Norfolk - River Bure - Horstead Mill to Buxton Mill (& return)
This page was submitted by Andy
How to get there - Follow the North Walsham Rd from Norwich to Coltishall. Turn off right at the roundabout opposite the "Recuiting Sergant" pub (for those with SatNav the postcode is NR12 7EF) down Mill Rd. There is a small carpark there at the mill.
Get a map with driving directions to start (enter the postcode of your starting point at A)
Suggested Launch Site - Launch upstream of the mill about 20yrds where a small clearing in the bank lets you slide the boat into the water
General
Description - Journey is only 3 and a half miles to Buxton Mill and the the return trip. It is a relaxed leisurely meander first through a tranquil woodland section and then a more open farmland landscape which runs parallel with Bure Valley Railway (the smell of the occasional engine and peep peep of the whistle adds to the effect) travelling against the gentle current on the outward journey and an opportunity to steer and flow gently with the current on the way back giving quietness only broken by the call of bird life and the croaking frogs.
Nb; Take the left hand fork after the rail bridge and keep eyes peeled for the nice size pike laying in wait for darting chub.
Comments on this trip
Ashe Hurst 04 Jan 2012
Hi There.Just thought i would up date your info for Canoing the River Bure from Horstead Mill and up river to Aylsham.From Little Hautbois the river is private property under the Management of Oxnead fishery for some 30 years now. Whilst we dont mind Canoe Through Passage, even we canoe! now days we are over run with Canoes. The problem arrises at Buxton Mill. Here we have vital fish spawning gravles and had put up polite signage for Canoes to Portage via the right hand side Canal/lock Cut. I have infact communicated this and had a site meeting with the local BCU access Officer. Our signs were removed several times. Also Buxton does not have the Parking Facilities, especialy in the summer months when residents, Business, the Church the school tend to get blocked in. Fishery Members have private permit parking, however a lot of visiting canoists fill this up too.From Buxton Mill, the owners of the Mill its private Car Parks have refused all canoe access portage.The Mill Reach public foot path is infact on private property and the owners residents have also refused access and portage.The next sections up on both banks are private property. The Canoe Man ltd has access/portage conset via a pad locked gate for his clients some 100 mtrs up from buxton mill on the road.The land owner opposite on the far bank has also refused access portage due to damaged banks, foot path and unautorised canoe campers.The river from here is private property on both banks, with residential gardens, Lammas Church, Paddocks and also Oxnead Fishery as far up river as the 1st bend above Oxnead Bridge.Oxnead Fishery has several times now tried to encourage purpouse built portage purley to get the canoes through eficiantly and around protected habitat. Unfortunatley the Land owners BCU will not enter into negotiations. I even offered to design and construct and submit the planning applications to the EA. But no one would pay up or get involved.At a recent Parish meeting, i was informed that the commons trust who manage Horstead Mill onbehalf of its private owner has also revoked Canoe Access/Portage.Again this due to the over popularity, several unauthorised comercial canoe operaters and lack of parking facilities that impede residents parking. Aylsham Mill has recentley been recently redeveloped and now is closed off to public access.Access at Oxnead Bridge (Brampton) is private property, althoug we and the land owner dont restrict canoe access, too many vehicles nowdays have parked unauthorised on his horses/studd field or across his gates, disapearing off for days at a time.The unofficial laybys here at the Pill Box are infact private verges for Fishery Members Permit parking.Can i ask you to convey to your clients that there are access issues, that however much a nusence are legal. On my part can you ask canoists traveling upriver to take the right hand canal /lock cutting below buxton mill to avoid damaging the shallow gravel beds.Yours SincerelyAshe HurstFishery Manageroxneadfisheryyahoo.com
