The Norfolk Broads, a vast network of rivers and artificial lakes at the heart of East Anglia, offer one of the UK’s most peaceful family bike rides, across an entirely flat landscape dotted with historic windmills.
A flat landscape between rivers and reedbeds
From Wroxham, nicknamed the “capital of the Broads,” country lanes and cycle paths wind toward Horning and then Ranworth, running alongside navigable rivers and reedbeds typical of the region. Expect around 25 km for a loop representative of the Broads, on a route that’s almost entirely flat, crossing preserved rural countryside.
Getting the family ride right
With barely 40 m of cumulative elevation gain over the whole route, this ride poses no difficulty and suits young kids pedalling on their own. The many villages along the way, often with waterside pubs, offer regular opportunities for a break.
When to go
April to October, with summer offering the chance to watch the Broads’ busy pleasure-boat traffic in full season. Spring and autumn, quieter, let you enjoy the landscape in relative calm.
Good to know
Wroxham, well served by train from Norwich, offers a decent choice of accommodation, with convenient access to Ranworth and its church, which offers one of the best views over the whole of the Broads, for extending the stay in East Anglia.
