Be sure to also check out the Canoe Trails section for more paddling locations. |
White Water
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Annacloy River| Description | The Annacloy river rises in the Dromara Hills and flows into Strangford Lough. Excellent paddling is had between Mason's bridge and Kilmore with regular and continuous rapids and weirs. Between Kilmore and Annacloy the river is quieter although there are still a couple of weirs. Below Annacloy the river calms down to Jane's Shore. Canoeing is not at present permitted below Jane's shore as entry to the Quoile Pondage Nature reserve is not permitted. There are at least 2 dangerous weirs between Raleagh and Rademon however they can be easily portaged. | | Grade | II (III) | | Start | Masons Bridge | | Finish | Raleagh Bridge | | Access Points | Masons Bridge GR: 406-513
Raleagh Bridge GR: 410-521
Kilmore GR: 448-509
Annacloy GR: 448-483
Jane's Shore GR: 487-464 |
Balinderry River| Description | Running 8 kilometres from Corkhill Bridge to Cookstown. A small river with weirs at regular intervals. A bit overgrown in the upper parts. | | Grade | II | | Start | Corkhill Bridge GR H734 792 | | Finish | Kings Bridge GR H812 765 | | Access Points | Ardtrea
GR H861 769
Jetty, Canoe Steps |
Glenarm River| Description | The Glenarm and Glendun rivers are spate mountain rivers with large drops and heavy rapids. They should not be undertaken lightly. | | Grade | IV - V | | Start | Glendun | | Finish | Glenarm | | Access Points | Bryvore Bridge GR: 164-274
Access GR: 301-119 |
Glendun River| Description | The Glenarm and Glendun rivers are spate mountain rivers with large drops and heavy rapids. They should not be undertaken lightly. | | Grade | IV - V | | Start | Glendun | | Finish | Glenarm | | Access Points | Bryvore Bridge GR: 164-274
Access GR: 301-119 |
Glenelly River| Description | Running Plumbride to the Owenkillew below Gortin. (See Owenkillew section for more details)from A heavy rainfall is needed to ensure a decent water level. Care should be taken with low trees. | | Grade | III | | Start | Plumbridge GR H485914 | | Finish | Killymore Bridge GR H438 873 | | Access Points | Corrick Bridge GR H450 886 |
Lower Bann| Description | The river Bann is an excellent touring river being accessible from Toome to the sea a distance of approx 55 kms. Immediately after Toome the Bann opens into Lough Beg. The Eastern side of Lough Beg has many interesting islands for exploring. There are a number of places for practicing moving water techniques below the lock gates. The best sites are at Portna, Movanagher and the Cutts. Conditions at the Cutts can easily reach grade especially at low tide. The Bann is tidal downstream of the Cutts The Lower Bann is flat, however there are a number of weirs and sluices on the river which are hazardous. All can easily be portaged or use can be made of the lock system. | | Length | 40 - 55km | | Grade | Flat - with wiers and sluices which can be easily portaged using the facilities provided | | Start | Toome | | Finish | Coleraine Marina | | Access Points | Toome GR: 989-905
Newferry GR: 990-981
Portglenone GR: 975-039
Portna GR: 937-124
Agivey Bridge GR: 909-229
Drumaheglis GR: 903-252
Colebreen GR: 881-280
Castleroe GR: 863-300
The Cutts GR: 852-304
Coleraine Marina GR: 845-338 |
Owenkillew River| Description | The Owenkillew is an excellent grade 2 river with a grade 3 rapid at the gorge. There is a new weir just after the gorge, which although not large is very dangerous due to the anti-scour lip on it. It is recommended to portage this weir. | | Grade | II (III) | | Start | Gortin Bridge |
River Blackwater| Description | The Blackwater has a very large catchment area and generally holds water levels longer than many other rivers. Above Benburb the river is very sinuous and there are a number of small weirs and rapids. Benburb has 4 main weirs which can be a very serious undertaking in certain conditions. The top weir has had a fatality and so great caution is required here. Below Benburb the river becomes wider and slower moving towards Lough Neagh. The Argory is worth a visit. Weirs some of which are dangerous especially at Benburb. | | Grade | II | | Start | Augher | | Finish | Vernon's Bridge | | Access Points | Augher
Road Bridge near Favour Royal
Caledon
Metal Bridge
Battleford Bridge
Benburb
Moydown Bridge
Moy
Argory
Vernon's Bridge |
River Bush| Description | The Bush rises on the Western side of the Antrim plateau and is fed by many tributaries as it flows to Bushmills. The paddling is pleasant relatively straightforward as far as Seneirl Bridge. However below this there are no easy access points before the big waterfall on the outskirts of Bushmills. There are also a number of weirs in Bushmills. | | Grade | II - III (V) | | Start | Armoy | | Finish | Seneirl Bridge | | Access Points | Armoy GR: 067-325
Stranocum GR: 010-306
Benvardin Bridge GR: 945-336
Seneirl Bridge GR: 942360 |
