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Looking for some info on Broadland CCsite, we're thinking of going there this summer, I've read the ukcampsite reviews and it sounds just what we're looking for, also interested in the fishing aspect, river or if there's any carp fishing lakes close by. Thanks in advance.

  Jim

Hi Jim, Nice small site, with good facilites, we prefare the standard pitches to the superpitches as they are quieter and more sheltered from any winds, and away from the family play areas, but that depends on your own needs. Within walking distance of the River Ant, Rod licences and boat hire info available from Broads authority visitor centres at Wroxham, Ranworth, Potter Heigham, and a day boat hire service bookable from Ludham bridge, Closed season I believe is from March to June, but you can ask an experianced Broads fisherman on www.thenorfolkbroads.net, where you be able to find me lurking as one of the Moderators lol. 

Please do not try and approach Broadlands via Potter Heigham bridge, its a narrow humpbacked ancient monument with weight restrictions and the chances are you may not make it with anything wider than a transit van.

Julia (aka Julz the Watergypsy)

Sorry i forgot to mention, the only Carp fishing lakes i know of near to Broadlands are private ones, the nearest being at Potter Heigham, but i dont think they do day tickets or Non-member access, theres plenty of good fishing on the Broads, so probably not worth someone setting up a business doing the same! 

Julia 

Hi Julia, thanks for your info, I've booked the first 3 weeks in August as the quiet area sounds nice to me. All I need now is to find somewhere close at hand to fish and some tips on river fishing as I generally only fish ponds.

               Jim

Hi jim, Ludham bridge is a popular spot just a couple of hundred yards up the road, i will post some more info up for you tonight when im not so pushed for time, but plenty of fishing in the area, and places to hire a small boat from to do so.

Julia

Hi Jim, firstly grab yourself a free copy of The Broadcaster, the tourist information paper of the Broads, issued by the Broads Authority, and available from any of their tourist information offices, or if they have any left, the site office or the shop by Ludham bridge. This will give you information on tide flow tables, high and low water times, possible pike fishing trips with an expert, tackle and bait shops, area Maps, pubs and restaurants  and much more.

Last August we were watching them pull out lots of small silver fish quite quickly by using maggot at Ludham, theres also lots of good fishing spots along the Bure and the Thurne, but i would not recomend fishing off the staithes in high season, as Boats do have priority at Staithes and Moorings, and you may find it a pain to have to keep moving spot as they aproach at this busy time. Lathams,one of the largest tackle/bait shops on the Broads can be found at Potter heigham bridge. Half the shop is a general store, hardware, basic food, newsagents, garden centre,clothing and footwear, the other side is fishing gear. There very helpful and will soon set you up with the right kit, but remember that this is a tidal area with strong currents in places, and a Life Jacket is a must, even a strong swimmer can easily get into difficulties at times, and sadly there have been a few fatalities over the years.

If you fancy a Canoe trip out, they are available to hire from Brinkcraft at Wroxham, or Wayford bridge boatyard on the Stalham to Wroxham road, or from Tobi, the Ranger on Salhouse broad on the Bure, a young lad with loads of local knowledge who is always pleased to help.To get the most out of the area, the majority of anglers hire a dayboat of some sort, Brinkcraft are the only yard i know of that may allow you to stayout on the boat past 5pm up until dusk if you have booked a few days consecutive hire from them, a motor dayboat will cost you around £100 a day inclusive of fuel and insurance during peak season, and most seat around 6 people. One of the most picturesque areas with Kingfishers often spotted and clear water is above Wroxham bridge, some good fishing spots too.

If you need anymore info please feel free to ask and i will help where i can.

Julia  

Quote: Originally posted by DAWNE28 on 03/1/2010

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 We have decided to stay at broadlands also in august. I have booked a super pitch tho, now i'm not sure! Julia can you remember where they were on site as the map doesn't show it. Thanks in advance for any help.

