The River Bure:

Acle Dyke to Great Yarmouth

The river narrows after the dyke and reed beds again line the banks.

The village of Stokesby is 2 miles below Acle Bridge. The tide flows very fast here, and its imperative you moor against it. If the tide is with you go past your desired mooring and turn with your bow towards the opposite bank, the tide will then help swing you round, you can now moor against the oncoming tide. If you try this any other way, its possible to slam into boats already moored, so care is needed.

Stokesby

Stokesby is a delightful village with a large tree lined village green (photo), the adjacent Riverside Stores, open during the season, sell a wide range of goods and also serve Teas. In front of the green is a children's play area and the village staithe. Over to the right and behind the school is the Post Office Stores. The Candlemaker and Model Centre is along the road in the opposite direction, admission is free, inside you will find England's largest variety of hand-crafted candles, local crafts and modelling kits. The Ferry Inn just downstream of the staithe is Egon Ronay recommended and has moorings (photo) available for a good number of boats.

Just over a mile down stream is Stracey Arms. This is the last safe mooring between here and Gt. Yarmouth. The river below this point has a rise and fall of over 3 feet, the banks can be unsafe in places and there is a risk of going aground on shoals of shelving mud. The river between here and Yarmouth contains no fewer than six windpumps, all needed to drain the land of which much dips below sea level.

Stracey Arms.

Extensive moorings lie either side of the Stracey Arms pub, (the name of the pub has changed numerous times but most people remember this name) it is quite barren and the noise from the A47 is intrusive. The drainage mill here is a particularly good example of its type, it is fully restored and includes an Exhibition featuring Drainage Mills of the Broads. There is also a shop here selling gifts, provisions and hot snacks.

Yarmouth is 8 miles below Stracey Arms and if your travelling with the tide the journey should take about 1 ½ hours.
The Bure below Stracey Arms is now very different from the upper reaches, the banks are high and muddy, and the large sky dominates the scene. On the left 4 miles before Yarmouth is Mautby Marsh Farm and Windpump (photo) now disused, keep clear of the bank as it is shallow. As Three-Mile House is passed the river enters a horseshoe bend, posts mark the navigable channel. The Marina Keys is 1 ¼ miles downstream, the right bank just before it has a large shoal of mud keep to centre of the river. The marina is on the main river and has extensive moorings some may be shallow at low tide so check your depth. Facilities include shop, fuel etc. The airport is also on the left, you may have already seen helicopters taking off and landing.

Inshore fishing boats line the banks as the industrial area of Yarmouth is entered, on the right is a height gauge for the bridges ahead. The river narrows as Yarmouth Yacht Station is reached (photo looking upstream), slow down and look out for boats casting off - as mentioned before if you need to moor, come in against the tide.

Great Yarmouth

Yarmouth grew around the harbour, as it was once a great herring fishing port. The fleet has dwindled over the years and now the harbour is busy with coasters, North Sea gas/oil rig supply ships and frozen food packaging services. Although the old town was heavily bombed during WW2 much of interest still remains, including The Old Merchants House on the 'rows' and the Custom House on South Quay.
It was in the 18thC that Yarmouth became popular as a tourist destination, and now tourism is the main industry. On its long promenade, Yarmouth has two piers a leisure centre, arcades and illuminations - a traditional seaside resort, with attractions to suite all.

The first of the two bridges approaches, check your height once more and pass through the bridges under the red arrows. After passing through the bridges keep right and look out for coasters manoeuvring to moor at the quay on the left (photo looking upstream: quay on right). Breydon Water is to the right, do not cut the corner, but turn after the yellow painted dolphin (post). Pass under Breydon bridge (channel marked by red triangles), you are now on Breydon Water, River Yare.