Home > Easter on the Broads: 18 April - 21 April 2025 (3 nights)
Easter on the Broads: 18 April - 21 April 2025 (3 nights)
We return to Barton Turf at Easter for what has become an annual OCA trip. We always have a great time at Barton Turf Activity Centre and it provides us with a great base from which to explore the Broads.
Where is the event?
The Norfolk Broads formed after large scale peat extraction and river diversions hundreds of years ago. It now forms a 164-hectare (410-acre) nature reserve where rare birds, insects and mammals have found a home.
In spring-time there is a chance to hear the booms of one of Britain's rarest breeding birds - the Bittern. We might even see one! Kingfishers, Marsh Harriers and Herons abound. Otters and a lone seal have been spotted on previous trips.
Barton Turf Activity Centre, our home for the weekend sits on on the edge of Barton Broad, a significant lake that connects north and south to other parts of the Broads rivers network. This is a great location for trips and exploration.
What's on offer
With three days of paddling, there will be a range of flat water trips and potentially some sunrise and sunset journeys out. Short drives can get us to other great locations: the huge Hickling broad or Wroxham broad and access to the higher reaches of the Ant. Families are certainly welcome.
Moonlit paddles, a communal fire, and smores are weather dependant.
Food on the weekend
Barton Turf Activity Centre are a good friend to the OCA and we are well looked after. We have packed this up as a camping package including Dinner on the Saturday night (beef or veggie chilli with rice & salad, followed by cheesecake) Dinner can also be purchased for Sunday night (roast followed by crumble and custard, as can breakfasts for all three days.
Additional costs
- To canoe on the Norfolk Broads either a toll must be paid, or British Canoeing membership needs to be held
- Diham canal charges its own toll
- If we travel away from Barton Turn to paddle, access and car parking charges could apply