The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads is probably the best place in the UK today if you want to see both the countryside and experience what wildlife the countryside has to offer. This area is home to some of the rarest plants and animals in the UK either in the grassland field and wooded areas or the inland waterways that occupy this area.
Whilst this area is not a National Park in the UK, it does come with a level of protection that is very similar to that of a National Park and managed by the Broads Authority that is instructed to oversee this area.
The area contains approximately 120 square miles of countryside and a similar amount of waterways to include the seven rivers and 63 broads.
The rivers and broads in this area and date back to 1870 when the area was used as a form of transport with many people using these walkways to travel from London to the countryside of Norfolk both very quickly and easily. Whilst walking in this area is recommended the area is generally flat grassland and walking along the waterways and forms some fantastic day walking locations, however if you really want explore this area, you need to get yourself onto the waterway and explore either the rivers and broads across this area.
Generally we find that the best way to explore this area is combine both walking and exploration through the waterways. Typically the broads in this area, at least that ones that you want to explore, are located in the northern half of the Broadland Area and encompass the Rivers, Bure, Ant and Thurne.
If you are going to take my advice and combine a trip down the river with walking in the area, then make sure that you take advantage of the history in the region specifically with the windmills and wind pumps that dominate this area. If you want a real piece of history, make sure that you visit the Berney Arms Mill which dates back to the 19th centaury and is currently the tallest wind pump in the UK.
Walking is pretty flat, however there are over 200 miles of footpaths in the region with the majority being flat-guided walks with many stop off locations on route. Wildlife in this area is simply amazing and due to the fact that it’s a protected wetland area, it’s home to an array of birdlife to include mallard, greylag goose, Canada goose, grey heron, kestrels and sparrow hawk’s.
If you don’t want to just relax on a boat and spend your time walking in the area, there are many other things to do from angling and bush craft courses to cycling and canoeing.