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Visiting Ludham by Boat |
Ludham is surrounded by
the rivers of the Norfolk Broads and is a popular
destination for holidaymakers. We are often asked
questions about the practicalities of visiting Ludham by
boat, so here is our guide to Ludham from a boater's
point of view.
Moorings
Womack Staithe.
This is the nearest mooring to Ludham village. To get to the staithe take the River Thurne to Womack Water and then head down Womack Dyke until you come to the end of the navigation. The public moorings are on your right. There is plenty of room to turn. Moorings are stern on and there is a small charge which pays for the maintenance of the staithe. Any surplus goes to local charities.
At the staithe there is a large green with shady trees and seats. There is a small shop and public toilets. Water is available. You can get basic supplies here and refreshments. Ludham village with its shops and pub are a short walk away along Horsefen Road. To walk into the village, turn left into Horsefen Road and then left again at the T junction. The walk only takes a few minutes.
Womack Dyke
To get to these moorings take the River Thurne to Womack Water and then follow Womack Dyke until you see the free 24 hour moorings on the right. These moorings are side on and are a bit quieter than Womack Staithe. They are free and offer great views over the Ludham Marshes Nature Reserve. It is about a 10 minute walk from here to Womack Staithe and then a few minutes more into Ludham village. Just follow the riverside footpath and then the lane.
There are a few other places you can moor in Womack Dyke which would count as "wild moorings". Only moorings on the right as you head towards Ludham have access to the village.
Womack Island
Womack Island is on the left just past Hunter's Yard as you head along Womack Dyke towards Womack Water. There are a few free 24 hour moorings round the back of the island. It is a lovely quiet spot to moor but there is no access to Ludham village unless you have a dinghy because you really are on a small island. Moorings are side on. The channel is quite narrow but is OK for larger boats. You do not need to turn as you can go right round the island.
Womack Water on a mudweight.
Womack Water is not very big, but there is room for a few boats on mudweights.
Hunter's Yard
Sailing boats only. The yard is on the right as you head towards Ludham along Womack Dyke. Enquire at the yard about mooring.
Hunters Yard
Ludham Bridge
Ludham Bridge is a popular mooring spot for boats traveling on the River Ant. There are plenty of free side on moorings on both sides of the river upstream of the bridge and other mooring downstream. Most hire boats pass under this bridge which has plenty of clearance. The river is narrow going upstream and the bridge is just round a bend so take it slow.
At Ludham Bridge, there is a boatyard, shops and a pub. There is water, electricity and public toilets. It is a pleasant place to moor with views across the marshes. Public footpaths start here with good walks.
Please note that Ludham Bridge is quite a long walk from Ludham village and it will take about 25 minutes to walk there. If you are walking into the village, do not follow the main road as it has no footpath and you are exposed to fast traffic. The best way is to walk along the main road (which has a footpath here) to just past the Dog Inn and then take the small lane on the right. Follow this lane to the gates of Ludham Hall Farm and then follow the public footpath through the farmyard and over the brow of the hill with a historic barn on your right. Turn right at the junction of paths and then left at the road. This takes you into the village without encountering any traffic.
How Hill
Further up the Ant is How Hill with its excellent free 24 hour moorings. There are plenty of side on moorings.
Moorings
Womack Staithe.
This is the nearest mooring to Ludham village. To get to the staithe take the River Thurne to Womack Water and then head down Womack Dyke until you come to the end of the navigation. The public moorings are on your right. There is plenty of room to turn. Moorings are stern on and there is a small charge which pays for the maintenance of the staithe. Any surplus goes to local charities.
At the staithe there is a large green with shady trees and seats. There is a small shop and public toilets. Water is available. You can get basic supplies here and refreshments. Ludham village with its shops and pub are a short walk away along Horsefen Road. To walk into the village, turn left into Horsefen Road and then left again at the T junction. The walk only takes a few minutes.
Womack Dyke
To get to these moorings take the River Thurne to Womack Water and then follow Womack Dyke until you see the free 24 hour moorings on the right. These moorings are side on and are a bit quieter than Womack Staithe. They are free and offer great views over the Ludham Marshes Nature Reserve. It is about a 10 minute walk from here to Womack Staithe and then a few minutes more into Ludham village. Just follow the riverside footpath and then the lane.
