Dog Friendly Norfolk Broads
Dog Friendly Norfolk Broads
Dog Friendly NORFOLK BROADS, Norwich
Date visited: May 2021
Coronavirus status:
Step 2 - Non-essential retail, most outdoor attractions and self-contained accommodation open. Hospitality venues serving outdoors only.
Dog Friendly Camping and Caravanning in NORFOLK BROADS
NORFOLK BROADS CARAVAN AND MOTORHOME CLUB SITE, Ludham, Great Yarmouth
The Norfolk Broads Caravan and Motorhome Club site is situated just next to Ludham Bridge on the Norfolk Broads. It is easily accessible if you follow their concise instructions and don’t turn off the A149 too early at Potter Heigham as you will more than likely get stuck on the narrow bridge there!
Checking in at reception was an absolute pleasure and all the staff warmly welcomed both the humans as well as our canine friend. We had one of the 18 fully-serviced pitches - all of which were pleasantly located with ample room for caravan, car and awning.
There is a dog walk on site but dogs are to be kept on a lead. It is a very narrow, short semi-enclosed piece of land that, unbelievably, one dog owner used and didn’t clear up after their pet. We opted to exercise the furry one off-site for a more scenic walk either along the towpath by the River Ant at Ludham Bridge or along the footpath to St Benet’s Abbey
There is a very small shop on site but a few minutes walk away at Ludham Bridge is a convenience store selling newspapers and just about every essential item you could think of, including ice creams!
The Dog Friendly bits!
- Number of Dogs allowed : Any ✅
- Charge for Dogs : Yes
- Doggie Gift Bag : No
- Poo bags provided : No
- Dog Bins available : Yes ✅
- Area for walking Dogs on site : Yes, but very small and dogs are to be kept on lead
- Dog Wash facilities : No
- Onsite Dog Friendly Bar/Restaurant : N/A
Dogtor Livingsbone rating : PAWSIBLE
Dog Friendly places to eat nearby
The Dog House, Bridgestones of Potter, POTTER HEIGHAM
On a circular bike route, we stopped at Potter Heigham to take a look at all the boats and stumbled upon Bridgestones Garden Room. It is totally dog friendly and a great place to sit and watch the world pass by. Unfortunately, due to coronavirus restrictions, we were unable to go into their new 'Dog House' and enjoy the heating! Their outside area is beautifully kept with a small number of tables, artificial grass and pot plants! We enjoyed a flat white and an enormous slice of delicious cake whilst watching the boats and enjoyed watching them so much that we then found a dog friendly boat hire place and arranged a boat for the following day!
BridgeStones of Potter, Bridge Road, Potter Heigham, Norfolk NR29 5JD
Dog Friendly things to do nearby
Herbert Woods Boat Hire, POTTER HEIGHAM
We love to be out on the water, so we were so pleased to discover this dog friendly boat hire company at Potter Heigham. We booked and paid for a picnic boat the day before so that it was ready for us at 9.00am the following day. Lifejackets and very basic tuition are provided, then you are on your own to explore the miles of waterways (Lifejackets for dogs are not provided). The boat had a toilet, small kitchen and seating for up to 10. There was plenty of room for the dog and with the doors closed, there was no room for escape! We set off for Wroxham, which is about a 3.5 hour trip. It was lovely to see all the riverside properties and the river’s wildlife, especially as many of the waterfowl had their babies with them - so cute! A lazy day cruising the rivers and exploring the broads made for a perfect day out and, as the boat was centrally heated, it was a great way to get out on the water and stay warm on a chilly May day.
Horsey Beach, HORSEY
Being a lover of nature, I couldn't wait to visit Horsey Beach with the hope of seeing a seal. As we drove into the car park, I spotted the 'seal watch' landrover and my hopes of seeing a seal were instantly raised. It was a cold, wet, windy day so donning our waterproofs, we walked to the beach and there they all were! We were blessed to see around 30 seals lazing on the sand with others swimming just offshore, then surfing in to see their friends - it was the most wonderful experience.