River Main| Description | Between the Glarryford area and Galgorm the Main is a pleasant grade 2 river with some notable weirs. From Galgorm to Randalstown the river takes on a slower nature and is pleasant touring. | | Grade | II (III) Wiers of varying difficulty | | Start | Dunminning Bridge | | Finish | Randalstown | | Access Points | Dunminning Bridge GR: 050-108
Moylarg GR: 049-089
Cullybackey GR: 054-058
Galgorm GR: 076-023
Randalstown GR: 082-912 |
River Mourne| Description | The Mourne is probably the best White water river in N. Ireland in terms of water volume and natural rapids. Upstream of Newtownstewart is fairly flat but can flow quite quickly. The Fisheries rapids begins about 1 mile downstream of Newtownstewart. Although graded 3 the Fisheries does not wash out at high water but becomes very large up to grade 4 - 5. From the Fisheries to Sion Mills there is excellent white water with waves, rapids and play holes at grade 2 - 3. At Sion Mills there is a very large weir which can be extremely dangerous. Egress can easily be gained by keeping very close to the left bank. | | Grade | II - III (IV) | | Start | Newtownstewart | | Finish | Strabane | | Access Points | Newtownstewart
New Bridge
Confluence Derg
Victoria Bridge
Sion Mills
Strabane |
River Roe| Description | From Dungiven to Carrick Rocks the Roe is shallow and does not hold great interest for the White water enthusiast, however, it flows through pleasant countryside fro the touring paddler. From Carrick Rocks there is excellent white water to the car park below O'Cahan's rock at grade 2 - 3. There is a weir at O'Cahan's rock which can be dangerous in certain water conditions. The river can rise extremely quickly during heavy rain, i.e. over 1 metre in an hour! | | Grade | II - III | | Start | Dungiven | | Finish | O'Cahan's Rock | | Access Points | Dungiven
Carrick Rocks
Dog Leap
O'Cahan's Rock |
River Strule| Description | The Strule is a pleasant touring river with small weirs and shingle rapids. A new weir in Omagh town should be approached with extreme caution as it is closed at either end. | | Grade | I - II | | Start | Omagh Town | | Finish | Newtownstewart | | Access Points | Omagh Town
Newtownstewart |
Shimna River| Description | The Shimna is a serious undertaking and can only be paddled after heavy rain. Accessing by Trassey Bridge is straight on to a steep grade IV fall. Local knowledge is advisable as river is very continuous and technical and is often blocked with trees. | | Grade | IV (V, VI) | | Start | Trassey Bridge | | Finish | Priests Bridge | | Access Points | Trassey Bridge GR: 309-312
Clonachullion Bridge GR: 311-317
Priests Bridge GR: 360-321 | | Extra Info | There is no access to the river in Tollymore Forest park. |
Six Mile Water| Description | Between Dunadry and Muckamore there are a significant number of weirs and rapids. Below Muckamore the weirs are less frequent. | | Grade | II | | Start | Dunadry | | Finish | Antrim Forum | | Access Points | Dunadry GR: 200-850
Muckamore GR: 167-855
Antrim Forum GR: 135-868 |
The Upper Derg| Description | Flowing east from Lough Derg in County Donegal towards Castlederg in County Tyrone. Best paddled during rain but due to the lake it can hold its level for some time after rain.
The initial 1km follows the road and is therefore easy to inspect. After this there area series of grade III – IV rapids. These are all easily inspected and protected from river left. The Derg is joined by the Glendargan River at 3.5km. The river then enters the Gorge, a narrow rock channel. A relaxing final 5km is an easy grade I/II to the exit below the bridge. | | Grade | III - IV | | Start | Leguin Bridge GR H127 778 | | Finish | Aghyaran Bridge (nr Killeter) GR |
Upper Bann| Description | The Upper Bann must be one of the best coaching rivers in the country. There are many rapids and small weirs as well as a number of large weirs. The rapids all have clearly defined eddies and there are many play waves and jets of water.
Water levels on Upper Bann can get quite low in the summer. A Hilltown start is possible but only a period of significant rain.
The best section is from Banbridge to Tullylish. Upstream of Corbett the river is flatter although there are still numerous simple rapids and is excellent for open canoe touring. Downstream of Tullylish there are further small rapids and weirs however the river begins to calm down towards Portadown.
Canoeists are encouraged to use the egress point in Gilford rather going through the graveyard at Tullylish. | | Grade | II wiers | | Start | Hilltown | | Finish | Portadown | | Access Points | Hilltown GR: J217290
Ballynagapogge GR: J236334
McCombs Bridge GR J232332
Ballyroney GR: J223374
Katesbridge GR: J211408
Corbett GR: J167448
Ballydown: GR J138 450
Banbridge Leisure Centre GR:J125462
Havelock park GR: J119469
Tullylish GR: J079484
Gilford
Portadown |
White Water River| Description | The Whitewater is a superb narrow cresta run but can only be undertaken after significantly heavy rain. This is a good training river for Alpine paddling as it is very continuous at the grade until Mourne Park. | | Grade | III - IV | | Access Points | Attical GR: 273-191
Whitewater Bridge GR: 268-153 |
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