Swallows Houseboat

  The Detail...

Bring the river to life at Swallows Houseboat in Hippersons Boatyard. Located on the Broads in the Suffolk market town of Beccles, people and nature coexist seamlessly on the beautiful River Waveney.

Just off the main river in the yard’s mooring basin is Swallows, which sleeps 4 people with the comfort of the gentle tide underneath. After a short 3 minute walk from the car park, guests enter the light and airy space of the houseboat, with windows flanking all sides. Access is via the balcony and depending on the tide guests either have to step up or down to get on board. The Sparrow family, who bought the business in 2014, have worked tirelessly to update the design and aesthetics of the boats, but without losing any of their original charm.

The living room is at the front of the vessel, complete with sliding glass doors onto the deck, sofa, and flatscreen TV. The kitchen area is well equipped with a cooker, fridge, microwave, and kettle. There are 2 bedrooms on board. The first has a double bed, while the second is a bunk room and both offer great views of the river where those staying can watch boats gently drift along throughout the day. There is also a stylish bathroom complete basin, WC, and bath with shower attachment.

All of the surrounding area around Swallows is now owned by Hippersons, so guests can gain access by any route they wish. It is a working yard and as well as the pleasant comings and goings of the local wildlife, there are also boats being repaired and refitted, so there is a real buzz about the place.

For those who want to get out and about and explore then there are canoes and kayaks in order to do that via the river, or bikes for those who want to get back on land. People on 2 wheels can take the Bungay loop, which takes in lots of great stops along the way. First there is St Peters Brewery, then Beccles with its cafes and pubs, before finally ending up in Bungay and visiting the castle.