Ranworth & Malthouse Broad

Malthouse Broad and Ranworth staithe are popular both for lunchtime stops and overnight stays, the space here soon fills and anyone wishing to moor for the night should arrive early.

After a short cruise along Ranworth dyke you enter Malthouse Broad.

On the right is the Wildlife Centre which has a viewing gallery overlooking Ranworth Broad. The broad is a nature reserve and is closed to navigation.

 On the left bank are the Island Moorings for which a fee is payable, there is no access from here to Ranworth other than by rowing boat.

The tower of St Helen's church dominates this part of Broadland, it has served the villagers for over 900 years. Adjacent to the church is The Visitor Centre, converted from an old coach house. It houses a photographic display of East Anglian churches . Outside there is a terraced garden and also a section planted with aromatic flowers and shrubs for the visually impaired. Hot and cold drinks and light refreshments are available.

If you do visit St Helen's church take the time to climb the spiral staircase, the view from the tower is impressive.

There are two water points at the staithe and a small dyke for dingy's and day boats. The staithe has recently had a new quay heading and new turf laid (2006).

If the staithe is full you can always moor by mud weight while you wait for a space.

Behind the staithe is the Broads Authority Information Centre here you will find all sorts of info including maps, guide books and also souvenirs like sweatshirts and badges. Next door to the Information centre is the Granary Store and Tea Rooms.

Helen of Ranworth, electric powered and modelled on a traditional Broads reed lighter operates from the staithe and takes up to 8 people on 2 hour tours of Malthouse Broad and the River Bure. She also operates as a ferry taking visitors between the staithe and the Broads Wildlife Centre.

Set back from the staithe is The Maltsters public house, it has a beer garden with parasols and heaters for those cooler evenings.

Turning right from the staithe a path alongside the road takes you past the private moorings. Carry on up the hill for the church or turn right for the boarded walk that leads to the wildlife centre.

A notice board here at the start of the boardwalk gives you an idea of what you might see along the path.

The boarded walk to the Wildlife Centre takes you through Carr woodland. Information points along the walk depict items of interest. Carr woodland is dominated by alder, sallow and birch trees, with shrubs such as guelder rose, buckthorn, dog rose and brambles.

Just before the Wildlife Centre an area of managed fen contrasts with the Carr woodland earlier.  Fens are waterlogged areas of land dominated by reeds, rushes and sedges.

The Wildlife Centre is thatched with local reed and floats on a pontoon at the edge of Ranworth Broad. The centre houses an exhibition on the ecology of the Broads and it's wildlife. On the upper floor there is a viewing gallery equipped with binoculars.

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