The River Bure is the longest river in the Broads. Rising near Melton Constable, it winds its way southeast for about 50 miles through the heart of the Broads and the urban areas of Aylsham, Wroxham and Great Yarmouth, before meeting Breydon Water and flowing into the sea at Gorleston.
The Bure is a chalk river with two main tributaries, the rivers Ant and Thurne. It is also joined by the Scarrow Beck near the village of Ingworth, the Mermaid at Burgh-next-Aylsham, King’s Beck near Lamas, Spixworth Beck just below Little Switzerland, and Muck Fleet, which brings in water from the Trinity Broads (Ormesby, Rollesby and Filby Broad).
The upper Bure is dotted with mills and sluices that can obstruct fish passage. The river remains navigable from Bure Mouth at Great Yarmouth to Coltishall. In its lower, tidal reaches, strong currents can create significant downstream movement.
