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Day 1 - Picked up our boat at 3 o'clock, and off we set. We started at Horning, and decided to go down the River Bure to Acle.

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If you like bird feeding, boating is fantastic.  There are loads of different birds, and we went through numerous loaves of bread.

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First stop, Acle bridge and the Bridge Inn.  Don't be tempted to moor when you first see boats, as you should be able to get in by the pub (for free if you buy booze).  Average food, and commercial beer, such as Directors Ale and Smiths. You can however, abandon your sleeping child and partake of alcohol in the beer garden, whilst remaining about 10' from the boat.   Pub rating **

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You'll need bikes or good walking legs to go into the village of Acle, but it's pretty and worth the effort

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DAY 2 - Past Acle, you come to the lovely village of Stokesby, and the even lovelier Ferry Inn.  At Stokesby, you can visit the craft centre (yawn!!), or preferably you can head straight for the Ferry Inn.  If you follow our route, this will be your first (but not only) encounter with Adnams brewery.  Sitting outside on the waters edge, I discovered Adnam's 'Broadside' (strong, dark, served cold).   Pub rating *** (lost a * for mingin' toilets)

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Onto to Stracey Arms Wind pump.   A tourist attraction come animal rescue centre, there are loads of animals wandering around (see photo below left) and the shop is worth a root around.  In the shop you'll find Webster's Yorkshire Bitter to keep on the boat in case you forgot to bring any.  Incidentally, sober boat captains are in the rarity on the broads, and at a maximum of 6 mph, you'd have trouble killing a reed.

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Charli got a little too close to this family of swans, so their mum came at her!!!!

There's nothing after this point on the River Bure other than Great Yarmouth, so turn around and head up the River Thurne.

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Up the River Thurne to Potter Heigham. This is the approach, and as you can see there is little mooring to be had.  It is rare that you can get under Potter Heigham bridge (below left), so this may be as far as you can go on the River Thurne.

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If you want to see Potter Heigham Bridge and you have bikes, it is easier to moor on Womack Water, leading to Ludham and cycle (takes 10-15 minutes top).  The bridge is worth a look if you like old stuff. 

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Don't be tempted to moor in Ludham, as all the saddo's get there really early and you have to pay.  Moor up on the right hand bank (as you go up Womack Water) and you'll find a footpath leading into Ludham (5-10 minute walk). Ludham church is worth a quick glance.

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When you discover the Broadshaven Tavern, you'll wonder why Potter Heigham is so popular?  This place is a dive.  The food is OK, but he pub interior is poor and the place is full of flies and wasps.  Beer choice is poor, with only commercial stuff available. Pub rating * Console yourself with an early breaky and feed the millions of ducks waiting outside your boat.  Set of back up the River Thurne and head for the River Ant.

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DAY 3  Back on the River Bure, heading back towards Horning and the River Ant, you'll discover St.Benets Abbey.   Well worth mooring up and having a poke around.  Sadly no beer, not even Abbot's Ale (ho ho, chuckle, chuckle). 

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First stop for historians on the River Ant has to be How Hill and Toad Hole Cottage.  Next is onto Sutton Straithe and the Sutton Inn pub, which unfortunately we had to by-pass due to boat engine failure.   From Sutton Straithe you can visit the local pottery center and windmill. This photo is of one of Broads characters.  We bumped into him and his life jacket wearing dog several times.

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Onto Stalham Straithe and the village of Stalham.  Here you'll find a top class butcher with brilliant sausages.  Try the pork and red wine !!   Also in Stalham is the Grebe Pub, wrongly referred to as the Glebe in many guide books.  Here you will find 'Elgood's Old Smoothie', a potent treacle like mild which glides slowly down your throat.  Real local's pub, no frills, great bar staff.  Pub rating ***

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What a bloody nightmare this place was.  We carried on up the River Ant to the end, which is a place called Dilham.  There is supposed to be 2 nice pubs here, but unfortunately there are only about 4 moorings spots and the saddo's start mooring up dead early to get a spot.  You have to turn around, and the river is about as wide as your boat is long - enough said.  Tip - don't bother going to Dilham, it's not worth it.

