Boating Holidays on Lough Erne and the Shannon-Erne Waterway

Ireland's two great river systems, the Shannon and the Erne, have been joined again by the re-construction and re-opening of the old Ballinamore-Ballyconnell Canal. The waterway leaves the Shannon at Leitrim Village, just upstream of Carrick on Shannon, and enters Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh.

It has opened up for exploration and enjoyment an undiscovered region of great natural beauty, a wide variety of cruising waters, scenery, wildlife and activity.

The waterway is unique in that it includes stretches of still-water canal, canalised river and a series of scenic lakes. An easy pace of life awaits as you discover the wide variety of cruising waters, scenery, wildlife and activities.

The waterway takes you into small friendly towns, villages and pubs where you can experience the warmth and hospitality of the local people. 

The waterway itself is now a magnificent and sensitive restoration of the former canal. The 63km long canal has 16 locks, electronically operated by "smart card", built and then faced with the original 19th Century hand cut stone work.

From our Penichette and Narrowboat bases at Ballinamore you head north on the Shannon-Erne Waterway to reach the Erne, the second great Irish river system.

Head north towards Ballyconnell and Belturbet, both with a strong folk tradition, then onwards into County Fermanagh, a land of lakes, a paradise for birdspotters, botanists and fisherman, and your introduction to Northern Ireland.

Upper Lough Erne is filled with hundreds of islands, each one worth exploring and offering perfect lunchtime picnic stops. Lush green rolling meadowlands give way to craggy uplands with spectacular cliffs that then lead on to uninterrupted open moorland. Our Belturbet cruiser base is at the southern end of Upper Lough Erne.

Enniskillen, lying midway between Lower and Upper Lough Erne, is a picturesque market town and fascinating heritage centre. By day this busy town brims with shops, museum, a sports centre and castle. By night, Enniskillen comes alive with happy holiday merriment from the wealth of original pubs, clubs and good restaurants.

Lower Lough Erne, the most northerly of the two loughs is a great expanse of open water fringed by spectacular cliffs rising to 900 feet. A vast expanse of shimmering waters, it stretches from Belleek to Enniskillen. With the reopening of boat hiring on the canal, it is now possible to discover the attractive White Island. Our cruiser base at Tully Bay on Lower Lough Erne is ideal for exploring the Erne lakes and waterways.

The Belleek to Ballinamore route is a comfortable week's cruise, as is Tully Bay or Belturbet to Carrick-on-Shannon (small additional charge for one-way hire). Narrowboats are not able to cruise above Enniskillen or below Carrick.

Read a Boating Holidays customer's diary of a week on the River Shannon

Holidays from Belturbet, Tully Bay and Ballinamore bases are offered by Boating Holidays in association with three of Ireland's leading boat companies.