Enchanting family walks in the beautiful Broads National Park

Big open skies, blessedly flat trails, magnificent wildlife, a rich history and plenty of places to grab a hot chocolate, the Broads are tailor-made for family walks. Bring the binoculars, create a wildlife ticklist, tell stories of when the Romans ruled and set forth into this magical and unique landscape.

The national park’s nature reserves and waterside bird hides provide the ideal opportunity for your burgeoning David Attenboroughs to observe animals in the wild. Whether it’s the hovering kestrel, the darting swift or the hunting kingfisher, the spectacle of watching birds in their natural habitat is sure to enthral. Meanwhile, the warmer months provide plenty of colour and the opportunity to get close to butterflies, damselflies and dragonflies.

While the exquisite wildlife offers something for everyone, there’s plenty else to explore. The national park’s many historic ruins will get the imagination firing, from ancient Roman remains to abandoned old windmills. The region’s charming towns and villages have loads of great places to eat, while boutiques and farm shops sell local crafts and produce. Then there’s the opportunity to hire a boat and use the waterways as an exciting way to travel between the trails.

In this Collection, we present six of the best family walks in the Broads National Park. Discover Reedham, an idyllic village on the River Yare. Circumnavigate vibrant Great Whitlingham Broad, just a stone’s throw from Norwich’s city centre. Explore Burgh Castle, the well-preserved remains of Gariannonum, an ancient Roman fort. Enter the lost wilderness of an alder carr – a wet woodland – on the Barton boardwalk. Pay a visit to some excellent pubs during the loop from the town of Beccles. Follow the serene River Chet, experiencing its sumptuous wildlife and a slower pace of life. There’s all this and much more.

These short walks range from 1.3 to 7 miles (2.2 to 11.7 km) in length and are flat throughout, making them perfect for all abilities. Most of the routes are suitable for wheelchairs and buggies too. Where this is not the case, there are alternatives, which we detail in the Tour descriptions. On these walks, you’re never far from a good pub or a cosy cafe for all your refreshment and refuelling needs.

Always remember to bring sun protection for the warmer months and we’d recommend carrying waterproofs too, regardless of the season.

Some of the routes can be reached by public transport, while all can be accessed by car. Of course, you can also arrive in style by boat along the Broads’ navigable waterways all year round – an experience the kids aren’t likely to forget in a hurry! There are plenty of places to stay in the national park too, from luxurious spa hotels and guesthouses to boat-based accommodation and campsites.

We hope you enjoy these short, family walks in the Broads, a national park that has something for everyone.