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Upper Shannon: Lanesborough to CarrickShannon–Erne WaterwayUpper Lough Erne

Carrick-on-Shannon to Belturbet on the Shannon–Erne Waterway

Eleven nights from Carrick-on-Shannon over the Shannon–Erne Waterway's sixteen Smart Card locks to Belturbet on the Erne and back, with no day much over five hours.

Nights
11
Distance
163 km
Locks
32
Under way
38.4 h
Route
Round trip
Level
ModerateSome longer days or open lake crossings.
Boat
Hire boat
Best months
April to October
Open in the trip planner Show on the big map

Change the dates, nights or stops, and see each day’s locks, bridge openings and sunset.

Planning estimate only. Lines are approximate and may cross shallows, rocks or other hazards.

Navigation and responsibility

Navigate with official charts, the navigation marks and a proper marine navigation device. Jetty Hop accepts no responsibility for navigation. Read the full disclaimer

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Illustration: a cruiser in a lock on the Shannon–Erne Waterway while a boater works the gates, a stone bridge and misty drumlin hills with sheep.

The route

  • Start
  • 1Night stop
  • The route
  • Approximate line — not a navigation line
  1. Carrick-on-Shannon
  2. 1 Leitrim Village
  3. 2·10 Keshcarrigan
  4. 3·9 Ballinamore
  5. 4·8 Haughton’s Shore
  6. 5·7 Ballyconnell
  7. 6 Belturbet

Along our planning network, a planning estimate only. Dashed lines are approximate and may cross shallows, rocks or other hazards; no depths are checked. Navigate with official charts, the navigation marks and a marine navigation device. © OpenStreetMap contributors · © Waterways Ireland via EPA (CC BY 4.0, modified)

Estimate, not for navigation · This is a travel guide, not a navigation aid.

A trip for crews who want to cross from the Shannon to the Erne and who enjoy working locks: you operate all sixteen on the Shannon–Erne Waterway yourselves with a Smart Card, and you pass each one twice. It suits a second hire holiday, or a first one for a crew happy to spend day 2 learning the drill. The waterway is quiet and narrow, with small drumlin lakes, a summit village, two market towns and a border crossing near the end. It is slower than the map suggests, so this plan takes eleven nights to reach Belturbet and come back without a day much over five hours. With only a week, see the shorter options under "Before you go".

This is a travel guide, not a navigation aid. Distances come from our OpenStreetMap route network; times are estimates at 5 km/h on the canal sections, 7.5 km/h on river and lake and 20 minutes for each Smart Card lock.

Day by day

The status of locks and bridges is for today. Hours change with the season: check them for your dates. Check the Waterways Ireland marine notices · All lock and bridge times

Day 1 Night 1

Carrick-on-Shannon → Leitrim Village

8.1 km No locks 1.1 h under way

Handover day. Stock up in Carrick-on-Shannon: the town has supermarkets, and the Le Boat base sells the Smart Cards you will need from tomorrow. The hour upstream to Leitrim has no locks, so a late start is fine if you tie up before dark. Halfway, at Hartley, a new road bridge is being built until September 2027: only the centre arch is open, boats heading upstream give way to boats coming down, and 5 km/h applies within 200 m of the works (Marine Notice 53/2026). Leitrim Village has a public marina with toilets, showers, a laundry and a pump-out, but no shore power, and the Barge Steakhouse, the Leitrim Inn and MJ O'Connor's are a few minutes' walk away.

Leitrim Village: moorings

  • Leitrim Village public marina Public Marina · open to all boats
  • Leitrim Marina Hotel marina Private · not yet checked Private marina · visitor access not yet checked — ask locally before tying up

Leitrim Village: everything ashore

Day 2 Night 2

Leitrim Village → Keshcarrigan

10.4 km 8 locks 4.6 h under way

Today you learn the locks. Killarcan Lock, lock 16, is about 600 m above the village: insert the Smart Card at the console by the chamber (one unit per passage), follow the printed steps, and the gates and sluices do the rest. Lifejackets on for everyone in the lock. Four more locks bring you to Kilclare, where three locks climb within a kilometre; the Kilclare patroller is on +353 87 260 3663. At the summit you cross Lough Scur, past the ruins on Castle John and Jail Island; from here the channel follows the Erne's marks. Keshcarrigan marina has shore power, a pump-out and a service block, and Gertie's bar is in the village (check it is open).

