Great Yarmouth & Breydon Water

Great 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 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 suit all.

Yarmouth has strong currents and two low bridges, 7ft headroom at average high water. There are two safe moorings as you come down the Bure the first is the Marina Keys (photo above) and the Yacht Station. The Yacht Station has undergone extensive refurbishment and is now operated by the Broads Authority. (Fee 2004 - £10 per night and £5 for daytime mooring, with the first hour free).  There are also quay attendants on duty to help you moor.

The best time to arrive is slack water or a little after, this is 1 ¼ to 1 ½ hours after low water you will then have maximum headroom at the bridges.  If there's an onshore wind, low water could be delayed, to check ring the Yacht Station (01493 842794). Most boats with a collapsible windscreen and canopy will find they can pass through Yarmouth 3 hours after low water and up to 2 hours before with no difficulty. If the weather conditions are poor and your not sure if it is safe to cross Breydon Water then ring River Control (01603 625091) for advice.

Inshore fishing boats line the banks as the industrial area of Yarmouth is entered, height gauges above and below the bridges indicate the headroom underneath.

Yarmouth Yacht Station has recently been taken over by the Broads Authority.  They have spent over £16,000 on new facilities including showers and toilets. The quay attendants or rangers as they are now called are available to help with mooring and give advice.

The Port of Yarmouth Marina has also had a change of ownership and a change of name it is now know as Marina Keys. The marina has a more rural feel being close to Bure Park.

After the yacht station the first of the two low bridges comes into view. The first is the Bure Road Bridge followed by Vauxhall Bridge. Pass through the bridges between the red arrows. After the bridge, when travelling down the Bure keep over to the right but do not cut the corner. Go past the yellow dolphin, pictured above (looking up the Bure), before turning to go up the Yare and across Breydon Water.

When you have passed the yellow dolphin, as in the picture above, you can then turn up the Yare and onto Breydon Water. If you are travelling down the Yare to go up the Bure, do not turn until after the above yellow dolphin.

Breydon Bridge is a relatively new bridge it takes the main A47 across Breydon Water bypassing Great Yarmouth. Avoid the centre lifting span and pass under the bridge between the red arrows.

Breydon Water is a vast stretch of water, it is however, very shallow boats must keep to the marked channels crossing it can at times can feel like going out to sea.