There are a few other places you can moor in Womack Dyke which would count as "wild moorings". Only moorings on the right as you head towards Ludham have access to the village.
Womack Island
Womack Island is on the left just past Hunter's Yard as you head along Womack Dyke towards Womack Water. There are a few free 24 hour moorings round the back of the island. It is a lovely quiet spot to moor but there is no access to Ludham village unless you have a dinghy because you really are on a small island. Moorings are side on. The channel is quite narrow but is OK for larger boats. You do not need to turn as you can go right round the island.
Womack Water on a mudweight.
Womack Water is not very big, but there is room for a few boats on mudweights.
Hunter's Yard
Sailing boats only. The yard is on the right as you head towards Ludham along Womack Dyke. Enquire at the yard about mooring.
Hunters Yard
Ludham Bridge is a popular mooring spot for boats traveling on the River Ant. There are plenty of free side on moorings on both sides of the river upstream of the bridge and other mooring downstream. Most hire boats pass under this bridge which has plenty of clearance. The river is narrow going upstream and the bridge is just round a bend so take it slow.
At Ludham Bridge, there is a boatyard, shops and a pub. There is water, electricity and public toilets. It is a pleasant place to moor with views across the marshes. Public footpaths start here with good walks.
Please note that Ludham Bridge is quite a long walk from Ludham village and it will take about 25 minutes to walk there. If you are walking into the village, do not follow the main road as it has no footpath and you are exposed to fast traffic. The best way is to walk along the main road (which has a footpath here) to just past the Dog Inn and then take the small lane on the right. Follow this lane to the gates of Ludham Hall Farm and then follow the public footpath through the farmyard and over the brow of the hill with a historic barn on your right. Turn right at the junction of paths and then left at the road. This takes you into the village without encountering any traffic.
How Hill
Further up the Ant is How Hill with its excellent free 24 hour moorings. There are plenty of side on moorings.
How Hill Moorings
From here you have access
to a large green for picnics and games, Toad Hole free
museum, historic windmills, excellent walks with great
views, a nature trail (for which there is a small
charge) and the Secret Garden. There is a tearoom
behind the house in summer months. The gardens round the
house are open when the study centre is not in use. How
Hill house is not usually open for visitors but you
might be lucky.
The entrance to the Secret Garden can be a bit of a secret in itself. To find it, follow the track behind the house until you almost reach the road. The entrance is a small gate on the left into the wood. It has a signpost. Near here you will find the tea room and also the Olympic Oak carving.
The Olympic Oak behind How Hill House near the tearoom and entrance to the Secret Garden.
You can walk into Ludham Village from How Hill and the walk takes about 25 mins on interesting footpaths. See our walks page for details of all the walks from How Hill. There is lots of information about How Hill and its history on this site and many photographs taken by its former owners, the Boardman family.
St Benet's Abbey
There is plenty of free 24 hour mooring at St Benet's Abbey on the river Bure. The St Benet's site has recently been refurbished and is an excellent place to visit.It has history dating back 1000 years to the time of King Cnut who gave the land which started it all. St Benet's can be a busy mooring in summer as it is a crossroads for all the major Northern rivers. It takes about half an hour to walk into Ludham village from here. Just follow the track. Turn right at the T junction and then left at the next junction.
Shops Pubs etc
You will find these in Ludham village and at Ludham Bridge. See above for the best moorings. There are plenty of places to eat and you can get all the supplies you need for a boating holiday.
Boatyards
The entrance to the Secret Garden can be a bit of a secret in itself. To find it, follow the track behind the house until you almost reach the road. The entrance is a small gate on the left into the wood. It has a signpost. Near here you will find the tea room and also the Olympic Oak carving.
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The Olympic Oak behind How Hill House near the tearoom and entrance to the Secret Garden.
You can walk into Ludham Village from How Hill and the walk takes about 25 mins on interesting footpaths. See our walks page for details of all the walks from How Hill. There is lots of information about How Hill and its history on this site and many photographs taken by its former owners, the Boardman family.