Lock and bridge times on the way 8 locks

Notice (Killarcan Lock): Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Waterways Ireland patroller for Lock 16: +353 87 260 8569. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Notice (Tirmactiernan Lock, Drumduff Lock and Newbrook Lock): Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Nearest patrollers listed by Waterways Ireland: Lock 16, +353 87 260 8569, or the Kilclare area, +353 87 260 3663. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Notice (Lisconor Lock and Kilclare Lower Lock): Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Waterways Ireland patroller for the Kilclare area: +353 87 260 3663. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Notice (Kilclare Middle Lock and Kilclare Upper Lock): Closed for maintenance from 2 November 2026 for about three months: Waterways Ireland closes the waterway between Lock 8 and Lock 10 and has not given a reopening date (Marine Notice 112/2026), so check the marine notices before a February trip. Otherwise: self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Waterways Ireland patroller for the Kilclare area: +353 87 260 3663. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Keshcarrigan: moorings

  • Keshcarrigan Marina Public Marina · open to all boats

Keshcarrigan: everything ashore

Day 3 Night 3

Keshcarrigan → Ballinamore

12.2 km 2 locks 3 h under way

Before you leave, walk about a kilometre south of the village to the small lakeside park dedicated to Fr Mychal Judge, the New York fire chaplain killed on 11 September 2001, whose family came from here. Then the descent towards the Erne begins: Castlefore (lock 8) and Ballyduff (lock 7) lead down to Ballinamore, the only real town between Leitrim and Ballyconnell. The marina just above lock 6 has every service, shore power included, and the shops are close by. Smyth's Siopa Ól, with stone floors and open fires, is the pub to try. An easy 4.5 km loop leaves the marina along the water to Ardrum Lock and comes back through the town.

Lock and bridge times on the way 2 locks

Notice (Castlefore Lock): Closed for maintenance from 2 November 2026 for about three months: Waterways Ireland closes the waterway between Lock 8 and Lock 10 and has not given a reopening date (Marine Notice 112/2026), so check the marine notices before a February trip. Otherwise: self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Nearest patroller listed by Waterways Ireland: Kilclare area, +353 87 260 3663. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Notice (Ballyduff Lock): Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Nearest patroller listed by Waterways Ireland: Ballinamore, +353 87 260 2478. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Ballinamore: moorings

  • Ballinamore Marina Public Marina · open to all boats

Ballinamore: everything ashore

Day 4 Night 4

Ballinamore → Haughton's Shore

12.8 km 3 locks 3.3 h under way

Ballinamore, Ardrum and Aghoo locks come one after another below the town, and then the waterway opens into Garadice Lough, close to 4 km² and up to 20 m deep, with three islands. Haughton's Shore, on its north-east side, is a quiet lakeside harbour with toilets, showers, a laundry and a pump-out, but no shore power and no village, so buy everything you need in Ballinamore. It is the night for anglers, because Garadice holds roach, bream, tench and pike, and for anyone who would rather watch the sun go down over the water than sit in a pub. Garadice is small but open: if a strong wind is blowing across it, stay a second night in Ballinamore instead.

