Discover Acle on the River Bure

Acle lies on the River Bure in the Broads National Park and combines a waterside landscape, walking routes and an unusually varied local history. Acle Bridge is the only bridge over the River Bure between Great Yarmouth and Wroxham. It is therefore a notable landmark for anyone wishing to discover Acle as a destination combining river, nature and historical exploration.

River Bure, trails and experiences

About a mile from the centre, you can hire boats at Acle Bridge. The bridge also offers an excellent view of the River Bure. Every year, a sailing regatta takes place west of the bridge, with sailing boats from across the Broads taking part. This event is one of the special waterside experiences you can consider when planning your trip, provided you are interested in sailing and the maritime side of the region.

The surrounding area can also be explored on foot. The 3.5-mile circular route “Wherry Lines Walks: Acle” starts at Acle railway station. There are also pleasant paths along the river to Upton. These different options allow you to choose between a clearly defined circular walk and a route following the river. Water voles live in the ditches of Damgate Wood, and the plant water soldier also grows there. In addition to its open riverscape, Acle therefore offers a landscape of particular interest to nature enthusiasts.

Church, market tradition and wartime history

The Church of St Edmund is a Grade I listed building. Its fabric dates back to the 13th and 14th centuries. Anyone interested in historic village centres and ecclesiastical architectural history will find a specific point of interest here. Acle was granted permission to hold a market as early as 1253. This historic market tradition adds to the picture of a place whose importance was shaped by more than just its waterside location.

The more recent history includes the Acle War Memorial and several surviving defensive structures. The war memorial commemorates the First World War and dates from 1921; additions commemorating the Second World War were made later. Four Second World War pillboxes survive around Acle, including three Type 22 pillboxes. A camouflaged pillbox is attached to the eastern gable of The Manor House in the centre of Acle. Acle’s surviving Second World War defensive structures are of national importance. Three concrete platforms also survive on the southern side of the River Bure at Acle Bridge.

The area’s earlier landscape history is also remarkable: in Roman times, Acle was a port at the head of the great Gariensis estuary. Much of the parish lies on low-lying land that once stood at the edge of this estuary and became marshland in the early Middle Ages. During a stay in Acle, riverside scenery, historical change and visible traces of different periods therefore come together.

Acle as a starting point for planning your trip

Acle has a railway station on the Wherry Line between Norwich and Great Yarmouth. The village can be reached by bus or train from Norwich and Great Yarmouth. This is an important consideration when choosing holiday accommodation or a holiday home: first consider whether the riverside paths along the River Bure, boating opportunities, the nature of Damgate Wood, or the area’s local and military history will be the main focus of your trip. Families wishing to combine different interests can thereby vary their days between river, circular walks, culture and history without limiting themselves to just one type of experience.

For further trip planning, you can also visit the pages on North Creake, Brooke, Bradenham, Brundall, Spixworth, Great Dunham, Downham Market and Great Witchingham.

To the main travel overview: Norfolk.