Ranworth to St. Benet's Abbey and return, with afternoon tea on board

St Benet's Abbey lies deep in the Broads, close to the confluence of the River Bure and the River Ant. It was the only Norfolk monastery founded in the Anglo-Saxon period which continued in use throughout the Middle Ages, and was a thriving monastery in the 12th Century. Every year an open-air service takes place in the Abbey ruins, conducted by the Bishop of Norwich, and this service is the focus for today’s sailing. 

The sailing begins at Ranworth from where we sail across Malthouse Broad and out on to the river Bure, turning downriver to St. Benet's Abbey.  We convey the Bishop of Norwich and his party.  The wide reedbeds and marshland reveal the iconic abbey gatehouse ruins as we sail to our mooring.  A short walk takes you to the abbey church site where the service takes place at 3:30pm and lasts 45-60 minutes (you may want to…