Floating glampsite where guests get their own rowing boat crowned one of the best in the UK
A UNIQUE holiday destination in Suffolk has just been named one of the friendliest accommodation providers in the UK.
Hippersons Boatyard in Beccles has been announced as one of this year’s winners at the Visit Britain’s ROSE Awards.
The awards recognise the accommodation providers across England who provide visitors with the warmest of welcomes.
But Hippersons is very different from your usual holiday park or self-catered apartment.
Guests can stay in in one of six quirky houseboats which are nestled on the River Waveney in The Broads National Park.
The boatyard is self catering, offering fun for families or a romantic getaway for couples.
Each accommodation has a private rowing boat for exploring the river, and there are a wide range of other water-based experiences on offer.
Canoes, kayaks, stand up paddle boards, and a pedal boat are all available for hire.
There are also self drive boats you can take out for the day to explore the wider Broads.
Among the houseboats to choose from are ‘Secret Water’ – a luxury floating glamping pod with a large deck at the front to watch the sunrise and sunset from, a double room and a bunk room, small kitchenette, and a wet room with underfloor heating.
Local cafe Relish can make food hampers if you’re in need of supplies, or if you need some time out from cooking, there are plenty of pubs and restaurants nearby.
Nearby attractions include the Beccles Lido, where you can book a slot and swim in the outdoor pool.
There’s also Beccles Museum with displays on local industries and crafts.
A 30 minute drive away is Secret Sauna, a wood-fired sauna cabin in a secluded location, perched on the banks of the River Waveney.
And if it’s speed you’re after, you can book a turn at Beccles Go Kart race circuit.
One Hippersons Boatyard guest, who visited in August this year, described their stay on Tripadvisor.
They wrote: “The accommodation was well finished with a beautiful view out of the boatyard towards the river. My kids (and I) loved watching the fish swim past as we ate out on the water. We were welcomed by very hospitable staff and found a welcome hamper on arrival. The boathouse came with a dingy and life jackets, which we could use at our leisure.
VisitEngland Awards For Excellence 2024
Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year
- GOLD: Sleepy Owl, Bideford, Devon
- SILVER: My Cottages in St Ives, Cornwall
- BRONZE: Bethnal&Bec Luxury Stays, Hertfordshire
Pub of the Year
- GOLD: The Peterville Inn, St Agnes, Cornwall
- SILVER: The Acorn Inn, Dorset
- BRONZE: The Red Fox, Wirral
Bed & Breakfast and Guesthouse of the Year
- GOLD: The Bosham Boathouse B&B, Bosham, West Sussex
- SILVER: MonkBridge House, North Yorkshire
- BRONZE: Bossington Hall, Somerset
Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year
- GOLD: The Secret Garden Glamping, Skelmersdale, Lancashire
- SILVER: Kits Coty Glamping, Kent
- BRONZE: Darwin Forest Lodges, Derbyshire
Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Award
- GOLD: Hoe Grange Holidays, Matlock, Derbyshire
- SILVER: ROARR!, Norfolk
- BRONZE: Colchester Castle, Essex
Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award
- GOLD: Mill Farm Eco Barns, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
- SILVER: Kent Wildlife Trust, Kent
- BRONZE: The Yan at Broadrayne, Cumbria
Experience of the Year
- GOLD: Grey Seal and Seabird Cruise, Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours, Seahouses, Northumberland
- SILVER: York Ghost Walk, The Deathly Dark Tours, North Yorkshire
- BRONZE: Mountain Bike Taster Day, Pure Outdoor, Derbyshire
Large Hotel of the Year
- GOLD: The Grand, York, Yorkshire
- SILVER: Hope Street Hotel, Merseyside
- BRONZE: Rockliffe Hall Hotel, County Durham
Large Visitor Attraction of the Year
- GOLD: WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Bowditch, Gloucestershire
- SILVER: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, Hertfordshire
- BRONZE: ROARR!, Norfolk
New Tourism Business of the Year
- GOLD: The Wizard Walk of York, North Yorkshire
- SILVER: Sleepy Owl, Devon
- BRONZE: Boys Hall, Kent
Small Hotel of the Year
- GOLD: The Gallivant, Camber, East Sussex
- SILVER: Wildhive Callow Hall, Derbyshire
- BRONZE: THE PIG at Harlyn Bay, Cornwall
Small Visitor Attraction of the Year
- GOLD: Nothe Fort (operated by Weymouth Civic Society), Weymouth, Dorset
- SILVER: Cotswolds Distillery, Warwickshire
- BRONZE: The Battle of Britain Memorial, Kent
Taste of England Award
- GOLD: Allium at Askham Hall, Penrith, Cumbria
- SILVER: Blackfriars Restaurant, Tyne & Wear
- BRONZE: La Locanda, Lancashire
Unsung Hero
- GOLD: Katie Calder, V-ATE Automotive Smokehouse and Bowl, Boston, Lincolnshire
- SILVER: Duncan Wise, Northumberland National Park Authority, Hexham, Northumberland
- BRONZE: Brett Hawkes, Crowhurst Park, East Sussex
“The boatyard is really well placed a short walk from the historic centre of Beccles (but no road or town noise!). My kids loved visiting the headed lido and we enjoyed a meal out at the Royal Oak. Both Norfolk and Suffolk attractions were accessible from Beccles. Just a brilliant stay, I really can’t recommend enough. We’ll be back!”
Prices start from £315 for a three night stay. To book, visit the Hippersons Boatyard website.