Kayaking Athlone: Lough Ree Hire and Tours

For kayaking in Athlone, you have four places to look, and they are not interchangeable. Baysports at Hodson Bay hires kayaks by the hour within its own boundaries. Wineport Lodge at Glasson hires kayaks for the Inner Lakes. Glasson Lakehouse hires them to hotel residents only. Inventure Water Sports runs guided trips and courses on Lough Ree. With your own boat, Waterways Ireland publishes five Inner Lakes loops.

We read each operator’s own page on 6 November 2026. We could not confirm a winter timetable for any of them, and the Wineport and Glasson seasons have ended for 2026. This guide covers Lough Ree around Athlone, not the town stretch of the river, and it is not a substitute for a guide’s judgement or a current forecast.

Kayaking Athlone at a Glance

Lough Ree is a large lake, and the main thing to settle first is which part of it your trip uses. The hire products below stay in sheltered or managed water. The rows differ on who can book, how long you get, and where the boat has to stay.

Inventure is also listed in Canoeing Ireland’s registered providers directory. None of these pages gives a 2026 price for a kayak at Baysports or for Inventure’s trips, so ask before you plan around a figure.

What Can You Paddle in Athlone in November?

Fewer things than in summer, and less than the websites suggest. Here is what each operator’s page actually says.

• Wineport Lodge says its water activities are “available to book from late March – mid-October”. That has ended. The page also still carries a banner about Storm Éowyn, which hit in January 2025, so treat it as not recently updated and phone the lodge on 090 64 39010.
• Glasson Lakehouse says “Kayaking is only available from April to September” and is “for hotel residents only”. It is closed to non-residents, and closed for the season.
• Baysports does not state a season for kayak rental. Its FAQ lists waterpark hours for May to September 2026 only. Phone 090 64 94801 or email info@baysports.ie before you drive to Hodson Bay.
• Inventure Water Sports does not state a season. Visit Westmeath says it offers lake trips, half-day and full-day trips, and courses, and its own site says “Please contact us for costs and availability”. Call Bob on 086 833 8450 or email bob@inventure.ie.

If nothing is bookable, November is still a month for a short paddle in your own boat on the sheltered Inner Lakes, in calm weather, with a warm layer and a plan. The sections below cover that route and what to check before you go.

Where Is Lough Ree, and What Is It Like to Paddle?

Lough Ree sits between counties Longford, Roscommon and Westmeath. Longford County Library’s placenames page gives its size in imperial units, which works out at about 29 km long and between roughly 1.6 and 11 km wide. It calls Lough Ree the second greatest expansion of the Shannon, with islands including Hare Island and Inchcleraun (Quaker Island).

For a paddler, the useful split is between the sheltered Inner Lakes, on the Westmeath side near Glasson, and the main lake. Waterways Ireland describes the Inner Lakes as “this series of sheltered and reed-fringed lakes and bays”. The main lake has long open stretches where wind builds waves, as the photo below shows.

Lough Ree is also a protected site. The National Parks and Wildlife Service lists Lough Ree as a Special Protection Area, site code 004064, across Longford, Roscommon and Westmeath. Its qualifying interests include whooper swan, wigeon, teal, goldeneye, tufted duck, little grebe and “Wetland and Waterbirds”. Several of these are winter visitors, so a November paddle is a time to keep your distance from rafts of waterfowl and stay out of the reed beds where they feed.

Hodson Bay: Kayak Rental at Baysports

Baysports is on the Roscommon shore of Lough Ree at Hodson Bay, just beyond the Hodson Bay Hotel. Its address is N37 KH72. Its FAQ gives directions: from the M6, take exit 12, turn left on the N61, travel 3.7 km, and turn right towards Hodson Bay. The FAQ lists changing marquees, hot showers and toilets on site for its waterpark guests, and it asks you to allow time for changing and a safety video.

You choose a kayak for one person or for two, for a one-hour rental. The price includes a wetsuit and a buoyancy aid. Baysports says “Our Kayaks are available for use within the Baysports boundaries”. There is no instruction on the page for how those boundaries are marked, so ask at the desk where the limit is.

