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The ruined walls of Portora Castle stand above the wide, calm Erne at Portora, with reed beds and green fields on the far bank under a grey sky.
Photo: Otter · CC BY-SA 4.0
© OpenStreetMap contributors

Lock Co. Fermanagh

Portora Lock

Also part of: Upper Lough Erne

The only lock on the Erne, at the narrow outflow below Enniskillen: usually open, so most boats pass straight through.

  • See the notice
  • Clearance 4.20 m

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Lock times

See the notice Worked by a lock-keeper

Today – Thu, 5 Nov See the notice

Notice: Usually open, with passage unrestricted. When the level at Portora falls, or is likely to fall, to 150 ft (45.72 m), DfI Rivers puts the gates into operation and they are then manned 08:00–22:30 daily. Daily status on the DfI Lough Erne levels page; if closed, call DfI Rivers +44 28 6638 8529.

Times are worked out on this device and change with the season: check the notice. Check the Waterways Ireland marine notices

Source of the times · Times checked 23 Oct 2026

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In an emergency 112 999

Call 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard. Both numbers work in Ireland and in Northern Ireland.

About Portora Lock

Portora Lock sits where the Erne leaves Enniskillen and narrows before opening into Lower Lough Erne. Its sluices and gates help DfI Rivers and ESB keep the two loughs within their agreed levels, and for much of the season the gates simply stand open. When the level at Portora falls, or is about to fall, to 150 ft (45.72 m), the gates are put into operation and staff work the lock from 08:00 to 22:30 every day; if you find it shut, call DfI Rivers on +44 28 6638 8529. The chamber is 36 m long and 6 m wide, with 1.2 m draft and 4.2 m air draft. Beside the lock stand the ruins of Portora Castle, built for Sir William Cole after 1612 to guard this crossing, and the Enniskillen Royal Boat Club rows from its base at Portora, so watch out for crews in the channel.

Things to do

  • Heritage

    Portora Castle

    Ruined 17th-century castle of Sir William Cole at the mouth of the lough, with three of its round flanking towers still standing; a State Care monument.

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Neighbours by water

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≈ distances are computed along the water, not along the marked channel. Times are our estimate: 7.5 km/h and 15 minutes a lock.

Also nearby, from OpenStreetMap (7)

Not checked by us. Tap a group to open it. © OpenStreetMap contributors

Things to do (1)
Services (4)
Locks & bridges (2)

© OpenStreetMap contributors