of flint walls alongside the bank adjoining the site. There are Broads Authority 24-hour moorings opposite Fleet Dyke. The 5mph speed limit still applies. The river can be very busy here at peak times with boats joining this stretch from the River Ant and South Walsham.
Fleet Dyke and South Walsham Broad
To get to South Walsham go along Fleet Dyke, which you enter on the left after the Broads Authority 24-hour moorings at St Benet's Abbey. The speed limit in the dyke is 4mph. This is a scenic and generally safe stretch, but there are some tight bends to negotiate. Moorings are available in the dyke but mud weighting on the broad is allowed. The inner broad is navigable but take care as there are shallow areas. Mud weighting and mooring in the reeds is not permitted on the inner broad. The best advice is to enter the inner broad and enjoy its beauty, turn around and return to the main broad.
Fleet Dyke to Horning
A short, straight stretch with the St Benet’s Abbey Broads Authority 24-hour moorings on the right brings you to the mouth of the River Ant, again to the right. The river meanders through a mixture of reed fringes and trees until reaching Ranworth Dam on the left. This is a narrow and straight dyke that leads to Malthouse Broad. There is a speed limit of 4mph. As you cross Malthouse Broad, Ranworth Staithe is directly ahead, where Broads Authority 24-hour moorings are available. Boats must moor stern-on and there is a charge for this mooring. The staithe has fresh water and electric charging points.
Ranworth Dam to Decoy Broad (Horning Reach)
Follow the river upstream from Ranworth Dam and you will pass the old waterworks on the right and then Horning Church. After Horning Church moorings on the right, you will follow a bend to the left. This straight section of river is a designated boat testing area but only for authorised boatyards at certain times. Upstream, Cockshoot Broads Authority 24-hour moorings are on the left. The speed limit further reduces to 4mph. A short distance further on, the area is busy with moorings on both sides of the river at Woodbastwick. Horning Street follows and has several large and small boatyards. Broads Authority 24-hour moorings are available on the right at Horning Staithe. On the opposite bank there are privately owned moorings at Perci's Island, where a charge is payable. A large trip boat operates from just beyond Horning Staithe. On the bend is Horning Sailing Club and if there is racing it is advisable to go dead slow along right bank in single file and follow directions given by sailing club safety crew. From here there are houses on the right and reeds on the left to the end of the village. There are boatyards in Horning with pump out facilities, diesel and water available.
Immediately after you leave Horning and enter the 5mph limit you will see the entrance to Black Horse Broad, otherwise known as Hoveton Little Broad. This has a gated entrance and is opened seasonally. Details of the opening times are available on a sign at the entrance.
Decoy Broad to Wroxham Broad (Salhouse Reach)
The river continues through trees and reeds past Dydall's Mill on the right and Decoy Staithe on the left. There are red marker posts on the left before the first entrance to Salhouse Broad, where there are chargeable moorings. There is a 4mph speed limit on Salhouse Broad and it is a popular mixed watersports area, so be aware of mooring boats, paddle craft, dinghies and trip boats. The second entrance to the broad is a short distance upsteam. Keep clear of the marked shallow areas. To your right is Hoveton Great Broad, which is not navigable, but there is a Natural England nature trail with some free moorings are available for those wishing to take the kilometre-long circular walk.
The river continues to wind between trees with a long, straight stretch just before Wroxham Broad. This straight stretch is a designated boat testing area at certain times, for authorised boatyards.
After the boat testing stretch, the first turn on the left is the south entrance to Wroxham Broad. The sailing club holds races regularly and if there are yachts racing, travel along the edge of the broad, which can be shallow with submerged obstacles such as fallen trees. Alternatively, stay on the river, passing Wroxham Broad on the left. There are two Broads Authority 24-hour moorings on Wroxham Island.
Wroxham Broad to Wroxham Railway Bridge (Wroxham Reach)
Immediately after the north entrance to the broad the 4mph speed limit for Wroxham starts. The river soon runs between houses, bungalows and private dykes. Take care as you approach the centre of the village. A bridge gauge board is on the right as you go through the village, giving you advance warning of the height available at Wroxham Bridge, which is a little further along. You must take extreme care in this area, as there are many day boats, cruisers and large commercial trip boats using the river here. As you round the bend, Wroxham Bridge is in front of you. On the right and just before the bridge is Granary Staithe, where you can meet the bridge pilot if you need one. The bridge has clearance of 2.3m (7’6”) at average high water and there are warning chains just before it. It is arched and there are strong currents. The railway viaduct ahead has 4.57m (15') clearance but you must only use the centre span. Between the two bridges, on the right you will find Broads Authority 24-hour stern-on moorings, with electric charging points. Hoveton Riverside Park is also on the right and has a paddle craft launch area.
Wroxham Railway Bridge to Belaugh (Belaugh Reach)
As you leave the railway viaduct and continue upstream, there are Broads Authority 24-hour moorings on the right. On the left is Bridge Broad. You can cross it and rejoin the river at its second entrance. The river is tree-lined and narrow in places so take care on bends. The first long straight is another boat testing area for authorised boatyards. Travelling upstream you pass Caen Meadow and Castle Staithe on the left. A little further on is the entrance to Belaugh Broad on the right and Norton's Broad on the left. Neither of these is navigable. There are no recommended mooring places until you reach Belaugh, where a 3mph limit applies. There are two public moorings in Belaugh, one of which is a Broads Authority 24-hour free mooring, with car parking and a paddle craft launch area.
Belaugh to Horstead (Coltishall Reach)
Continuing towards Coltishall, the river is narrow and meanders between tree-lined stretches with reed fringes. Water plants are common in this stretch. The plants are cut between May and September but will grow well if conditions are right. It is worth checking and clearing your weed filter on a regular basis. This stretch of river is also popular with paddle craft. Another 3mph limit starts at Anchor Street and the Anchor Moorings.
A little further on is Coltishall Common, with Broads Authority 24-hour moorings. You can continue to Coltishall Lock, where you’ll find informal moorings and a turning area before the lock gates. Please note that the river is very narrow as it leads to the lock so approach slowly and carefully. Water plants are prevalent in this stretch from May to September and there is typically a margin left uncut on each river edge, which may not be visible on the surface. There are also areas of natural sand and gravel riverbed, which at some states of tide are shallower than the stated 1.2m Waterways Specification navigable depth for this reach. Please see the more detailed map (page 17 of the PDF) showing the location of the shallow stretch of waterway as you head towards Coltishall Lock. As these features are part of the natural river form, dredging to remove them is not part of the current Sediment Management Strategy. The left fork to the Horstead Mill pond is shallow and not suitable for motor craft.
The River Bure was surveyed for water plants in 2022 and was the second most species-rich of all the rivers. The most dominant species was Nuttall’s waterweed, followed by unbranched bur-reed and arrowhead.