How to get there - Bungay is on the A143, half way between Diss and Great Yarmouth
From Diss take the A143 heading east toward Great Yarmouth for 14 miles. Cross the river at Bungay and at the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto A144/Broad Street for 0.3 miles. At Market Place, take the 2nd exit onto B1435/Trinity St and shortly turn left at B1435/Staithe Rd. Bear left (also Staithe Road) and park in the Riverside centre car park on the left.
For those with SatNav the postcode is NR35 1BF
Get a map with driving directions to start (enter the postcode of your starting point at A)
Suggested Launch Site - Launch over the bank upstream of the weir.
General
Description - This there and back trip totals 7 miles with no locks or portages. Motorised boats can not get this far upriver so you are guaranteed peace and tranquility.
Head upstream, under the A143 and past the campsite on your left. As the river forks take the right branch and when the river divides round an island take the left branch.
The river now loops round the golf course until you come again to the road, at which point you turn round.
There are no pubs or cafes so take a picnic.
Comments on this trip
Fletcher Davies 07 Aug 2021
Am I missing something Suffolk River Waveney The Bungay Loop. On the Canoe trail map for the Bungay Loop it states 3 hour trail ends here. Is the access to get out just before or after the road bridge I cannot find any information and hope someone can advise me please. If there is not a get out access point why is it called a loop
Dave smith 09 May 2017
Really enjoyed the trip around the loop!
Matthew 30 Aug 2016
A lovely paddle, done in August. So many fish in the river for a few cm to 20cm and larger. Saw kingfisher too! Lots of good places for a swim in the water where there isn't too much weed. The last time we paddled this, some 10 years ago we were walking in places because it was so shallow, but no problem this time. We parked at the campsite for £4 which was ideal, as facilities there to use too.
Chris Matthews 11 Apr 2015
Paddled the loop on April 6th 2015 between Outney Camping and Caravan Site to the bridge passed the gravel works and back.Shared the river with lots of swans, geese, kingfishers and the odd cow keeping a watchful eye from the bank.River clear, easy paddling and a few like minded souls out in a variety of Kayaks and Canoes.Used Outneys launch site, cost £4 which included parking for day and use of toilets.A great start to the calander.
Stan Jenny 01 Sep 2014
We did this loop on 23.08.2014. It was a lovely day, if a little breezy, and we were trying out our new modular kayak. We are both novice kayakers, but found the trip relatively easy. Having parked in the Riverside Centre car park we launched from the landing stage nearby. Wildlife seen included several swans (including a family with 3 juveniles), 3 kingfishers, numerous dragonflies, banded demoiselles and, of course, lots of fish, together with cattle who surveyed our progress from the bank. We did not encounter any problems in terms of tree blockages etc and thoroughly enjoyed our day. Definitely one to repeat!
DGibbs 30 Oct 2012
We have been around the loop so many time and never get bored of it,winter and summer.Great for spotting the otters and sometime the odd mink or two,We have spent many anight camping at Outney Meadow campsite which is located on the river.You can walk into the old Bungay town which is only a few minutes with good beer supplied at the Green Dragon, as this pub brews its own and at a very good price,food not available but there is plenty of takaways to choose from.The campsite has just installed a new quay head and slipway,you may use this but you will have to pay a small fee of £4.00 for the non campers.Tel 01986 892338.
30 Oct 2012
Neil Stones 30 Apr 2011
Did this trip 17.04.11 in a Mackinaw 156 with my brother 3 kids in the canoe. We launched at the riverside centre in Bungay which has a good free car park and easy access to the river. There are no public toilets here. The paddling is very easy with no noticable current. Some nice countryside and usual river wildlife. When we came back into Bungay under the A143 we came up against a strong current and shallow water which meant we had to turn back as we were getting nowhere. If we did this route again we would start this end so to go with the current. A nice trip to start the canoe season for us off all in all.
