Plenty of opportunities for messing about on the river!

Peace and quiet but plenty for all the family to do, it’s the ideal holiday – and there’s a planet-preserving feel-good factor about it too. Jo Malone visits Waveney River Centre

Messing about in a canoe on the river, sitting on the bank of the stream as ducklings paddle past, watching the children play and listening to the sound of, well, nothing much more than birdsong and the wind in the reeds; it’s easy to imagine you’re a million miles away from modern life.

This is a feeling Ruth and James Knight take great pride in promoting at the Waveney River Centre, the holiday park and marina on the Norfolk Broads. Here, keeping it green goes hand in hand with keeping the holidaymakers happy. So while the new south facing holiday lodges – to rent for short breaks or to buy for year round holidays – are comfortable, modern and luxurious, there’s an eco friendly side to everything about this centre beside the River Waveney.

‘Ecology, sustainability and community, being good neighbours, is important to us,’ says Ruth. ‘We want to make sure we can keep this for future generations to enjoy. And it is also about not being wasteful, and that keeps our costs down too.’

Back to nature

Where possible natural cleaning products are used, local people are employed and guests are strongly encouraged to recycle. Wherever possible, while maintaining a tidy appearance, areas have been deliberately left wild to offer habitats to native birds and animals. There’s a clear stream to explore, trees and a wildlife garden with bug hotels, ponds, logs and flowers. Ruth points out the open countryside views and the bird feeders belonging to each lodge – inside there are bird identifying posters and log books to note feathered visitors.

Waveney River Centre is the sister to the Ferry Marina at Horning, where holiday cruisers to hire include new designs with low wash hulls helping to minimize bank erosion. Boat hire, and the marina and boat build and repair facilities, are a popular part of the centre – most holidaymakers love to get on the water. Oulton Broad is about 30 minutes by boat and Beccles about 90, and the journey along the peaceful reed lined river incredibly tranquil.

‘We want people to relax and enjoy themselves and not have to go anywhere if they don’t want to,’ says Ruth. She and James holidayed here themselves with daughters Alex, 11, and Charlotte, eight, and put everything, including the showers, pool and pond dipping to the test. ‘It rained all week and we had a brilliant time,’ she says. ‘It does feel like another world.’

Waveney River Centre, Staithe Road, Burgh St Peter, Norfolk NR34 OBT, 01502 677343, waveneyrivercentre.co.uk. Day visitors are welcome.