Kayaking in Northern Ireland: 8 Places to Paddle
The enthusiastic paddler will find that kayaking in Northern Ireland offers some splendid opportunities for all levels of skill.
Northern Ireland is blessed with some wonderfully green rolling hills and a rugged and beautiful coastline. Its rainy yet temperate oceanic climate ensures that a great number of rivers, streams and lakes are available to paddle.
Flat-Water kayaking, sea kayaking, river kayaking and white-water are all at a paddler’s disposal in Northern Ireland and there is no shortage of local kayak hire operators and tour specialists ready and willing to help heighten your kayaking experience in the six counties.
The question of Where Can I Kayak in Northern Ireland is what we tackle in this post where we outline our Top Picks for Kayaking in Northern Ireland, we sincerely hope you enjoy the read.
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Table of Contents
Top 8 Places to Kayak in Northern Ireland
- Kayaking Strangford Lough
- Kayaking Belfast
- The North Coast Sea Kayak Trail
- Kayaking Lower Lough Erne
- Kayaking Lough Neagh
- Kayaking the River Blackwater
- Kayaking the River Foyle
- Kayaking on the River Bann
1. Strangford Lough
Strangford Lough is a magnificent sea kayaking haven situated just several miles to the east of Belfast.
With around 70 islands contained within, Strangford Lough is an outdoor adventurer’s dream destination. Camping on the islands needs the landowner’s permission so if you’re into Kayak Camping then you’ll love it here. As the lough is noted for its marine life Kayak Fishing is also quite popular on Strangford.
Strangford Lough is a massive 58 square miles in size so there is plenty of water to explore and the scenery and differing landscapes of the shoreline can be quite breathtaking.
Coves, mudflats, headlands, islands, bays and tides all combine to make Strangford Lough a most desirable kayaking destination.
Kayak Hire on Strangford Lough
The Strangford Lough Activity Centre (SLAC) at Whiterock has kayak and canoe hire and also has a range of really cool Kayak Tours available.
2. Belfast
Kayaking is popular in Belfast, with local providers offering sessions for adults and children.
The Belfast Lough is a busy shipping port and is fairly uninteresting for paddling. However, the River Lagan, which splits the city, offers different paddling stretches and passes through residential areas, parklands, industrial areas and offers a wonderfully diverse landscape to explore.
Kayakers, Canoeists, Paddle boarders and Rowers regularly utilise the river even in the winter months and share the stretch of water with abundant fauna including plenty of birdlife and even a population of invasive Yellow Bellied Slider Turtles.
The River Lagan has even had a famous visitor in Sammy the Seal. Keep an eye out for wildlife as you paddle, without approaching or disturbing it.
Kayak Hire in Belfast
The guys at Mobile Team Adventure have Kayak Hire from Shaw’s Bridge and offer a number of different Kayaking Experiences in and around Belfast
3. The North Coast Sea Kayak Trail
Originally devised by members of Northern Ireland’s Countryside Access and Activities Network to boost tourism, The North Coast Kayak Trail has become a “must-do destination” for all avid sea kayakers visiting Northern Ireland.
Divided into six sections and stretching from Magilligan to Waterfoot this 70 nautical mile stretch of coastline showcases a wonderfully dramatic and diverse coastline with the main geological star of the route being the amazing Giant’s Causeway.
Experienced sea kayakers can choose sections of this wonderful kayak route to suit their skills and the conditions. However, it is absolutely essential that all paddlers are totally prepared and have fully researched the route beforehand as this is rugged coastline where swells can be brutal if you’ve picked the wrong day to paddle.
But making the attempt will see you rewarded with an experience you’ll not likely forget and it might include dolphins, seals and even the occasional whale! Not to mention beaches, castles, cliffs and some amazing scenery.
For trail planning, start with the OutmoreNI canoe-trail map and ask a local sea-kayaking provider about the section you have in mind.
Kayak hire on the North Coast
Plenty of the towns along the north coast have kayak hire operators more than willing to share this magnificent part of Northern Ireland with you. Check out Causeway Coast Kayaking Tours in Ballycastle as a starting point.
4. Lower Lough Erne
County Fermanagh’s famous Lakelands District is without a doubt one of Northern Ireland’s premier watersport destinations.
Lower Lough Erne provides open waters that are filled with a myriad of bays, channels and islands, all equally exciting to explore. Grasslands, rolling hills, woodlands and farmlands surround the lough and there is just so much to see from wildlife to ancient Celtic ruins, from a distillery to some wonderful pubs.
Lower Lough Erne is well known for being windswept and waves can actually seem to be oceanic at times so proper planning is advised if you are visiting during an inclement weather period.
Kayak camping is popular here and you can often feel like the surrounding wilderness means you’re the only person on earth.
Don’t miss White Island with its strange carved stone figures, thought to date from the ninth or tenth century or the Boatyard Distillery for some pure heart-warming locally made vodka or gin.
Kayak Hire on Lower Lough Erne
Providing a wealth of information on the waterways here and offering a number of different water activities to indulge in the folks at Castle Archdale Boat Hire & Water Sports come highly recommended.
5. Lough Neagh
Lough Neagh is actually the United Kingdom’s largest inland lake with a shoreline of over 90 miles. The water here is so vast that it could easily be mistaken for an inland sea but for the fact that it is a freshwater lake. Lough Neagh’s surface area of 151 square miles ensures there are dozens of kayaking opportunities here, with sheltered shoreline outings on calm days and longer trips for experienced paddlers.