Lock and bridge times on the way 3 locks

Notice (Ballinamore Lock): Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Waterways Ireland patroller for Ballinamore: +353 87 260 2478. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Notice (Ardrum Lock and Aghoo Lock): Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Nearest patroller listed by Waterways Ireland: Ballinamore, +353 87 260 2478. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Haughton’s Shore: moorings

  • Haughton’s Shore harbour Public Harbour · open to all boats

Haughton’s Shore: everything ashore

Day 5 Night 5

Haughton's Shore → Ballyconnell

14.2 km 1 lock 3 h under way

The route threads three more small loughs, Ballymagauran, Derrycassan and Coologe, to Skelan Lock, lock 3, where you have crossed from Leitrim into County Cavan and the waterway becomes the Woodford River. Below the lock come almost 9 km of river with no lock at all. Ballyconnell sits at the foot of Slieve Rushen, a mile from the Fermanagh border, and its marina has the full set of services, shore power included, a short walk from the main street. The Angler's Rest serves pub food seven days a week. The 5 km loop through the oak and beech of Annagh Lough Woods starts at the marina; the Slieve Russell golf and spa hotel is five minutes away by car.

Lock and bridge times on the way 1 lock

Notice: Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Nearest patroller listed by Waterways Ireland: Ballyconnell, +353 87 260 3662. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Ballyconnell: moorings

  • Ballyconnell Marina Public Marina · open to all boats

Ballyconnell: everything ashore

Day 6 Night 6

Ballyconnell → Belturbet

23.6 km 2 locks 4.2 h under way

The last two locks of the waterway. Ballyconnell Lock (2) is just below the town; Corraquill Lock (1), near Teemore, is the only one on the Northern Ireland side and the place where the restored waterway was opened in 1994 (patroller: +44 28 6774 8976). Aghalane makes a good break: the public jetty has shore power and showers, beside the Peace Bridge that replaced the border bridge blown up in 1972. Below it the Woodford River meets the Erne; turn upstream for Belturbet. On the Erne the rules change: public moorings allow 48 hours, and you may come back after four hours away. Belturbet's public marina lies on the river below the town, with Turbet Island across the water.

Open water today: read the lake forecast before you set off, and stay in harbour if the wind is strong. Warnings and lake forecasts

Lock and bridge times on the way 2 locks

Notice (Ballyconnell Lock): Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Waterways Ireland patroller for Ballyconnell: +353 87 260 3662. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Notice (Corraquill Lock): Out of use for works from 16 November 2026 for about three months: Waterways Ireland's winter closure notice lists upgrades to the lock's hydraulic and electrical operating systems and gives no reopening date (Marine Notice 112/2026), so ask the Lock 1 patroller (+44 28 6774 8976) before a February trip. Otherwise: self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Belturbet: moorings

  • Belturbet Marina Public Marina · open to all boats

Belturbet: everything ashore

Day 7 Night 7

Belturbet → Ballyconnell

23.6 km 2 locks 4.2 h under way

Keep the morning for Belturbet. The cut-stone railway station of 1885, once the northern end of the narrow-gauge Cavan & Leitrim line, is a heritage museum open on Friday to Sunday afternoons, and the trails on Turbet Island lead up to the grassy mound of an Anglo-Norman motte from the early 13th century. Then go back down the Erne and up the Woodford River through Corraquill and Ballyconnell locks. From April to October the waterway's locks work until 20:00, which leaves time for both; from November to March they close at dusk, so leave soon after lunch. In Ballyconnell, if you missed the woods on day 5, the loop is still there.

Open water today: read the lake forecast before you set off, and stay in harbour if the wind is strong. Warnings and lake forecasts

Lock and bridge times on the way 2 locks

Notice (Corraquill Lock): Out of use for works from 16 November 2026 for about three months: Waterways Ireland's winter closure notice lists upgrades to the lock's hydraulic and electrical operating systems and gives no reopening date (Marine Notice 112/2026), so ask the Lock 1 patroller (+44 28 6774 8976) before a February trip. Otherwise: self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Notice (Ballyconnell Lock): Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Waterways Ireland patroller for Ballyconnell: +353 87 260 3662. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Ballyconnell: moorings

  • Ballyconnell Marina Public Marina · open to all boats

Ballyconnell: everything ashore

Day 8 Night 8

Ballyconnell → Haughton's Shore

14.2 km 1 lock 3 h under way

A slow start, then the lock-free river run back to Skelan Lock. Near the lock there is a waymarked Blueway trail of about 5 km, a good way to stretch your legs before the lakes. The marina just below the lock belongs to a gated log-cabin development and publishes no terms for visitors, so keep going. Above Skelan the route winds back through Coologe, Derrycassan and Ballymagauran loughs to Garadice and Haughton's Shore. You know the harbour from the way out, so arrive early and enjoy the lake: Garadice has three islands, one of them called Church Island. As before there is nothing to buy here, so shop in Ballyconnell before you leave.

