River Thurne
The Thurne is a stretch of river which gives access to Hickling Broad and Horsey Mere as well as flowing through Martham Broad.
Please see the River Thurne Depth Map (PDF) for maps and river depths in the below areas. Please note there are multiple pages to the PDF to click through.
Thurne Mouth to Womack Dyke (Thurne Reach)
The River Thurne joins the River Bure at Thurne Mouth, immediately after the Broads Authority 24-hour moorings at Boundary Farm, on the River Bure. The river is wide and deep but it’s a popular location and busy, especially near changeover days at the large hire yards, upstream at Potter Heigham. A 5mph speed limit applies on the main river to Potter Heigham.
Thurne Dyke is on the right, leading to a busy pub at the end. Moorings are available on both sides for customers. Thurne Mill is also on the right and is operational at certain times. Upstream the river continues wide with good water depth.
Womack Dyke and Womack Water (Womack Water)
Womack Dyke is on the left after Thurne Dyke and provides access to Womack Water. There is a draught restriction of 3.8m (12’6”) and a speed limit of 4mph. Take care when passing moored boats. There are Broads Authority 24-hour moorings on the right, with a footpath to Ludham village.
There are boatyards on the right and Womack Island is on the left, which also has Broads Authority 24-hour moorings. Keep to the middle of the waterway. The left bank is untended, and the roots of trees can prove hazardous.
To the right of Womack Water is Ludham Staithe, the public moorings for the village. Water and pump out facilities are available, as well as toilets, shops and pubs.
Womack Dyke to Candle Dyke (Potter Heigham Reach)
Continuing towards Potter Heigham, the main river is wide with no hazards, but it is popular with anglers, so look out for them. The approach to Potter Heigham is marked by a speed limit reduction to 4mph. There are holiday chalets on each bank. It is also busy with boatyards hiring cruisers and day boats as well as providing private moorings. There are Broads Authority 24-hour moorings with electric charging points on the right as you approach the bridge.
Potter Heigham Old Road Bridge is very low and narrow, and only smaller boats can pass under it. It has an average clearance of 1.98m (6’6”) and hired boats must use the bridge pilot service. Private boaters who are not familiar with the area are also advised to use the service. There is a strong tidal flow and the area approaching the bridge can be very busy. It is popular with anglers, boaters and onlookers, so take particular care when approaching the bridge. There is limited visibility through to the other side. Check the gauge boards carefully.
Beyond the Old Road Bridge is the New Road Bridge, which is easy to navigate, with a clearance of 2.31 m (7’7”). Immediately after the new bridge, on the right, are two sets of public moorings. There is a demasting mooring on the left bank for yachts wishing to pass through the bridges. The river is wide with good water depth available as far as Candle Dyke.
Candle Dyke to West Somerton (Somerton Reach)
The river narrows after passing Candle Dyke on your left. Ahead of you is Martham Ferry. Usually the floating bridge is swung clear of the navigation channel. If not, approach with care and wait for it to open. Martham Boat Dyke is situated immediately upstream of Martham Ferry, on your right. Martham Boat Dyke has no public moorings, and is narrow and shallow at the far end, so do not enter the dyke unless you are on a small boat. The stretch upstream past Martham Boat Dyke is often clear, with plenty of wildlife. There are many water plants in the river and those visible at the surface are water lilies, mare’s tail, pondweeds and starworts, which grow in abundance in the clear water. The Broads Authority cuts this growth in the channel between April and September. Typically, a 2m margin is left uncut on both sides of the channel, but the plants may not be visible on the surface.
Before reaching Martham Broad you have several sharp bends to navigate and the river narrows. The only access across Martham Broad is the channel, the rest is not navigable without a permit and the uncut edges are full of water plants. After Martham Broad comes the final approach to West Somerton, with Broads Authority 24-hour moorings on your left. There is a water point at the far end. This stretch of water has abundant water plants and fish, both of which are easily visible, owing to the clear water. The channel divides into two, leading to private moorings. This is the limit of the navigation.
