Spider Season on the Norfolk Broads: Why Your Boat Might Have Some Eight-Legged Company

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If you’re sailing the Norfolk Broads this autumn, you may have noticed an unusually high number of sizable spiders taking up residence in your boat. There’s a reason for that! As the nights grow longer and temperatures drop, spider mating season hits its peak, which typically stretches from early September into November, a period when these arachnids reach full maturity.

During this time, female spiders are brimming with eggs, making them appear more robust. As the cool weather creeps in, spiders instinctively seek warmer spaces to inhabit—and boats on the Broads seem to offer the cosy refuge they desire. Most house spider species have stocky, brownish bodies paired with hairy, sprawling legs. The males, smaller and more streamlined, skitter around in search of mates.

For those eager to keep their boats free of these eight-legged visitors, cleaning specialist Laura Marsden from Marigold offers some savvy advice. "While spiders are harmless houseguests, they are prolific web-weavers, which many people might prefer not to encounter on board," Marsden suggests that if you’re averse to sharing your boat with spiders, a few preventative steps might make your vessel less appealing to them.

One effective deterrent is scent-based. Marsden explains, “Spiders are repelled by strong aromas, particularly peppermint. Crafting a simple homemade spider deterrent using diluted peppermint oil can be highly effective. A few sprays around doorways, hatches, and windows can help keep spiders at bay.”

Since spiders favour dim, tucked-away corners, boat owners might also consider letting in as much daylight as possible. Draw back curtains and open blinds fully—natural light has a way of making these shadow-loving creatures feel unwelcome.

For those who shiver at the mere thought of spiders, rest assured that as winter sets in, their presence will dwindle. However, if arachnophobia is a concern, you might prefer steering clear of the Norfolk Broads altogether, which is home to the UK’s largest spider, the fen raft spider. Thanks to a conservation breeding program, this once-endangered species now flourishes in areas like Strumpshaw Fen, where they weave their webs across the waters.

Embrace the autumnal season on the Broads, and perhaps coexist peacefully with these harmless (and beneficial) visitors as they complete their brief, seasonal journey.