Crome's Broad

The water here sits unnaturally still on most days - that's the giveaway that you've found something special in Norfolk's Broadland system. Crome's Broad is one of the quieter stretches, well east of Great Yarmouth, and it rewards the detour if you're prepared for the drive down narrow lanes to reach it.

It's a working landscape rather than a manicured attraction. You'll see reed cutters, the occasional boat, and if you time it right, you might spot marsh harriers working the edges. The broad itself stretches wide enough to feel genuinely open, though the reeds hem you in on approach, which adds a bit of theatre to arrival. Most visitors come to walk the perimeter or settle with binoculars for an hour - it's proper birdwatching territory, so bring your field guide.

There's no visitor centre or facilities to speak of, which is refreshingly honest. Free to access, though parking is limited. Allow two hours if you're doing the full loop; less if you just want a quick scout and a cuppa back in town.

For a Broads holiday based at Hickling Campsite or Norfolk Broads Country Park, Crome's Broad makes a worthwhile half-day excursion. It's busier than some of the truly remote broads but far quieter than Barton or Wroxham. Go in spring or autumn when the light's better and the crowds thinner. Winter mornings can be atmospheric, though wet. Summer's fine if you don't mind sharing the car park with other enthusiasts.