Candle Dyke, Hickling Broad and Heigham Sound (Hickling Broad and Heigham Sound)
Candle Dyke is reed-fringed with bank protection piling. Enter it on the left, just past the boatyards at Martham. The speed limit here is 5mph. The channel shortly opens out, with large areas of water on both sides. Duck Broad is on the right and is not accessible in the summer. Entering Heigham Sound, the channel is clearly marked with posts and buoys, and boats should stay within it. There are large areas of reedbed on both sides and open water. Water plants such as water lilies, mare’s tail, pondweeds, starworts and stoneworts may be seen from the surface. Outside the channel the water depth is restricted and water plants cover most of the area. Broads Authority 24-hour moorings are available at Deep Go Dyke, White Slea and Deep Dyke.
Upstream is Hickling Broad; the channel is well marked with navigation posts. Water plants are very common. The marked channel is the only area that is regularly cut when growth is vigorous. Species such as spiked water milfoil, stoneworts, water lilies and mare’s tail are what you may see at the surface. Between April to October, any vessel travelling outside the marked channel is likely to encounter water plants. The final approach to Hickling Staithe and the Pleasure Boat Inn is marked with floating marker buoys, to guide boats through the shallower water where mobile sediment tends to accumulate in the extreme north-west corner of the broad. You must take care in this area at low water if your boat has a draught of more than 1.2m. The broad can be very busy as the sailing club organises regular racing. It is also popular with people on hired day boats and anglers.
Catfield Dyke is marked by navigation channel buoys on the left of Hickling Broad. It is narrow with limited turning space and the speed limit is 3mph. Some plant growth and roots stick to the middle of the channel. There are Broads Authority 24-hour moorings for three boats at Catfield Staithe.
On Hickling Broad and Heigham Sound there are winter wildfowl refuges at Ling’s Mill, Pleasure Island, Heigham Corner and Duck Broad, which are marked using yellow buoys. Boaters are asked to avoid the buoyed areas from November to March.
Horsey Mere and Meadow Dyke (Horsey Mere and Meadow Dyke)
Enter Horsey Mere by way of Meadow Dyke, which is clearly marked on the left of Heigham Sound. When entering Meadow Dyke it is important to stay within the channel marked by the navigation posts due to shallow water and water plants outside it. The dyke has good water but meanders along its entire length. This is one of the most beautiful navigable channels in the Broads. The speed limit is 5mph, but the dyke is only just wide enough for two larger boats to pass, so take particular care. Water plants such as water lilies, mare’s tail, starworts and pondweeds can be seen from the surface. On your right you look out across Heigham Holmes, with farm buildings in the distance. You will pass the entrance to Stubbs Mill Dyke on your left, but this is only suitable for canoes or dinghies.
At the end of Meadow Dyke is Horsey Mere, a large expanse of water with reasonable water depth. Watch out for water plants such as mare’s tail and water lilies near the reed fringed edges; keel boats should take care. There are the remains of an old island marked with posts and buoys in the middle of the mere. If you continue across the mere to the northeast corner you will find Horsey Staithe, with refreshments and the recently restored Horsey Windpump.
Between 1 November and 1 March, navigation on the mere is restricted to two marked channels from Meadow Dyke. The first leads to the staithe and the second to Waxham Cut. This restriction is due to the importance of the mere as a winter waterbird refuge.
Waxham Cut (Waxham New Cut )
This is a narrow dyke leading out from the north-west corner of the mere and the approach is shown by two leading marks. The speed limit is 3mph From April to September. Water plants are common in this stretch and there is typically a 1m margin left uncut on each side of the channel. Water lilies, mare’s tail and pondweeds may be seen from the surface. At the pumping station at Brograve Mill the channel splits and you should proceed on the right channel. At the remains of the mill, the channel widens briefly allowing most boats to turn. Only proceed if your boat is less than 30’ in length and will fit under the bridge. Above Brograve Mill the channel is supports good water plant growth.