Accessible visits

National parks are for everyone and the Broads is no exception. In fact it offers many options for an accessible day out.

Easy access paths and boardwalks

A Quay Ranger in a blue polo shirt and life jacket hands a leaflet to an older person seated on a mobility scooter beside a canal. A small boat is moored nearby, with bunting and greenery along the waterside in the background.

These are often the best way to explore the marshy areas of the Broads and many are on nature reserves. They are suitable for wheelchair users and people with pushchairs.

  • Acle to Acle Bridge
    This path has been refurbished, with Access for All government funding. It’s now 1.5m wide and provides much better access than previously.
    01603 756094
  • Hoveton Riverside Park
    Ra boat trip from the park
  • Wheatfen, Surlingham (short boardwalk to bird hide)
    01508 538036
    wheatfen.org
  • Whitlingham Country Park
    whitlinghamcountrypark.com
    Two-mile fully accessible path around the broad, great for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, bikes and buggies. Off-road mobility scooter available to hire (£5 for 3 hours, book a time slot through the website) for use on the path around the broad and in most areas of the woodlands. The flint barn toilets include a changing places toilet with shower.

For more accessible ways to visit the Broads by land, go to cycling and horse riding, and Active travel.

Boat trips, boat hire and other boating activities

Please check with operators for details of wheelchairs and weights they can accommodate.

  • Beccles – River Waveney – Waveney Stardust
    Private cruises for groups with at least one person who requires accessible facilities. Single-deck cruiser with ramp and hydraulic lift, designed for wheelchair users and people with other disabilities, for groups of up to 12 passengers, up to six in wheelchairs. Skipper and crew included, galley and accessible toilet, other starting point may be available (Brundall), book in advance.  
    07817 920502
    waveneystardust.co.uk
  • Horning – River Bure – Southern Comfort
    Takes up to five wheelchair users on its scheduled trips and private sailings. Please book.
    01692 630262
    southern-comfort.co.uk
  • Hoveton – River Bure – Ra
  • Martham – River Thurne – Ross’ Wildlife Boat Trips
    Daily trips on a classic boat, based at Martham Boats. Good access for those with limited mobility and room for one wheelchair user. Small group size allows commentary to be tailored to individual needs; popular with visually impaired visitors. Book in advance (by text is best); on the day, you may be able to book at departure point.
    07791 526440
    wildlife-boat-trips.co.uk
  • Neatishead – River Ant – Nancy Oldfield Trust
    Day activities for disabled and disadvantaged people.
    01692 630572
    nancyoldfield.org.uk

Let’s hear more about what they offer from the Centre Manager:

“We provide facilities whereby anyone who is disadvantaged in any way, or who has a physical, intellectual, or emotional disability, either temporary or permanent, can enjoy a range of water-based activities. We also offer well-being on the water and there’s lots of wildlife to spot too, including kingfishers, otters and even the elusive bittern!

“We have four accessible motor cruisers, two of which are electric. One is at our base in Neatishead, two are at Ludham Bridge and our new electric cruiser, Hazel, is based at Richardson’s boatyard at Stalham, with very easy access for our visitors. All the cruisers are fitted with hydraulic wheelchair lifts and have ramps to allow anyone in a wheelchair full access so that they can enjoy the freedom of boating. They all have kitchen and toilet facilities. Trips explore the rivers Ant, Bure and Thurne, so they are many and varied – they can take in Hunsett Mill on the way to Dilham, How Hill for an ice cream, or go further afield towards St Benet’s Abbey and the hustle and bustle of Horning.

“Our strong sailing fleet (we’re an RYA Training Centre) enables a group of individuals to sail together, improving coordination, communication and team building. Dinghies can all be adapted with supportive seating to enable anyone to sail. Canoes, pedal boats and a mega paddleboard can all be used with supportive seating if required.

“We also have two self-catering holiday houses, designed for guests with physical disabilities. The bungalow at Neatishead sleeps up to 10 people, for weekends and short breaks.

“No one is excluded from any of our water activities, and we welcome both individuals and groups for one-off visits and regular bookings. Family, friends and carers are very welcome too.”

Here's what just one 2025 visitor had to say:

“Thank you so much for arranging the boat trip from Stalham on your new boat on Tuesday 12th August at 1.30pm with Georgie and John. I had an amazing experience which is hard to find the words to describe. Being able to move around in my wheelchair without being locked in one place was a delight. The boat is so spacious, and the view was perfect with the high floor. The design has been well thought out and an unexpected bonus to sit out on deck at the back – truly wonderful.”

  • Oulton Broad – River Waveney – Waveney River Tours
    Some capacity for manual wheelchairs – book in advance.
    01502 574903
    waveneyrivertours.com
  • Oulton Broad – River Waveney – Waveney Sailability
    Club for people with disabilities, offering the opportunity to sail in specially adapted dinghies.
    07914 057678
    waveneysailability.co.uk
  • South Walsham – River Bure – Primula
    Wheelchair-accessible boat trip (additional charge, book in advance) when you visit Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden. For best prices, book in advance.
    01603 270449
    fairhavengarden.co.uk
  • Stalham – River Ant – Marsh Harrier
    Boat trip on an Edwardian-style electric launch, with space for two wheelchair users, based at the Museum of the Broads. Booking essential.
    01692 581681
    museumofthebroads.org.uk
  • Wroxham – River Bure – Broads Tours
    Two river trip boats, one with one manual wheelchair space and one with two spaces. Pre-booking essential. Wheelchair users are situated on the top deck, where there is an accessible toilet on both boats. There’s also an accessible day boat available for three hours or more, for up to five people, including one wheelchair user.
    01603 782207
    broadstours.co.uk

Moorings

Most Broads Authority 24-hour moorings are level and without steps.

Angling

These places have platforms or other access suitable for wheelchair users. They are free or for use with day tickets. For more angling info go to:

broads-authority.gov.uk/angling

VisitTheBroads.co.uk/angling

River Yare
  • Buckenham Ferry
  • Postwick – platforms upstream of Ferry Lane
River Waveney
  • Bungay Cherry Tree Angling Club – membership and day or week tickets from Angling Direct, Beccles 01502 713379 and other local outlets; membership may be required for accessible sites
    bungaycherrytree.co.uk
  • Ellingham – 1 platform
  • Worlingham Staithe – platforms
River Bure
  • Upton Dyke
River Thurne
  • Ludham – Cold Harbour Farm
  • Martham Pits – day tickets from Co-op shops in Martham
    The Green, 01493 740230 and Repps Road, 01493 740190
    marthamdistrictac.weebly.com
  • Potter Heigham – south-east (Martham) bank, upstream of the New Bridge – 10 platforms
Trinity Broads
  • Filby Broad – on one boardwalk
  • Rollesby Broad

Accessible days out – on video

Watch our video highlighting some of the more accessible places to visit in the Broads National Park – it’s available on YouTube youtube.com/watch?v=4KvfMlZ416g

VisitTheBroads.co.uk/access

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