Dilham
The head of navigation is Brick Kiln Bridge where there are moorings for a limited number of boats (photo). The Cross Keys Public House is a five minute walk from the
staithe. Public Telephone in village.
A mile downstream along Tylers Cut is Wayford Bridge. To the north is the North Walsham & Dilham Canal, suitable only for unpowered craft.
Wayford Bridge
Wayford Bridge is a small hamlet next to the busy A149 . Mooring is available here opposite the Wayford Bridge Hotel, situated
overlooking some attractive houseboats (photo c1999), and at the staithe downstream of the bridge.
Wayford bridge is low, 7ft headroom at average high water (photo: looking upstream). On the left are the public moorings with boatyards on both
banks. The river maintains a fairly straight course until it reaches the photogenic Hunsett Mill and cottage (photo), it then turns in a southerly direction. On the left
just downstream is the entrance to Stalham Dyke and Sutton Broad (photo) much of which is now overgrown. Where the channels fork, left is for Stalham and right Sutton. There are a number of dykes leading off the left bank ignore all of these, a dyke leads off to Richardsons boatyard on the right hand side, go straight ahead and round a left hand bend the public staithe is at the head of this dyke (photo).
Stalham
The Georgian market town of Stalham is separated by the main A149 road. The holiday maker is well catered for by the numerous shops and award winning pubs, all about 10 minutes walk from the staithe.
Various projects have taken place in and around Stalham over the last few years, one of them helped improve the staithe area (photo). The town now has a
large Tesco store a short walk from the staithe.
A new museum has opened here, formerly sited at Potter Heigham its has now moved to Stalham - The Museum of the Broads is in its early stages of development and is the only museum in the UK to chronicle
man's effect upon the Broadland environment. Among the exhibits within the museum are the steam launch 'Falcon', a feature on one of Broadlands greatest pests - the Coypu, now eradicated, and even a
concrete dingy.
Richardsons Cruisers have visitors moorings if the small public staithe is full, sadly the shop and cafe is now closed.
Sutton
Sutton Staithe like at Stalham is cut off from the village by the A149, but lucky enough the Sutton Staithe Hotel is adjacent to it. Norfolk's tallest mill built in 1789 - nine floors of it, reaching over 75ft in height, is a short walk from the staithe. Nearby is Sutton Windmill Pottery, where you can watch potter Malcolm Flatman at work.
Continuing along the main river past Stalham Dyke on the right, ¾ mile downstream is Barton Turf and Pennygate Staithe.
Barton Turf
There are moorings on the right bank (photo) linked to the village by a boarded walk, recently renewed, however, the path around the dyke can sometimes become flooded, so suitable footwear my be needed. The staithe has room for fewer boats, but room can usually be found here probably due to the village having no pub. Cox Brothers boatyard is on the opposite bank, the 'chink chink' of the yacht masts and the setting sun over the village make this an idyllic overnight mooring. The village itself is a mixture of old and new properties, and has a large slightly sunken village green with adjacent Public Telephone, the shop has long since closed.
Back on the main river the Ant now enters Barton Broad. Keep to the marked channel as the broad is very shallow at the edges (photo: yachts entering
Barton Broad).
Barton Broad
Barton is the second largest Broad (photo) covering an area of 170 acres and is owned by the Norfolk Naturalists Trust, it is a Nature Reserve of some 350 acres, access to it is only possible by boat.
It is a popular broad for both cruising and sailing, regattas are held throughout the year, including for the more experienced skipper, the Blakes Barton Regatta held in October (photo).
A few years ago Barton Broad, was dying, choked by years of enrichments from sewage pollution and agricultural run-off. This resulted in the growth of green algae which
starved water plants of sunlight, and turned the water cloudy.
Clear Water 2000, which cost over £3million, began in 1995 with the dredging of 300,000 cubic metres of mud from the bed of the broad.
Clear Water 2000 has finally achieved its goal - crystal clear water, but the work is not finished, now the Broads Authority and English Nature
are building on the success of the project and have installed two more temporary fish curtains, on the northern side of the Neatishead Arm and the eastern edge of Turkey Broad. This allows the water
fleas (daphnia), which eat the algae, to thrive. A total of 14,000 household brushes were put inside the fish barriers to provide a safe habitat for the water fleas. Able to get on with the job of
eating the algae uninhibited, the water fleas have produced the clear water that provides the essential conditions for water plants.
Pleasure Hill Island has been restored and planted with reeds to protect the bank, a landing point will soon be available for non-powered craft to moor on the island.
A boarded walk a short distance
from Gay's Staithe leads, to a view point overlooking the broad.
Those wishing to continue down the Ant should head south east, passing to the left of Pleasure Hill Island. The exit off Barton Broad is not easy to spot, look out for the signs.
The river narrows as Irstead is approached.
Keep to the right going across the broad for Lymekiln Dyke and Neatishead. On the left just before the entrance to the dyke is Gay's Staithe (photo).
Gay's Staithe
The staithe has space for a good number of boats. It is here that you can take a trip on a very unusual boat - Ra named after the Egyptian sun god, this solar powered boat (photo) takes up to 12 people including wheelchair users on a 1¼ hour trip round the recently restored Barton Broad. Nearby is the Barton Angler Country Inn, which has now closed.
The dyke is narrow and in places there is only just enough room for two boats to pass. Neatishead Staithe (photo) is in a small dyke on the left with room for a good number of boats, water and litter receptacles are provided free, there are also a couple of swings and a map of the village. If the staithe is full an area reserved for turning is just past the dyke.
Neatishead
The Georgian village is well worth a visit and is only a few minutes walk from the staithe here you will find a village shop, Ye Old Saddlery restaurant and the White Horse Pub.
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