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Leaving Dilham as just a painful memory, head back down the River Ant to Wayford.  Moor up on this (see above) side of the bridge.  All the saddo's are on the other side because it's free, but this side gets the sun and the scenery, but you pay £3 for the night.  The Wayford Bridge Hotel is a must for dinner and alcohol, but you'll need to book and not just turn up.  The food is fantastic, as is the ambiance and the beer. Plus the bar staff are all elderly and have a tendency to forget to charge for rounds!!!!! You'll find Adnams bitter, which is a nice easy going pint, and the brain wrecking M&B Mild, which goes down (and up to your head) a treat. Pub rating ****.

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DAY 4  Heading back up the River Ant to the River Bure and onto Wroxham.  It's worth trying to moor at Ramworth, because it looks OK. However, the saddo's are there and won't leave for fear of someone 'stealing' their spot, so mooring is few and far between.  

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So onto Wroxham, the supposed capital of the Broads.  There is some serious money in Wroxham, and a serious lack of mooring. Tip - read your boat stuff carefully and try to find a boat yard in Wroxham that has a mooring deal with the people you hire the boat from.  Failing that, go under Wroxham bridge (below left) and look for mooring there.  

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Once moored, head for the Kings Head (near Wroxham Bridge for nice food, lovely outside area and average beer choice.  Best choice is Director's Ale.  Leave the girlies to go shopping in Roy's of Wroxham.  Pub rating ***.

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Leaving Wroxham, we turned around and headed back to Horning for our last night.  Again, almost no mooring, so try the mooring deal trick again??  

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Then it's off to the Ferry Inn for dinner.  Get there earlyish, because it's a carvary and you have to queue up.  The food is simply, but the price reflects this.  Beer choice is limited, but you will find John Smiths or the more impressive Theakston's Mild, so not too disappointing.  There's crazy golf and seating by the river. Pub rating **.

If you get the chance, try to get an early start one morning on the Broads.  The Rivers are untouched and the images can be quite beautiful.

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DAY 5 - Leaving the boat behind, we took the short trip to Great Yarmouth, dropping in at Caister Roman Fort.  Well worth a visit (free), if only to marvel at the bizarre location in the middle of a housing estate.

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Just outside Great Yarmouth you'll find this magical place - Burgh Castle.  Actually a fort, the name is confusing, but it's free to roam around, and in a great setting.  Time your visit well, as we did, and it's off to The Church Farm for luncheon and beverages!!!

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If you're not careful, you could miss this place (the Church Farm), but go past Burgh Castle and you will happen upon it by a camp site.  It's a freehouse, so the beer lovers will know where I'm going!!!  Order lunch from the snack menu, and you can get a huge burger with tonnes of chips for £2.50 to line your stomach with.  Then you can begin supping - you'll fine Adnams again, the tangy Abbot's Ale, and the wonderfully smooth Old Speckled Hen on draught.  Old codgers can ask for their ale in a tankard.  There's a play area for kids.  Tip - book early if you want a evening meal.  Pub rating ****.

Our evening was spent eating a rather pleasant and reasonably priced moussaka in Great Yarmouth and soaking up the evening atmosphere.  Charli enjoyed herself loads (left).  If you like loud mouthed southern blokes, blowing whistles (why?) and wearing cheap spanish gold necklaces outside their shirts (why???) then Great Yarmouth is for you!!

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DAY 6    The highlight of Great Yarmouth (so that gives you a clue!!) is the miniature village, but even that is ageing rapidly.  

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The rest of the morning was spent at the fair, where at least one person enjoyed themselves.

Another highlight of the whole holiday was the discovery of this place (left).  The Ship Inn in Caister is quite simply a great place to chill out.  We sat outside in the sun and vegetated before hitting the beach, which incidentally is much better than Great Yarmouth's beach.  Available beers were the dependable Flowers on draught, and disappointingly bland Green King Bitter.  Pub Rating ***.  A pleasant evening meal was obtained from The Rumbold Arms, near the docks (classy eh?).  Warm Adnams bitter was on offer, but this did not spoil the enormous and extremely tasty mixed grill.  Half a farm yard for just £7. Pub rating **.

DAY 7 - This was our last day on holiday, and as a special treat for Charli we took her to a place called Petits, which is a theme park for under 5's.  For those wanting to see a goat eating Amanda's blouse, special viewings of this video can be arranged.  

We stayed at the Sandy Acres Guest House.  A charming and accommodating place run by 2 of the nicest people you'd ever meet.  Our room was spacious and well looked after.  It was away from the noise of the town centre, but unfortunately the local pub had live music both nights so that didn't help.

If you are in Great Yarmouth, give them a try, you won't be disappointed. www.sandyacres.co.uk