Breydon Water and River Yare (commercial and larger vessels)
To be read in conjunction with River Yare Depth Maps (PDF)
Vessels navigating between Great Yarmouth and Norwich will enter the Broads Authority navigation area after leaving the Great Yarmouth Port area at Haven Bridge.
Commercial vessels over 24m wishing to navigate in Broads Authority waters must have prior permission from the Navigation Officer. A minimum of seven days’ notice is required. Please contact Broads Control on 01603 756056 to initiate this process. Vessels entering the navigation must also pay the appropriate toll. For details, please contact the tolls department on 01603 756080.
Advance clearance to make a transit of Great Yarmouth Port is necessary from Port Marine Services (Yarmouth Radio) on VHF channel 12 or by telephone on 01493 335511. There are two bridges in the Great Yarmouth Port area, which can be opened if required. Bridge lifts must be booked in advance, details can be found on the Peel Ports (Great Yarmouth) website, see Great Yarmouth | Eastern Opportunity | Peel Ports.
Once in the Broads Authority area, byelaws and speed limits apply, see Byelaws and speed limits.
Great Yarmouth to Reedham
The River Bure joins on the starboard side, just before a yellow post. This area can be very busy between March and November with hired vessels as it is the link between the northern and southern Broads. There are strong tides here and vessels may emerge from the Bure at considerable speed during the ebb, so it is best to keep in the centre of the river. There are two low, fixed bridges at the lower end of the Bure.
Breydon Bridge, carrying the A47 trunk road, is ahead. The bridge is operated by Peel Ports (Great Yarmouth) and if a lift is required it must be booked in advance, as with the bridges in the Great Yarmouth Port area (see above). Smaller vessels are directed to pass though the bridge using the spans to starboard of the centre.
The main channel of Breydon Water then bends to port and is clearly marked with posts. Beyond the marker posts there are extensive mudflats, covered at high water. All vessels must stay in the marked channel as the water outside is very shallow, even at high water. There is a substantial jetty to port, suitable for large vessels.
At the upstream end of Breydon Water, the channel splits into two with the River Waveney to port and the River Yare, leading to Norwich, to starboard. A 5mph speed limit applies past the moorings.
The Yare is wide and deep. There are no hazards until Haddiscoe New Cut joins the river to port at Reedham, as you approach the railway swing bridge. The bridge will be opened on demand but rail traffic has priority, so large vessels are advised to contact the bridge operator well in advance on VHF channel 12 or 0330 858 4655 to ensure arrival at a suitable time. We advise particular caution here as this is a popular location for boating visitors and the tides are strong.
Reedham to Brundall
The river is wide and deep, and the speed limit increases to 6mph beyond the village. Reedham chain ferry is a short distance upstream and the speed limit reduces to 5mph on the approaches. Only pass the ferry when it is docked, and the chains are lowered.
Upstream of the ferry the speed limit increases to 6mph. To port is the mouth of the River Chet. The Yare continues to be wide and deep with reed-fringed banks.
Cantley sugar beet factory is to starboard, and the speed limit reduces to 5mph on approach to the village and moorings. Continuing upriver the next speed reduction to 5mph is at Beauchamp Arms, beyond Langley Dyke to port. Rockland Broad is also to port and there is access to it for small vessels from two dykes.
The main channel continues to Brundall, where the speed limit reduces to 5 mph. It is important to stay well within this limit as the area is generally very busy. It is the main mooring and marina area on the upper river. Brundall has a yacht club at Coldham Hall that races regularly throughout the year. The river continues through a long sweeping bend that runs past holiday chalets and boatyards. Take care as there are often boats turning to berth or refuel and fishing is popular from the chalets.
Brundall to Norwich
To port, just past the sailing club and Coldham Hall Tavern, Bird’s Dyke leads to an entrance to Bargate Broad. There is another entrance upstream of the village.
The river continues past Brundall Gardens Marina to Surlingham Ferry House to port, where the speed limit reduces to 5mph. There are no major hazards to negotiate but the area can be busy with visiting boats.
There are popular moorings for small boats at Bramerton, where the river sweeps to starboard on the approaches to Norwich.
The A47 viaduct at Postwick is limited to craft with less than a 10.67m (35’) air draught at high water. There are shallows close to the banks, particularly on the inside of bends. There is a marina to starboard and this can be another very busy area, popular with paddlecraft, sailors, rowers, and anglers.
The route towards Norwich takes you past Whitlingham Country Park to port and Thorpe to starboard. The main channel keeps to port until the confluence of the rivers Yare and Wensum at Trowse Eye. The final approach to Norwich is the starboard channel, along the Wensum. The river is shallow at this location due to underground pipes.
Beyond this point there are four lifting or swing bridges. If bridge lifts are required, prior planning is necessary before navigating this stretch.
Trowse railway swing bridge is the first. It has a high-water clearance of 2.74m (9’). Network Rail requires seven days’ notice to open it. The opening times are Monday to Sunday 02.00am to 04.00am, with an additional opening on Sundays at 09.05am. To arrange an opening please call Network Rail on 01603 675297 or 01603 763440.
Three opening bridges follow, one lifting road and two swing pedestrian bridges. These are operated by Norfolk County Council and if opening is required, please contact Broads Control on 01603 236056, giving 24 hours’ notice. Carrow road bridge, with a high-water clearance of 4.27m (14’). Novi Sad pedestrian bridge, with a high-water clearance of 4.88m (16’). Lady Julian pedestrian bridge, with a high water clearance of 3.63m (11’11”).
Beyond this is a wide area where larger vessels can turn, but it marks the limit of the navigation for such craft as the next bridge is a fixed road bridge with limited clearance.