Blakeney

Last year on our way back from the Norfolk Broads we were treated to some spectacular weather and favourable sea conditions. As we were far too early to enter Wells Harbour which is only accessible for a couple of hours either side of high water, we took the opportunity to anchor off Blakeney Bay, just around the corner from Wells. Here we were treated to a great display by the local seals and a dinghy ride to the beach rewarded us with mile upon mile of unspoilt golden sands.

We have since discovered, by talking to local boat owners and reading guide books about local havens and harbours, that Blakeney Harbour is another great place to spend a night or two. As with Wells, entry to the harbour is dictated by the tides, safe entry with a boat drawing 5ft is possible two hours either side of high water on all but the smallest of neaps tides.

The entry to the harbour is by all accounts well marked and once through the snaking entry channel, boat owners are treated to the more open waters of The Pit, an area of deep water with swinging moorings available to visiting and resident boats. The Pit is also widely used for sailing smaller yachts within the shelter of the surrounding sand dunes and can make for a busy and bustling place to stay given favourable weather and tides.

Local boat owners advise against attempting to navigate all the way to Blakeney Staithe with a deeper drafted boat as the moorings dry out and the channel is shallow, instead preferring the swinging deep water moorings of The Pit. For those needing provisions Blakeney is a dinghy ride away from the swinging moorings and anchorage and will provide an afternoon of entertainment exploring the salt marshes and their many tributaries which are navigable by dinghy for around six hours per tide.

Next year we again intend to have a two week summer holiday on the Norfolk Broads. On our way back if the weather is suitable we will after a day or so spent in Wells refuelling and restocking the boat, hopefully get the chance to spend an evening or two in Blakeney Harbour either on the swinging moorings or if they are full at anchor a little further up the channel.

We thoroughly enjoy discovering and exploring new places to see and visit and the North Norfolk coastline is providing us with a whole host of little harbours and havens to satisfy our need to find new and exciting destinations. Slowly but surely we are adding to our list of places we have visited and places that we will visit once again. Blakeney promises to be another such haven of the North Norfolk coastline.