Horsey Beach is a totally dog friendly sandy beach, but make sure you keep your dog away from the seals at all times. There is no access to the beach in the winter months during 'pupping season' to leave the seals protected from visitors.
After all the excitement, we needed a cup of coffee to warm up. The National Trust’s
Horsey Windpump has a lovely tea shop selling hot drinks, hot snacks, sandwiches, cakes and ice creams. It proved to be a very popular spot for dog owners to stop for refreshments.
Become a friend of Horsey Seals at
https://www.friendsofhorseyseals.co.uk/
Dog Friendly places to visit nearby
Caister - Home to Great Yarmouth race course and a wind farm 1.6 miles off shore with 30 wind turbines. There has been an offshore lifeboat in the area since 1791 used by a beach company to salvage ships wrecked on the sand banks. The Haven caravan and holiday park near the coast is one of the oldest in the UK.
Great Yarmouth - East Anglia's premier beach resort with a maritime heritage and a port famous for once being the hub of the herring industry. Great Yarmouth's Golden Mile has indoor and outdoor entertainment venues along with rides and attractions for all ages along the seafront.
How Hill - A Broads Authority National Nature Reserve where you can visit Toad Hole Cottage Museum, follow the wildlife walking trail and take a boat trip.
Norwich - Home to one of the country's largest medieval cathedrals. Norwich is the most complete medieval city in the UK with cobbled streets, ancient buildings, half-timbered houses, medieval lanes and the River Wensum that flows through the city centre towards Norwich Castle. Norwich has two universities and two cathedrals. Norwich also holds the largest permanent undercover market in Europe.
Potter Heigham - famous for its medieval bridge that is believed to date back to 1385. It is famous for being the most difficult bridge to navigate in the Broads as the bridge opening is so narrow that only small cruisers can pass through it and then only at low water.
St Benet’s Abbey - Is the only monastery in Britain which survived the Dissolution.
Pet Shops, NORFOLK BROADS
A Google search of “Pet Shops near me” produced none, but there are plenty of pets shops not too far away in Norwich or Great Yarmouth
Veterinary Surgeries, NORFOLK BROADS
A Google search of ‘Veterinary Surgeries near me’ produced none, but there are plenty of veterinary surgeries not too far away in Norwich or Great Yarmouth.
Dog Friendly Beaches, NORFOLK BROADS
A Google search of ‘dog friendly beaches near me’ produced the following:
- Brancaster
- Caister Point
- Great Yarmouth
- Great Yarmouth South
- Great Yarmouth South Denes
- Happisburgh
- Happisburgh
- Holkham
- Horsey (but be careful of seals)
- Old Hunstanton
- Waxham
- Waxham
- Wells-next-the-Sea
- Winterton-on-Sea
Dog Walks, NORFOLK BROADS
A Google search of ‘dog walks near me’ produced the following:
- Angles Way
- Bickling Estate
- Burgh Castle
- Felbrigg Hall & Estate
- Horning Circular Walk
- Salhouse Broad
- The Bittern Line Walk
- Whitlingham Country Park
Click
HERE for full details of all these walks and more
Cycle Routes, NORFOLK BROADS
The Broads by Bike offer 16 circular cycle routes exploring the northern Broads area from Wroxham, Ranworth and South Walsham along the River Bure, to Neatishead, Barton Turf and Dilham on the River Ant, with loads more in between. The maps are available to download for free off of their website, but they do ask for a small donation to the Broads Trust to help fund projects to ensure that the Broads are kept just the way they should be. We picked up one of their books at The Norfolk Broads Caravan and Motorhome Club’s reception for a £3 donation - well worth every penny as the routes are great.
Visit The Broads by Bike website at :
https://thebroadsbybike.org.uk/
Dog Friendly NORFOLK BROADS, Norwich | May 2021
PLEASE NOTE:
When the canine calls, she’s there to test the meaning of dog friendly to the limit. Everything contained in this article is the view of the author and her furry canine friend. The canine’s loyal master always pays their way and does not imply any recommendation. Although every effort has been made to ensure that all the information is correct, we can only apologise for any errors or omissions - we’re only human after all - well, one of us is!
