Mum and I put this day out together earlier this month,we had a great day exploring and if you love plants the Urban Jungle is a must! If you do try any of it do let us know what you think or if you find anywhere that we have missed
Leave the Dairy Barns and head towards Acle, from Acle follow the signs onto Reedham/Reedham Ferry and Moulton. 5 minutes from Acle you will arrive at Moulton Garden Centre & Nurseries (NR13 3AP). The Garden Centre has a big selection of plants, tools, outdoor living, gifts and a great coffee shop. They grow lots of homegrown products all year round from fuchsias and geraniums in the spring, to summer flowering perennials, as well as pansies, violas and cyclamen in the autumn. https://www.moultonnurseries.co.uk/
From here keep following the signs to Reedham Ferry, as you come to the village do not follow the signs for village centre, continue straight following the lane as the ferry is the other side of the village. However, if you have time head into the village centre there are 2 pubs along side the river and plenty of parking on the river green so you can watch the boats go by. Reedham is also well known for its Victorian Swing Bridge which is still in use carrying with the Wherry railway line between Norwich and Lowestoft which you can see from the rivers edge.
Reedham Chain Ferry is a small 3 car ferry that takes you across the river as there is no bridge. https://www.reedhamferry.co.uk/chain-ferry/ Once across follow all signs to Beccles approx. 9 miles. If you want to head to Beccles the quick way head to Acle and then the A47 turning off onto the A146 to Beccles but the route described above is the scenic route!
Beccles sits along the river Waveney. There are various small independent shops and cafes along with charity shops and a few chain stores, Friday is market day. There is a large church with a separate bell tower in the middle of the town and the bell tower offers fantastic views. It is open on Saturdays from Easter to October and Wednesday and Fridays in July and August. https://visitbeccles.co.uk/
Activities in and around Beccles
Boat trips to Geldestone Lock on the Big Dog Ferry. The Big Dog Ferry runs between Beccles Lido and The Locks Inn Community Pub, Geldeston. The ferry offers a relaxing 3-mile boat trip along the River Waveney, with the opportunity to enjoy wildlife including otters, kingfishers and marsh harriers. You can disembark at The Locks Inn Community Pub to enjoy a drink, meal and live music or stay on board for a round trip. If you’re feeling more energetic, book a single trip ticket and walk the approx. 3.5 miles Angles Way footpath via Shipmeadow or the Norfolk River path via Dunburgh back to Beccles. https://bigdogferry.co.uk/
Beccles Lido is an open-air swimming pool heated to 28 degrees in the summer months https://www.beccleslido.com/
Just outside Beccles is the Urban Jungle is set under wide-open skies, in the sunny and windy coastal climate of Beccles. Although we are 7 miles from the sea the weather is noticeably sunnier and warmer than inland near Norwich. The display gardens here are full of desert and Mediterranean style plants, happy in coastal exposure. The house plants and pots selection is large and beautiful and includes a small café with great coffee and cake. https://www.urbanjungle.uk.com/
Other places nearby
Somerleyton Hall and has Garden with traditional hedge Maze https://www.somerleyton.co.uk/ and Raveningham Estate and Gardens http://raveningham.com/
