Herbert Woods
ENTRY
from £446
WHERE
Potter Heigham, Great Yarmouth
What it’s like
A week hiring a self-drive cruiser on the Norfolk Broads, with the wheel only handed to over-14s.
This is a boat holiday, not a day out. You hire a cruiser or a cottage in the Potter Heigham marina for a week (or a short break) and pootle the Norfolk Broads at your own pace, mooring up wherever takes your fancy. Prices start around £446 for a week on a boat like the Dragonfly or the Swallowtail, which sounds like a lot until you realise it includes your electricity, heating and bed linen, and there's free wifi across the marina if anyone needs to check emails or the kids want the wifi more than the view.
Worth knowing before anyone gets excited: only over-14s are allowed to actually drive the boat, and even then it's under close adult supervision. Under-14s are strictly hands-off the wheel, so younger children are along for the ride rather than at the helm, more decked-out passenger than crew. Life jackets are supplied for everyone, with proper buoyancy aids for anything under 40kg, which covers most younger kids.
The days themselves are the loose, unstructured sort. You cruise, you moor, you explore whatever village or waterside pub you've stopped at, and if fishing season's running (16th June to 14th March) you can drop a line in from the boat once you're stationary, provided someone's sorted a licence. No BBQs allowed on board, which is a genuine faff if you'd pictured evenings grilling on deck, so it's worth having a plan for meals that doesn't involve charcoal.
Access matters here. The boats themselves are not wheelchair accessible, though the site says single-level cruisers can suit some limited mobility, and it's best to ring the booking team directly if that's a concern. Cottages have similar limits on accessibility. Dogs are welcome on most cruisers (two per boat) and in some cottages, for a £45 non-refundable cleaning charge per pet.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Secure parking on site: 1 space included for cruisers up to 6 berth, 2 spaces for 6+ berth
- Dogs
- Pets welcome on majority of cruisers, max 2 per boat
- Getting there by bus or train
- Nearest station Acle, hourly services from Norwich/Great Yarmouth, 10 min taxi from station
- No BBQs are allowed on board at any point, so sort your evening meal plans in advance
- Wifi is free across the whole marina, not just in the boats
- Fishing's allowed from a stationary boat during the season, but you'll need your own licence
- Bring a blanket if you're taking bikes aboard, to protect both bike and boat
- Bathroom heaters cut out automatically after 10 to 15 minutes as a safety feature
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
From about £446 a week for a boat like the Dragonfly, though it varies by which cruiser or cottage you pick.
Can the kids drive the boat?
Only if they're over 14, and strictly under adult supervision. Anyone younger isn't allowed near the controls.
What time can we check in?
Short breaks check in from 1:30pm. Weekly hire check-in time is given in your skipper's manual.
Is there parking?
One space is included on site for cruisers up to 6 berth, two spaces for bigger ones. Extra parking is £15 a week outside or £20 undercover, less for a short break.
Can we bring the dog?
Most cruisers allow up to two dogs, and some cottages allow one well behaved pet. There's a £45 non-refundable cleaning charge per pet.
Is it accessible for wheelchairs?
The boats aren't wheelchair accessible, though single-level cruisers may work for some limited mobility. It's best to call the booking team to talk through specific needs.
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