The Broads is one of Norfolk’s most popular destinations – a network of waterways through which people love to explore on boats, tying up at night next to a pub or in a quiet location where they can enjoy peace and quiet.
The Broads covers about 300 square kilometres, of which about 200 kilometres is navigable waterways.
We started off in Wroxham, visiting the famous Roy’s stores to shop before boarding our boat for a short cruise around.
The ride took us deeper into The Broads where we got to see some of the lovely houses and vacation properties on the banks.
In my memory and imagination, The Broads occupied a place of romance and tranquility. This was where my older brother holidayed with his pals and when I visited I was always impressed by the fun of the place and the happy, gentile party atmosphere.
But not everyone had that impression – being told The Broads was for old people. I still have my old concept of the place, but then I am not in a great position to judge it, being now older myself.
After a wonderful lunch stop at the Fur and Feather Pub, we journeyed on to Blooms of Bressingham to see the gardens, although many people go there to see steam trains.
The gardens were started as an extension of the Blooms of Bressingham Nursery, a pioneer of introducing great perennials and exporting them around the world in blue pots.
Alan Bloom started the business and his son, Adrian continued the tradition, until he eventually sold the business to American investors some years ago.
Adrian was responsible for the Foggy Bottom part of the garden, featuring great conifers and perennials in island beds.
I was thrilled while walking around the garden to find Adrian, quietly watering in some new plants in an island border. He was welcoming and took a few of us to view the garden from the elevated position of his tree house. It was a wonderful, unexpected moment.
Adrian, always a gentlemen, made us very welcome and even said he would have liked to have offered us gin and tonics but we didn’t have time and he was in his gardening clothes, smart though he looked.
We head back to our digs at Dunston Hall, happy with our wonderful day out on The Broads and at Bressingham with the unforgettably delicious lunch at the Fur and Feather in between.