The shoreline is primarily dedicated to numerous flora and fauna reserves providing a rich wildlife population including a number of otter families which are always a bit of fun to spot. Also dotted about the lake are numerous historical sites well worth visiting including Shane’s Castle ruins in Antrim and the remains of the mysterious ancient monastic buildings on Ram’s Island.
Before choosing a Lough Neagh launch, check DAERA’s blue-green algae advice and local notices. If algae or surface scum is present, choose another place to paddle. The OutmoreNI trail map is useful for planning access points.
6. The River Blackwater
The River Blackwater meanders through some stunning countryside teeming with wildlife to spot such as owls, otters, and eels. The Blackwater north of Blackwatertown is a slow-moving waterway and in normal, settled conditions this can suit beginners, families, and kids, but make no mistake this is an enjoyable section of the river for paddlers of all abilities. The river winds its way through pastures, farmlands, hills, and grasslands of the Counties Tyrone and Armagh before entering Lough Neagh from the South.
Camping is available along the route and besides the obvious attraction of being on the water and viewing wildlife, there is loads to see such as the National Trust’s Argory property which is well worth stopping to visit.
For a handy example of a two-day trip, OutmoreNI’s Blackwater trail review follows the route from Blackwatertown via Copney to Verners Bridge.
7. The River Foyle
Running into Lough Foyle in the North of Northern Ireland is The River Foyle. The Foyle is a wide river flowing through some magnificent countryside packed with loads to see and do in terms of both the natural world and historical and architectural sights. Being a tidal river, with proper planning, it can be just as much fun to paddle upstream as to “go with the flow”!
The wider stretches of the river house thousands of birds including flocks of swans and geese. Kayaking on the Foyle River south of Londonderry means you’ll be paddling in the UK and in Ireland as the river stretch between Strabane and Londonderry forms the border of the two countries.
There are a number of islands in the Foyle interesting to visit and experienced paddlers can plan longer journeys towards Lough Foyle and the Atlantic Ocean.
The River Foyle is a diverse waterway offering differing paddling opportunities, from guided outings to longer journeys for experienced tidal-water paddlers.
Kayak Hire on The River Foyle
For kayaking experiences on the River Foyle, look no further than the folks at Far and Wild who offer trips around the Foyle system. Ask them which outing fits your experience.
8. The River Bann
Flowing north out of Lough Neagh is the kayaking adventure that is the River Bann. There is a recorded history of the Bann River dating back from Mesolithic times and you can almost feel the history as you paddle along this waterway.
From the bizarre Celtic traditions of the “Rag Trees” on Church Island to the natural Reed Beds along the route, some of which are still harvested for thatch today, the river is an eclectic mix of history, mythology, wildlife and architecture. The mouth of the River Bann also has the most amazing sandy beach and fantastic sand dune conservation area managed by the National Trust.
There are a few weirs and sluice gates along the river so use the designated navigation channels shown in the trail guide to avoid them. Obviously having all the right information at hand and a detailed map would be the best way to ensure that your paddling preparations for the River Bann were on point and luckily, yet again, OutmoreNI comes to the party with its Lower Bann trail guide and map.
Kayak Hire on The River Bann
For a trip on the Lower Bann, check current hire and guided-session availability before travelling to Coleraine or Portstewart. Paddle Northern Ireland can help you find local paddling contacts.
Kayaking in Northern Ireland: useful links and trip planning
We hope you enjoyed this guide to our Top 8 Places to Kayak in Northern Ireland and that the blog will assist you in getting the best out of your visit to this part of the world. As always there are too many resources to list but the following links should get you well on your way.
- Paddle Northern Ireland — clubs, training and local advice
- OutmoreNI — canoe trails and access maps
- DAERA — water-quality advice
- Kayak licences and access elsewhere in the UK
- Kayaking in Dublin — another city stop for an Ireland trip
Ready for your next paddle?
There are so many great places to Kayak in Northern Ireland it was quite difficult to put this list together. This part of the UK is blessed with plenty of water to suit all kayaking skill levels but as always, paddle with the right equipment and be prepared.
Where have you kayaked in Northern Ireland and found to be an amazing experience? Do you have a favourite place to paddle? We’d love to hear from you with any suggestions.
If you’re feeling generous we’d love it if you’d share this article with your friends who have similar interests.
I’m Mark, enthusiastic paddler and owner of Kayak Mad! Find out more about me and Kayak Mad.
FAQs about kayaking in Northern Ireland
Where can I go kayaking in Northern Ireland?
This guide covers Strangford Lough, Belfast’s River Lagan, the north coast, Lower Lough Erne, Lough Neagh, the Blackwater, the Foyle and the Bann. Choose a specific section that suits your experience rather than treating an entire river or lough as one route.
Where should a beginner start?
A guided session is a good first step. Local providers around Belfast, Strangford Lough and Lough Erne can choose a suitable area for the day. Exposed coastal trips need sea-kayaking skills.
Can I hire a kayak in Northern Ireland?
Yes. Options in this guide include Strangford Lough Activity Centre, Mobile Team Adventure, Causeway Coast Kayaking Tours and Castle Archdale Boat Hire. Check whether your booking is independent hire or a guided trip.
Can I paddle on Lough Neagh when there is blue-green algae?
No. DAERA advises against kayaking and other water activities where blue-green algae is present. Check local notices and the water at your intended launch; choose another location if you see suspected algae or scum.
Can I camp on islands during a kayaking trip?
Only where camping is permitted and you have any required landowner permission. Plan an agreed overnight stop before launching, rather than assuming an empty island is available.