St Benet's Abbey
There is plenty of free 24 hour mooring at St Benet's Abbey on the river Bure. The St Benet's site has recently been refurbished and is an excellent place to visit.It has history dating back 1000 years to the time of King Cnut who gave the land which started it all. St Benet's can be a busy mooring in summer as it is a crossroads for all the major Northern rivers. It takes about half an hour to walk into Ludham village from here. Just follow the track. Turn right at the T junction and then left at the next junction.
Shops Pubs etc
You will find these in Ludham village and at Ludham Bridge. See above for the best moorings. There are plenty of places to eat and you can get all the supplies you need for a boating holiday.
Boatyards
If you need boat supplies or
repairs, we suggest you try Ludham Bridge Boatyard.
Right next to Ludham Bridge.
You can hire historic wooden boats from Hunter's yard and they also offer taster courses in sailing. Contact the yard direct.
If you want to buy a lovely new wooden boat the Swallowtail Boatyard is the place.
Ludham is also the home of Albion, the last black sailed trading wherry.
Hunter's Yard, Swallowtail and the Wherry Base are all near the end of Horsefen Road. To get there from the middle of Ludham Village, walk along the Yarmouth Road past the row of thatched cottages on your right and then take the first right.
Children's Playground
You can hire historic wooden boats from Hunter's yard and they also offer taster courses in sailing. Contact the yard direct.
If you want to buy a lovely new wooden boat the Swallowtail Boatyard is the place.
Ludham is also the home of Albion, the last black sailed trading wherry.
Hunter's Yard, Swallowtail and the Wherry Base are all near the end of Horsefen Road. To get there from the middle of Ludham Village, walk along the Yarmouth Road past the row of thatched cottages on your right and then take the first right.
Children's Playground
There are green spaces for children
to play at Womack Staithe and How Hill. There is a
children's playground with swings etc. in Ludham
village on the Catfield Road. From the middle of the
village, with Thrower's shop on your right, walk
along the road towards Catfield and the playground
is on the left just past the Methodist church.
Bus Services
You can get buses to Norwich and Great Yarmouth from Ludham village. Services are not very frequent so check the timetable on line.
Walks
There are lots of great walks starting in Ludham and we list some on this website.
Post Office
There is a post office in Ludham village. It is located inside Throwers shop. It is right in the middle of the village and is easy to find.
History
No shortage of this in Ludham. The village has 1000 years of history and has many thatched cottages and other historic buildings. St Catherine's Church is very special with its rare painted Rood Screen and is well worth a visit. If you want to know more, just explore this website.
Events
The Broads Authority website is a good place to find out about local events. You will also find information in the Broadcaster newspaper. This is available from Broads information centres and libraries. A large sign at St Catherine's church advertises local events and if you want to ask a local, we suggest popping into see the Ludham butcher. This is the home of local gossip as well as a great source of fantastic sausages. You are always welcome at meeting of the Ludham Archive Group. See our meetings page for details.
Want to ask a question?
We think the best place to ask questions about any Broads related topic including Ludham is the Broads Forum website. Details are on our Links page. You can always send us an e-mail and details are on our Home Page.
Bus Services
You can get buses to Norwich and Great Yarmouth from Ludham village. Services are not very frequent so check the timetable on line.
Walks
There are lots of great walks starting in Ludham and we list some on this website.
Post Office
There is a post office in Ludham village. It is located inside Throwers shop. It is right in the middle of the village and is easy to find.
History
No shortage of this in Ludham. The village has 1000 years of history and has many thatched cottages and other historic buildings. St Catherine's Church is very special with its rare painted Rood Screen and is well worth a visit. If you want to know more, just explore this website.
Events
The Broads Authority website is a good place to find out about local events. You will also find information in the Broadcaster newspaper. This is available from Broads information centres and libraries. A large sign at St Catherine's church advertises local events and if you want to ask a local, we suggest popping into see the Ludham butcher. This is the home of local gossip as well as a great source of fantastic sausages. You are always welcome at meeting of the Ludham Archive Group. See our meetings page for details.
Want to ask a question?
We think the best place to ask questions about any Broads related topic including Ludham is the Broads Forum website. Details are on our Links page. You can always send us an e-mail and details are on our Home Page.