Dog-Friendly Inns Along the Broads Waterways

Why the Broads is made for dogs and their owners

There are few corners of Britain that suit a dog and a boat quite so neatly. The Broads offers around 125 miles of lock-free, tide-light waterway, with a pub roughly every hour of gentle cruising and a network of footpaths on the doorstep of most moorings. Your dog can swim in the morning, walk a marsh bank at lunchtime, and sleep under a table in front of a fire by six o'clock. Not many holidays deliver all three.

The key is that almost every village along the navigable rivers has at least one inn within a short walk of the staithe, and the majority of them welcome dogs in the bar rather than banishing them to a bench in the garden. That distinction matters enormously in February, and it matters just as much on a blustery August afternoon.

One practical note before you set off. Between April and September much of the grazing marsh is closed or dogs-on-leads only, because of ground-nesting birds and cattle. Read the signs at every mooring and keep a short lead handy. It costs nothing and keeps access open for everyone.

What makes a genuinely dog-friendly inn

A bowl by the door is a start, but it is not the whole story. After years of mooring up and walking in with a wet, sandy dog, I judge a place on a handful of things.

• Dogs in the bar, not just the garden. If the garden is the only option, a sudden squall ends your lunch.
• Hard floors. Flagstones, quarry tiles and worn boards beat carpet every time — for you as much as for the landlord.
• Water offered unprompted. The best places spot the dog before they spot you, and the bowl arrives without you having to ask.
• A jar of treats behind the bar. A small thing, but it tells you dogs are regulars here, not tolerated.
• Space under the table. Low beams and cramped corners are fine for people; a tired dog needs somewhere to stretch out.
• Food at sensible hours. Look for somewhere serving through the afternoon, ideally noon until two-thirty and then from six. Nothing is worse than mooring at three o'clock to find the kitchen shut until seven.

The northern rivers: the Bure around Wroxham and Coltishall

The Bure is the busiest of the rivers and, for a first trip with a dog, the easiest. Wroxham and Hoveton sit within a few minutes' walk of the water, and both have several places where a wet spaniel is a familiar sight. The stretch upstream towards Coltishall is quieter and prettier, with the village green a short stroll from the moorings and a good circular walk along the old railway path on the far bank.

Horning is the classic stop. Moorings line the frontage, and a short walk up the lane takes you to the village and its inns, most of which are used to boat traffic and boat dogs in equal measure. Do bear in mind that the Bure can run hard after heavy rain, and the Broads Authority will post strong-stream warnings at the bridges. If the boards are up, stay put and enjoy a longer lunch.

The Ant and the Thurne: quieter water and roomier bars

Turn up the Ant from the Bure and the character changes within a mile. Barton Broad is wide and open, and the river narrows towards Ludham and Irstead before reaching the delightful run down to the staithe at Neatishead. There is a good walk on the Weavers' Way nearby, and the inns here tend to be roomier and quieter than their Bure counterparts — ideal if your dog is nervous of crowds.

The Thurne is flatter, more open and superb for long, low-energy walks along the river wall. Potter Heigham, Hickling and Martham all have moorings and a pub within reach, though do check the bridge at Potter Heigham carefully: the clearance is limited and the pilot's advice is not optional. Hickling Broad is a nature reserve, so leads on and no swimming.

The southern rivers: Yare, Chet and Waveney

The southern network feels more spacious. The Yare runs from Norwich down through Brundall to Reedham, where the riverside pubs sit almost on the mooring and the marshes give you hours of flat, quiet walking. The Chet is small and intimate, ending at Loddon, which has a proper town-centre feel and a good choice of places to eat.

The Waveney is my favourite for dogs. It is tidal, so watch your mooring lines and check the tide tables before you settle in for the evening. Beccles, Geldeston and the stretch near Somerleyton all offer the combination you want: a walk along the water, a pub with a fire, and a mooring you can step off onto dry land rather than a mudbank.

Practical tips for boating with a dog

• Never leave your dog aboard alone. A moored boat heats up fast, even on a cloudy day, and a dog that can see you walking away will bark.
• Fit a buoyancy aid for swimming and for boarding. A tired dog that has fallen off a quay is surprisingly hard to lift.
• Teach a boarding routine. Same spot, same command, every time. A plank or a low step is far safer than a leap.
• Carry a towel, a bowl and a spare lead in the day bag. Wet dog plus varnished cabin sole equals a slip.
• Mind the wildlife and livestock. Adders are rare but present on some heaths, and blue-green algae can appear on still broads in a hot summer. If the water looks like pea soup, keep the dog out.
• Ring ahead in winter. Many riverside pubs close for a few weeks in January and February, however welcoming they are in season.

Get it right and the Broads becomes a holiday your dog will recognise the moment you turn into the car park. Take it slowly, moor early, walk often, and let the pub do the rest.