Lock and bridge times on the way 1 lock

Notice: Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Nearest patroller listed by Waterways Ireland: Ballyconnell, +353 87 260 3662. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Haughton’s Shore: moorings

  • Haughton’s Shore harbour Public Harbour · open to all boats

Haughton’s Shore: everything ashore

Day 9 Night 9

Haughton's Shore → Ballinamore

12.8 km 3 locks 3.3 h under way

Three locks back up, Aghoo, Ardrum and Ballinamore, bring you into town by lunchtime, with the afternoon free. Ballinamore, the "mouth of the big ford" on the Yellow River, was the hub of the narrow-gauge Cavan and Leitrim Railway from 1887 to 1959; look out for the 1830s courthouse and the old arched bridge. The Commercial & Tourist Hotel in the centre has a restaurant and a bar with turf fires if you fancy a meal ashore. This is the last good shopping stop before Carrick, so restock for the final two days, and use the marina's pump-out while you are here.

Lock and bridge times on the way 3 locks

Notice (Aghoo Lock and Ardrum Lock): Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Nearest patroller listed by Waterways Ireland: Ballinamore, +353 87 260 2478. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Notice (Ballinamore Lock): Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Waterways Ireland patroller for Ballinamore: +353 87 260 2478. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Ballinamore: moorings

  • Ballinamore Marina Public Marina · open to all boats

Ballinamore: everything ashore

Day 10 Night 10

Ballinamore → Keshcarrigan

12.2 km 2 locks 3 h under way

Up Ballyduff and Castlefore locks to the summit level and back to Keshcarrigan, early enough for a walk. The village sits between Lough Scur and Keshcarrigan Lough, and the Keshcarrigan Bowl, a small Iron Age bronze cup with a duck's-head handle now in the National Museum in Dublin, was found in the channel between Lough Scur and Lough Marrave. The hill above the village, Sheebeg, is an ancient burial site. Lough Scur and the little lakes around the village are known coarse-fishing waters for roach, bream and tench. Have an early night: tomorrow is the longest day of the trip.

Lock and bridge times on the way 2 locks

Notice (Ballyduff Lock): Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Nearest patroller listed by Waterways Ireland: Ballinamore, +353 87 260 2478. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Notice (Castlefore Lock): Closed for maintenance from 2 November 2026 for about three months: Waterways Ireland closes the waterway between Lock 8 and Lock 10 and has not given a reopening date (Marine Notice 112/2026), so check the marine notices before a February trip. Otherwise: self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Nearest patroller listed by Waterways Ireland: Kilclare area, +353 87 260 3663. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Keshcarrigan: moorings

  • Keshcarrigan Marina Public Marina · open to all boats

Keshcarrigan: everything ashore

Day 11 Night 11

Keshcarrigan → Carrick-on-Shannon

18.5 km 8 locks 5.7 h under way

Start when the locks open at 09:00. Eight locks take you down from the summit: the three at Kilclare, then Lisconor, Newbrook, Drumduff, Tirmactiernan and finally Killarcan above Leitrim. The towpath between Kilclare and Killarcan is a 5 km Blueway walk, so one of the crew can walk a stretch and meet the boat at a lock. Below Leitrim the last hour is lock-free river. At the Hartley Bridge works you are now the boat coming downstream and have right of way, but keep to the centre arch and to 5 km/h. Hire crews spend the last night at their base in Carrick-on-Shannon; the town quay and the riverside boardwalk moorings are public.