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From memory 40 to 45 are serviced, there may be others. In general on Broadlands pitches on the north side of roads get best sun. There are not that many serviced, so your £ 2 may be worth it to get the location. ( If you want veg when you are there, Ken's shed next the site is great, it's a "must visit"  look out for the ad at the site gate)

Re fishing, there is a lot of boat traffic during the day throughout the popular areas. Tends to settle down after about 6 pm. During the day, best places are in the non navigable areas, accessible only to small day boats, A good place accessible by road, is at the top end of Hickling Broad, Because Potter Heigham bridge is so small, many of the bigger cruisers can't get up there., and there are some narrow channels you can get to on foot. Very good for common bream 10 lb plus,takes a fair bit of ground baiting, and roach , tench, etc..Lathoms at PH is the tackkle shop for all info.

FM

Hi Dawne, standing at the main enterance and looking in, the pitches to the left of the shower block are mainly all Supers, those on the circuit straight ahead to the right of the block are the Standards. there are a couple of disabled pitches ajacent to the block, i believe we were about pitch 19 last time, as we do like a bit of shade and shelter provided by the hedgerow, but there was plenty of full sunshine and daylight on the pitches opposite us, and service points with water, drainage, bins  and elsan emptying were quite plentiful there and housed in those little fenced off areas rather than as part of the main toilet block. 

Theres a nice little convienience store and post office called Throwers in Ludham village, who also have a mini bakery and deli counter, with a lady running it who really knows her cheeses, and we had some very nice continental ones personally  imported from France, as well a few tasty offerings of various cheddars and Blues. They are also licenced, so you can buy your favourite tipple to wash it all down at the same time.

Above Potter bridge is indeed a fine area, both for sightseeing and fishing. Herbert Woods (Broads tours) boatyard situated opposite lathams at the bridge, do allow their boats up through the bridge at suitable tides, but you need to request a diesel boat and not an electric powered one, and be aware that there are some problems up there with silting, especially around Hickling Broad, and its easy to run aground in places. especially during a dry spell when water levels are low in the area. The areas above Wroxham and Wayford bridges are not quite as bad for Silting, but are still fairly quiet due to the restrictions of the bridges mentioned above. St Bennetts Abbey is another popular fishing spot on the Bure, and i have been told this is to do with the type of bottom strata of the riverbed, and its a place often favoured by fishing matches, again the easiest access is by boat. Due to the strong tides, it is not advisable to take a dayboat below Acle bridge on the Bure, and some yards have an outright ban on doing so, simply because the engines are not powerful enough to 'Punch the tide' to return upstream in a strong ebb and headwind. Also look out for strong currents around Thurnemouth, where the Thurne meets the Bure, this is also an area popular with sailcraft, and they always have right of way over any boat powered with an engine, and may zig zag across the river infront of you to catch the breeze, known as tacking.

If anyone loves a Chinese takeaway, try the one in Horning, just down the main street next to the New Inn Pub, Its one of our favourites, and i believe they will deliver to Broadlands for a small fee, or free if you spend enough lol. They have menus outside in a self serve box if you happen to pass by whilst there closed.

Julia

Julia

Just for the record, comment re serviced pitches is a bit misleading. To the left of toilets is by no means all serviced. Nos 50 to 60  are definitely not, we use them on and off, and there are a number of grass pitches which are very nice if the weather is dry, and they are vacant. How many are serviced I don't know, but there is certainly plenty of choice to the left. At the top right corner, you are a bit of a bus ride to the showers if that matters.

FM

Well being a couple of oldies lol we just found a quiet spot to the right when we first visited, and have headed that way on our second visit, although we do tend to stick to the main road end nearer to the enterance, so the shower block is not too far away, but agree that those pitches down in the righthand corner at the back of the site are quite a walk away.

Im sorry if i mislead anyone, I did say most and not all pitches were Super down to the Left, and this was taken from the info given to us by the wardens on our first arrival,  to find a standard pitch of our choice down to the right, and also because we didnt wish to be near to the childrens play area, having had our last vans roof dented in by a flying leather football whilst down at Rooksby Park. 

It was the height of the peak season when we last visited, and there did seam to be a marked divide of the site between those with young children who mainy stayed to the Left,(and safely further away from the entrance and main road) so maybe the wardens tended to reserve any standard  pitches they may have been in that area to that side for them to be near the playpark ect, and the quieter Couples and grown up families of the side of the right. Obviously when the site is not so busy the divide is probaly not so obvious due to far more pitches and choice being available.

Julia