Sail the Broads aboard an Edwardian wherry

Added: 25/07/2008
Category: Broads Authority

The chance to step back in time and take a leisurely sail aboard an Edwardian wherry on the northern and southern rivers of the beautiful Broads starts on Saturday (August 2nd) during National Parks Week.

Pleasure wherry Hathor, built in 1905 for the Colman family, famous for their mustard, will be giving one way trips lasting between an hour and a whole day on the northern and southern rivers on its ever popular Wherry Heritage Tour.

Hathor will start at How Hill on the River Ant, and travel to Ranworth, South Walsham, Upton, Gt Yarmouth and up the River Waveney to Oulton Broad, Lowestoft, Beccles and the clear waters of Geldeston Locks. She will then return in stages to Wroxham on the River Bure.

Throughout the tour there will be opportunities to step aboard and look round her. Hathor (pronounced Heart-or) is named after the Egyptian goddess of love and joy and an Egyptian theme pervades the boat with stunning hieroglyphics, lotus flowers and animals inlaid in wood.. The tour is organised by the Wherry Yacht Charter Charitable Trust which protects and restores three of the eight wherries remaining on the Broads.

Free viewings for the first week are at Ranworth on Saturday (August 2nd) 3pm – 8pm or Sunday(3rd) 10am – 1pm; at South Walsham on Monday(4th) 1pm – 3pm; at Upton on Monday 5pm – 7pm or Tuesday(5th) 10am – 3pm; at Oulton Broad (Wherry Hotel); on Thursday (7th) 10am – 8pm. Hathor will be on view at Lowestoft at various times between Friday 8th - Thursday 14th August.

If you’d like to sail on Wherry Hathor spaces left next week are Saturday (August 2nd): How Hill to Ranworth 10am – 3pm £30, Monday (4th): South Walsham to Upton 3pm – 5pm £12; or Tuesday (5th) Upton to Yarmouth Bure Park 3pm – 8pm £30.

To book a sailing trip ring the Broads Authority on 01603 610734. A Wherry Heritage Tour leaflet with details of ALL viewings and sailings is available at any Broads Information Centre, by phoning the Broads Authority number above or via the Broads Authority website. If you are interested in supporting the Wherry Yacht Charter Charitable Trust you can become a Friend and help to maintain and restore Hathor and the Trust’s other two wherries Olive and Norada for future generations to enjoy. For Friends membership only (not sailings bookings) phone 01493 751773.

In a bid to raise extra cash you can also support the WYCCT at a dinner and ceilidh on Sunday August 17th at the Wherry Hotel, Oulton Broad which falls in the middle of the charity’s annual Summer Wherry Tour. The evening includes a welcome drink, three-course dinner, and dancing to the ceilidh band Shindig, with tickets priced at £25.00. This is the first dinner evening held by the Trust to raise money and awareness about the historic mode of transport. Funds are desperately needed to restore and maintain the trusts three wherries, two of which are in need of urgent and extensive repair before they can sail again. To reserve a table for a large group or book in smaller numbers, contact Pauline Simpson on 01692 630674, or tickets can be bought from the Wherry Hotel in person.