Lough Ree islands and harbours from Glasson

After the handover, run south along the lake towards Athlone. Hare Island lies off the southern end; tradition links it with St Ciarán before he founded Clonmacnoise. You pass Coosan Point, where the RNLI's Lough Ree lifeboat is based, and Lough Ree Yacht Club, founded in 1770, whose jetties are for members. Under the bypass bridge the river leads into Athlone. Moor above the weir at the council marina (about 60 berths, €15 a night, paid on arrival) or at the free public jetty on the west bank. Sean's Bar and the Left Bank quarter are a short walk away. Check the forecast before you leave the base: this is open water.

Spend the morning ashore, at the Luan Gallery on the riverbank or on the first stretch of the Old Rail Trail greenway. Athlone Castle has been closed for redevelopment since October 2025, so check whether it has reopened. Then head up the lake. Hodson Bay, behind its breakwater beside the hotel, makes a good lunch stop on the Roscommon shore; in summer the Baysports inflatable water park floats off the shore. Further north, read the weather again before the open stretch to the Lecarrow Canal, a 1.5 km cut dug in the 1840s for limestone barges. Lecarrow Harbour has a service block with toilets, showers, a pump-out and shore power. Coffey's has live music on Wednesday nights.

Take the morning slowly: St John's Holy Well is in the village. Rindoon, the deserted royal town of 1227 on St John's Point, has no public access at present, and anchoring in its old harbour is not allowed. Check the forecast before the open-water run north. Inchcleraun lies in mid-water between Knockcroghery and Newtowncashel; its monastic ruins and the bell tower of Teampall Clogas can be seen from the boat. The monuments belong to the State but the farmland is private, and we know of no public landing. Portrunny's floating jetty, with 24 berths behind a breakwater, has shore power, a pump-out, toilets and showers. Local swimmers use the clear water by the jetty.

Before leaving, walk up the lane to Portrunny church and St Diarmaid's holy well, which tradition links with the saint's journey to Inchcleraun. The crossing back to the east shore is open water: check the forecast, and if the wind is strong, wait for it to drop. On the way you pass Inchbofin, the island of the white cow, where two ruined churches survive from a monastery said to date from about 530; again, there is no confirmed landing, so look from the water. Saints' Island, joined to the mainland by a causeway, lies near the base; its priory ruins are best visited on foot after you return the boat.