Lock and bridge times on the way 8 locks

Notice (Kilclare Upper Lock and Kilclare Middle Lock): Closed for maintenance from 2 November 2026 for about three months: Waterways Ireland closes the waterway between Lock 8 and Lock 10 and has not given a reopening date (Marine Notice 112/2026), so check the marine notices before a February trip. Otherwise: self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Waterways Ireland patroller for the Kilclare area: +353 87 260 3663. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Notice (Kilclare Lower Lock and Lisconor Lock): Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Waterways Ireland patroller for the Kilclare area: +353 87 260 3663. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Notice (Newbrook Lock, Drumduff Lock and Tirmactiernan Lock): Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Nearest patrollers listed by Waterways Ireland: Lock 16, +353 87 260 8569, or the Kilclare area, +353 87 260 3663. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Notice (Killarcan Lock): Self-operated with a Waterways Ireland Smart Card (1 unit a lock) at the console beside the lock. Waterways Ireland patroller for Lock 16: +353 87 260 8569. Lifejackets must be worn at the lock (Marine Notice 35/2026).

Carrick-on-Shannon: moorings

  • Carrick-on-Shannon town quay Public Quay wall · open to all boats
  • Riverside boardwalk moorings Public Floating jetty · open to all boats
  • Le Boat Carrick-on-Shannon base Hire fleet only Private marina · hire fleet only
  • Carrickcraft Carrick-on-Shannon marina Hire fleet only Private marina · hire fleet only

Carrick-on-Shannon: everything ashore

Before you go

  • Check that your boat may go. The waterway's locks take boats up to 24 m long and 4.5 m wide, with a guide draft of 1.2 m and an air draft of 3.2 m over a width of 3 m, and some hire models are not allowed on it: ask your base when you book (Waterways Ireland).
  • Smart Card. Each lock passage costs one unit; the card also pays for showers, pump-outs and shore power at the service blocks (WI shop). Buy enough units for 32 lock passages plus services.
  • Lock hours. April to October 09:00–20:00 every day; November to March 09:00 until dusk. See lock and bridge times.
  • Winter works. The stretch between locks 8 and 10 closes from 2 November 2026 and works on lock 1 begin on 16 November, each for about three months (Marine Notice 112/2026). They should be finished before the 2027 season, but check the marine notices before an early-spring trip, and until 17 March ask Waterways Ireland whether the waterway is open.
  • Hartley Bridge. The works between Carrick and Leitrim continue until September 2027 and may need short closures, announced in separate notices (Marine Notice 53/2026).
  • Lifejackets in locks. Everyone handling the boat in or beside a lock must wear one (Marine Notice 35/2026).
  • Speed. Waterways Ireland sets 5 km/h on the Shannon–Erne Waterway (Special Marine Notice 1/2026), which is why the days take longer than the distances suggest.
  • Mooring limits. On the Shannon and the waterway, no more than 5 days in a row at one public mooring and 7 days a month, all year; on the Erne, 48 hours and then at least four hours away. See mooring.
  • Two countries. Corraquill and Aghalane are in Fermanagh, so sterling and Met Office warnings; Leitrim, Cavan and Belturbet use the euro and Met Éireann. Both sets of warnings are on Today on the water.
  • Only a week? Ballinamore is the realistic turning point: Carrick to Ballinamore and back is about 17 hours over six days by our estimate, leaving a day to spare. Carrickcraft also offers one-way trips between its bases, and Carrick to its Bellanaleck base on Lough Erne by Belturbet is about 24 hours one way (Carrickcraft).

Hire companies

Each has a base where this trip starts (Carrick-on-Shannon). Book with the company directly: boats, prices and dates are theirs to confirm.

Weather and timing

Distances and times are estimates for planning, not for navigation. On the big lakes the wind matters more than the distance: read the forecast every morning and stay in harbour when it blows. Lock and bridge hours change with the season.

Today’s warnings and lake forecasts Met Éireann inland lakes forecast Lock & bridge times

This is a travel guide, not a navigation aid. Always use official charts and Waterways Ireland marine notices.

Updated 23 Oct 2026

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