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 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 suit all.

Yarmouth has strong currents and two low bridges with 7ft headroom at average high water. There are two safe moorings as you come down the Bure the first is the Marina Keys. The marina  has a more rural feel being close to Bure Park.  Photo above looking upstream.

Inshore fishing boats line the banks as the industrial area of Yarmouth is entered.

Look out for the height gauges as you approach the Yacht Station.

The best time to arrive at Yarmouth 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 (01692 678459) for advice.

The Yacht Station is operated by the Broads Authority. (Fee 2009 - £10 per night and £5 for daytime mooring, with the first hour free). There are also rangers on duty to help you moor.

The yacht station is staffed from 8 am - 8 pm and is fully accessible to disabled users. It is a 10 minute walk to the beach and five minutes to the town centre and Sainsburys supermarket. Facilities include toilets, token operated showers (£1), free water, electric charging points and rubbish disposal.

The first bridge to navigate is the Yarmouth/Acle road bridge, it has 7ft 2.13m headroom at average high water.  Keep to the right and navigate between the two red arrows and be prepared to stop if the three vertical red lights are lit on the bridge. Mooring in an emergency or to lower yacht masts is available by the North West Tower.

The second of the two bridges is the old Vauxhall railway bridge, it has 6ft 9in 2.06m headroom at average high water.  Again keep to the right and navigate between the red arrows.

After you have gone through the two bridges go past the yellow post, pictured above, before turning to go up the Yare and across Breydon Water.

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 to the right under the bridge between the red arrows.

Breydon Water is a vast stretch of water, it is however, very shallow boats must keep between the marker posts.  When going up the Yare keep the red post on the left the black on the right. Crossing it can at times feel like going out to sea!

Breydon Water is about 4 miles long and a mile wide, at the western end the River Waveney leads off to the left and the Yare carries on to the right. When proceeding up the Yare do not turn to early as you could end up on some submerged stakes that are just outside the main channel on the right.

All photographs on this website are copyright and should not be reproduced in any form without prior consent.