Neatishead

This area of Broadland is quiet, unspoilt and a great place for a walk, cycle or canoe. The 3 villages have various access to Barton Broad.

An Introduction to Neatishead and its surrounding villages

This area of Broadland is quiet and unspoilt. It is a great place for a walk or a cycle and explore the lovely Norfolk Broads villages of Neatishead, Irstead and Barton Turf. Neatishead is the largest of the three villages and has a pub, shop and restaurant. All the villages have their own staithe, giving access to Barton Broad, and it is this waterside setting that gives these villages that something special. This has resulted in the area containing some spectacular waterside homes (the road to the north of Neatishead is known locally as millionaires row). Between the villages of Neatishead and Irstead is Gays staithe (with boat trips on the solar powered boat Ra) and the Barton Boardwalk, allowing foot access to view Barton Broad. There are many fine walks and bike rides along quiet country lanes and to Alderfen Broad nature reserve. The villages of Barton Turf and Irstead also have fine churches that are well worth a visit.

HOLIDAYS IN THE NEATISHEAD AREA

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Neatishead, Irstead and Barton Turf Map

View a detailed tourist information map of the Norfolk Broads

Neatishead Guided Tour

We start our tour at Neatishead public staithe, which is located off a quiet backwater (Lime Kiln Dyke). The village of Neatishead is only a 5 minute walk from the staithe and has a village shop - White House Stores.
Neatishead public staithe	White Stores Shop Neatishead

There is a good pub - The White Horse Inn - which serves hot and cold food - and great Sunday lunches!	Ye Olde Saddlery Restaurant is located opposite the pub. It has a good menu and also does afternoon teas.
White Horse Inn Neatishead	Ye Olde Saddlery restaurant Neatishead

Along the road to Irstead is the Barton Broad Boardwalk, the only way to see Barton Broad on foot. It has a car-park about half a mile from the entrance, but there is a small car-park at the entrance for the disabled.
Barton boardwalk carpark	Barton Broad Boardwalk sign

The boardwalk itself takes you on a journey through ancient woodland to a viewing platform at the end. The view from the platform over Barton Broad is amazing - and you get a different view at different times of the year.
Barton Broadwalk	Barton Broadwalk viewing platform
View over Barton Broad in January from the Barton Broadwalk
Sign at the viewpoint on Barton Broadwalk

Just by the Boardwalk car park is pretty Gays Staithe - the starting point of the boat trips aboard the solar powered boat "The Ra" These trips are run by the Broads Authority - see their website for details.
Gayes Staithe, near Neatishead	Boat trips onto Barton Broad
Broads Authority Solar powered boat	The Ra, a solar powered boat

Close to Gayes Staithe is the opening to Lime Kiln Dyke, a narrow, wooded channel that links the village of Neatishead with Barton Broad. The waters around Neatishead are lovely quiet backwaters, ideal for a paddle in a canoe or a spot of fishing.
Entrance to Lime Kiln Dyke	Lime Kiln Dyke, near Neatishead
Canoe down Lime Kiln Dyke	Fishing near Neatishead

Irstead Guided Tour

Returning to the road, we continue along a beautiful country lane to Irstead, which is a collection of pretty houses on the banks of the River Ant. Irstead staithe, is a pretty spot to stop and enjoy the peace and quiet, at any time of year.
Irstead Staithe on the River Ant	Bench on Irstead Staithe
Broads Authority sign at Irstead	Mallard on the Norfolk Broads

Irstead Church - St Michael - has a thatched roof and dates from the 15th century. It is well worth taking a look inside this peaceful church.
Irstead church of St. Michael	Inside the thatched church at Irstead

Irstead contains some picturesque waterside homes - who are the lucky people that live in these properties!
Thatched waterside home	Riverside property in Irstead

The countryside surrounding Neatishead, Irstead and Barton Turf is very picturesque and there are some great walks and cycle rides along the quiet country lanes. It gives the opportunity to see some great Norfolk rural countryside - and its fairly flat!
The village of Barton Turf over the fields	Country lanes around Neatishead

Returning towards Neatishead, a lane leads south, eventually taking us to Alderfen Broad (about a mile), which is a nature reserve. There are marked paths around the land locked Broad and there is a viewing point. Alderfen is one of Norfolk's hidden treasures and you will probably not see another person during your visit!
Alderfen Broad sign	The path around Alderfen Broad
Footpaths around Alderfen Broad	The viewing point over Alderfen Broad
The view over Alderfen Broad

Barton Turf Guided Tour

Heading North from Neatishead, we come to Barton Turf, which is a totally unspoilt Broadland village. There are cottages grouped around the village green/pond and on the road down to the pretty staithe.
Barton Turf village Sign	Barton Turf village pond
Thatched cottage	Cottages in Barton Turf

The village staithe is a peaceful place to moor your boat. All kinds of boats call in at the staithe, including wherries, yachts and cruisers.
Barton Turf Staithe	Boats moored at Barton Turf staithe

A view from Barton Turf staithe on a frosty winters morning, the building on the staithe is owned by the parish and used for meetings and events.

A frosty morning over Barton Turf staithe

Barton Turf village church is nearly a mile from the village.	The methodist chapel is slightly closer - half a mile towards Pennygate.
Barton Turf parish church	Barton Turf Methodist Chapel

Finally, don't miss the RAF Air Defence Museum on the road from Neatishead towards Horning. This museum depicts the secret world of RAF defence radar using many exhibits, models, photos, light and sound. It's centre piece is a Cold War Operations Room, left exactly as it was during 1954. There is also a replica operations room from the Battle of Britain and an updated operations room from 1942. A new addition to the museum is a number of rooms dedicated to nearby RAF Coltishall, which sadly ceased flying operations in 2006.
Battle of Britain Operations Room	Updated Operations Room from 1942
Cold War Operations Room	1950's Operations Room

HOLIDAYS IN THE NEATISHEAD AREA

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Neatishead Summary of what to SEE and DO

Enjoy the views from the village staithe's

Row a boat or canoe down the quiet backwaters

Cycle along the quiet and picturesque country lanes

Take a refreshment in the pub or restaurant

Walk to the Barton Broad Boardwalk

Take a ride on a solar boat "Ra" from Gays Staithe

Walk to Alderfen Broad Nature Reserve

Visit the churches at Barton Turf and Irstead

Explore the nearby radar museum

	The area around Neatishead is lovely unspoilt Broadland. It is the complete opposite of city life and because there is no through road, there is very little traffic. It is an ideal place for those that wish to get away from it all and relax.
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