This is a managed hire product, not a way to explore Lough Ree. It suits someone who wants an hour on the water in a boat with equipment included, near other facilities. Baysports’ FAQ asks you to wear old shoes for kayaking and paddleboarding. The rental page says wetsuits and buoyancy aids are included for the kayak hour, so you need no kit of your own beyond the shoes.

Baysports sells tickets through its online booking page, and says you can pick a date and time and rent activities there. The page we could read published a 2026 price only for waterpark admission. We could not find a kayak price in the text of any Baysports page, and we are not going to guess one. Ask at the desk or when you book, and check whether the slot you want is running outside summer.

Glasson and the Inner Lakes: Wineport and Glasson Lakehouse

Glasson is on the Westmeath side, a short drive from Athlone on the N55. Two hotels there hire kayaks, both for the Inner Lakes, and the difference between them is who they let in.

Wineport’s water sports page says no experience is needed and that it supplies all the equipment and instructions. Kayak hire is two hours for €35, with lifejacket, kayak and oars provided, and you are asked to bring your own wetsuit if you want one. Paddleboard hire is a two-hour taster at €20 per board, with set time slots from 10am to 7pm. It says “Navigate the Inner Lakes in your kayak”.

The page says you can book from late March to mid-October. It does not say whether non-guests can book. Its cancellation policy requires 24 hours’ notice for water activities, with no charge if the weather is unsuitable for them. The page also links a map of the three Inner Lakes.

Glasson Lakehouse has a small fleet for guests. It says you can rent one of four Tarpon 100 sit-on-top kayaks to explore the inner lakes, adults at €30 per hour, April to September, “for hotel residents only”. If you are staying there, it is a convenient hour. If you are not, it is not an option, so do not plan a day around it.

Can You Paddle the Inner Lakes in Your Own Boat?

Yes, and this is the part most Athlone pages leave out. Waterways Ireland’s Lough Ree Inner Lakes page is part of the Shannon Blueway network and describes five looped paddling journeys of 2.5 km to 6.5 km, starting from Coosan Point or Portaneena Amenity Area. Coosan Point has toilets, food and parking. Portaneena lists parking and a shop.

All five are graded Intermediate by Waterways Ireland, even though each is described as sheltered. The Shannon Blueway page defines Intermediate as “Moderate waters”, and says a beginner should have prior training with a club or book a competent provider. Take that grading seriously. A beginner’s first Lough Ree trip is better as a guided one, such as the operators above.

The names above are spelt as Waterways Ireland gives them. It writes one loop as “Kiilinure Bay”, which looks like a typo for Killinure, so check the spelling against the map you carry.

What does Waterways Ireland say about safety and permits?

On the Shannon Blueway page it asks you to stay within 50 metres of the shore, to be aware that wind and visibility can change in open water, and to go in “at least a group of three”. It says to “only go canoeing in favourable weather conditions, in force two wind conditions or less”, to wear an approved buoyancy aid, and to make sure everyone can swim to the bank or shore if they capsize. It also says that if you are inexperienced you should use a local guide.

This is advice from the body that manages the water, and it is more cautious than most hire pages. Force 2 is a light breeze, about 4 to 6 knots, which is why a calm-morning plan matters more here than on a river.

Do you need a permit? No. Waterways Ireland’s FAQ says: “If you are simply looking to go paddling as an individual, no license or express permission is required.” Its Special Marine Notice No. 1 of 2026 adds that canoeing “is an adventure sport; participants should seek guidance from Canoeing Ireland”. You still need to wear a buoyancy aid, as the section on the law below explains.

Guided Trips and Courses on Lough Ree

Inventure Water Sports is the operator we found that sells guided trips on the main lake as well as the sheltered water. Its own home page says you can “take a kayaking tour of the picturesque Islands of Lough Ree”, and also lists River Inny trips, beginners’ courses, Level 1 to 3 kayak skills courses and “Women On The Water” sessions. It says it is mobile, and will come to a lake, canal or river near you.

What does Visit Westmeath say about Inventure’s trips?

Visit Westmeath’s listing says lake trips generally last two hours, and that Inventure also runs half-day and full-day trips. No experience is needed for the shorter trips, and it provides everything needed on the water, including wetsuits and safety equipment. For the longer trips it uses a fleet of sea kayaks, and those trips are limited to a maximum of eight paddlers. Fun sessions for groups can take up to 30 participants, normally two hours, and all children must be age 8 or above.

