A two week Broads adventure begins on Saturday

Over two weeks of non stop adventure begins on Saturday May 4th with the third Broads Outdoors Festival, showcasing all that the Broads has to offer.

The festival provides the opportunity for local people to try new experiences right on their doorstep and supports the tourism industry at a relatively quiet time of the year.

Over 70 specially designed events have been arranged and some secret places are opening specially for the occasion.  Whether you love boats, birds, trains, or windmills or just want to get to know your area better there is plenty to choose from.

The festival starts and finishes with a boat show, and there are lots of opportunities to get out on the water. There is a free canoeing morning at canoe centres throughout the Broads on May 11th and guided canoe trails including dawn and sunset trips. You will have the chance to step back in time aboard an Edwardian wherry and a Victorian steam launch or go back to the future with a trip aboard a solar powered boat on Whitlingham Broad.

Bird lovers are well catered for with half a dozen dawn chorus events and a trip aboard a newly restored 1930s classic boat.to watch the wading birds on Breydon Water---a twitcher’s paradise. They have a rare chance to go bird watching on Heigham Holmes, a secret island and National Nature Reserve in the Upper Thurne which is only accessible by a swing bridge and is normally opened only one day a year.

Several wind pumps are opening for guided tours. Climb into the cap of Stubb Mill, newly restored by Broads Authority millwrights, and walk to Thurne Wind Pump for a tour and back again for a demonstration at Morses Wind Engine Park and a strawberry cream tea.

Among the family fun days is Go Wild at Barton Broad on May 12th which has  boat trips, craft activities, pond dipping and mini beast hunting, not to mention the Norfolk Worm Charming Championships.  A day of wildlife activities, talks and workshops for adults and older children is being held at Strumpshaw Fen on May 18th.

The festival culminates on Sunday May 19th with the Broads Green Boat and Tourism Show at Salhouse Broad, where you can experience all kinds of green boating and learn about environmentally friendly practices.

The festival is organised by the Broads Authority and Broads Tourism and sponsored by Archant and Hoseasons. A financial contribution is made by European STEP (Sustaining Tourism in Estuary Parks) funding.

Katie Hanger, Hoseasons UK boating manager, said: “Here at Hoseasons we are excited to sponsor the third Broad Outdoors Festival this year. We are passionate about supporting the Broads especially as it is where Hoseasons humble origins began back in 1944.

“The two-week festival is a great opportunity to highlight the fun and adventure everyone can have on and off the water; from boating holidays, cycling, walking, bird watching or even canoeing. The festival is a great way to encourage visitors and locals to explore Britain’s Magical Waterland.”

 For the full programme visit www.outdoorsfestival.co.uk