Inventure’s own site gives no prices and says to contact it for costs and availability. A trip on the sea kayaks is the nearest thing in this guide to a day on the main lake, so ask the operator how it handles wind, where it launches and where it turns back before you book. The site carries a 2021 copyright line, so confirm details by phone. Its website lists the Athlone area as its base, and Canoeing Ireland’s directory places it at Newpark, Kiltoom, Co. Roscommon.

We did not find a dedicated paddling club on Lough Ree when we searched. The groups that came up were a sailing club and a rowing club, and the nearest paddling provider was commercial. Canoeing Ireland’s find a club map is the check, because a small club may not show up in a general search. For clubs elsewhere in Ireland, our clubs guide is the place to look.

Can You Paddle Out to the Islands of Lough Ree?

Not on a hired boat, as far as we can tell, and be careful with your own. Baysports says its kayaks stay within its boundaries. Wineport and Glasson hire for the Inner Lakes. The only product we found that mentions the islands is Inventure’s guided tour of the “Islands of Lough Ree”, and that is on its own website with no dates or prices.

Landing is a separate question. We found no official statement that allows landing on any Lough Ree island. A 2025 guide produced with Comhairle na Tuaithe and hosted by Sport Ireland says: “there is no legal right of access to the Irish countryside”. Treat an island as private land unless an owner or an official source tells you otherwise, and remember the lake is a protected bird site.

Waterways Ireland’s Special Marine Notice No. 1 of 2026 adds a point that is specific to Lough Ree. It says a designated Defence Forces firing range on Lough Ree is marked by “X” buoys displaying “Danger”, and that vessel navigation is prohibited in that area. The notice does not give the range’s position in the text we read, so use a current chart and keep clear of any such buoys.

How Do Wind and Weather Change a Lough Ree Paddle?

A lot, and more than the water looks like from the shore. Wind across open water builds waves, and the main lake has long stretches of open water. Waterways Ireland’s own advice is force 2 or less, and to stay within 50 metres of the shore.

Where do you check the forecast?

Met Éireann publishes an inland lakes forecast that includes Lough Ree. On the morning we checked, 6 November 2026, it gave an east to north-east force 3 or less for Lough Ree until nightfall, with mist clearing and patchy light rain and drizzle spreading from the east. That is a forecast, not a plan. Read the wind, the visibility and the outlook for the hours you will be out.

Our kayaking safety guide covers fetch, the Beaufort scale and rescue basics. Fetch is the distance wind travels across open water, and on a lake the size of Lough Ree it is a reason to plan routes along the shore.

Who else is on the water?

Other boats. Waterways Ireland’s notice says significant numbers of sailing yachts and dinghies operate on Lough Ree from May to August, with courses marked by yellow buoys. It also says to expect rowers and canoes, particularly near Athlone, and that masters of powered vessels are told to keep a slow speed and minimum wash. Waterways Ireland’s Killinure Lough entry warns that its crossings at Quigley’s Point and Friar’s Island can be busy. A kayak is low in the water and hard to see, so cross channels at right angles, and cross them together. A bright buoyancy aid and a bright paddle blade help other boat crews see you, and keeping the group close lets a helm judge your line from further off.

If something goes wrong, the RNLI’s Lough Ree Lifeboat Station sits at Coosan Point, north of Athlone, and was established in 2012, according to an archive copy of its station page (the live page blocks automated checks). On the water, call 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard.

The law on buoyancy aids is clear: you must wear one while under way. The Pleasure Craft (Personal Flotation Devices and Operation) (Safety) Regulations 2005, S.I. No. 921 of 2005, require a suitable personal flotation device to be worn on an open craft under 7 metres, which covers every kayak and canoe. Baysports, Wineport and Inventure supply buoyancy aids with their products, and Glasson Lakehouse’s page does not say. If you paddle your own boat, wear yours rather than stowing it. The regulation exempts a craft that is made fast to the shore or at anchor, so a drift between two points is not an exemption. Cold water in November adds a second reason to dress for immersion, with a wetsuit or equivalent layers, because the risk is falling in.

What Does Kayaking in Athlone Cost?

The published figures are few, and none covers every operator. We list what we found, and say where we found nothing.

The cheapest way onto Lough Ree is your own boat. The cheapest hired option with a published price is a Wineport kayak at €35 for two hours, in season. For hire elsewhere in Ireland, our kayak rental guide lists the operators we checked in 2026.

What Should You Wear and Bring?

Baysports asks you to wear old shoes for kayaking and paddleboarding, and says wetsuits and buoyancy aids come with the kayak rental. Wineport provides a lifejacket, kayak and oars, and asks you to bring your own wetsuit if you want one. Inventure says it provides wetsuits and all safety equipment on its shorter trips.

For your own boat in November, add the things a guide would bring: a buoyancy aid that fits, a wetsuit or layers you would be happy to swim in, wetsuit shoes, a waterproof pouch for your phone, a dry bag with a warm change, and a hot drink for the car. Tell someone ashore your loop, your start point and your expected return, in line with the Shannon Blueway advice to plan well in advance.

Common Mistakes When Planning an Athlone Paddle

• Treating all of Lough Ree as one rental venue. Baysports keeps boats within its boundaries, and Wineport and Glasson are for the Inner Lakes.
• Turning up in winter on a summer timetable. Wineport’s season ended in mid-October and Glasson’s in September.
• Booking Glasson without a room. Its kayaking is for hotel residents only.
• Assuming “sheltered” means beginner. Waterways Ireland grades all five Inner Lakes loops Intermediate.
• Crossing a channel alone. Busy crossings at Quigley’s Point and Friar’s Island need your group to stay together and visible.
• Landing on an island. We found no official statement allowing it, and the lake is a protected bird site.
• Going out in wind above force 2 on the Blueway. Waterways Ireland’s own limit is force 2 or less.
• Ignoring “X” buoys. The Lough Ree firing range is marked by them, and navigation there is prohibited.
• Trusting a booking button for the season. An undated page does not mean a November slot exists. Phone first.

6 Frequently Asked Questions

Can you hire a kayak in Athlone? Yes, in season. Baysports at Hodson Bay offers one-hour single or double kayak rental within its boundaries. Wineport Lodge at Glasson hires a kayak for two hours at €35, from late March to mid-October. Glasson Lakehouse hires kayaks to hotel residents only, April to September. We could not confirm any of them for November, so phone first.

Where can you kayak on Lough Ree? The easiest water is the sheltered Inner Lakes near Glasson, where Waterways Ireland publishes five loops from 2.5 km to 6.5 km. The main lake has open stretches where wind builds waves. Waterways Ireland advises staying within 50 metres of the shore and paddling in force 2 or less.

Is kayaking on Lough Ree suitable for beginners? With a guide or a managed hire product, yes. Waterways Ireland grades all five Inner Lakes loops Intermediate, and says beginners should train with a club or book a competent provider. A beginner’s first trip is best as a guided one, such as those Inventure Water Sports offers.

Do you need a permit to kayak on Lough Ree? No. Waterways Ireland’s annual permit covers powered and moored boats on its canals and the Barrow, and craft registration covers boats such as cruisers. A kayak or canoe needs neither, though you must wear a buoyancy aid under S.I. 921 of 2005.

Can you kayak to the islands on Lough Ree? Not on any rental we found, which stay within their boundaries or on the Inner Lakes. Inventure Water Sports lists a guided tour of the Islands of Lough Ree on its own site. Landing needs an owner’s permission, because there is no legal right of access to the Irish countryside, and Lough Ree is a protected bird site.

What is the best time of year to kayak in Athlone? Hire seasons run late March or April to mid-October or September, so May to September has the most choice. Sailing traffic on Lough Ree is heaviest from May to August, according to Waterways Ireland. In winter the lake has migratory waterbirds and fewer bookable options, so a guided trip needs a phone call first.

Also Read

• Shannon Blueway Route: Drumshanbo to Battlebridge — the designated trail elsewhere on the Shannon, a different venue from Lough Ree.
• Blueways Ireland — the national network of designated paddling trails.
• Kayaking for Beginners in Ireland — the skills to learn before open water.
• Kayaking Safety in Ireland — wind, fetch and rescue basics.
• Best Places to Kayak in Ireland — where Athlone sits in the national picture.