Varies by route; longer Lough Neagh trips described as half-dayHow long
TicketedCost
Seasonal and we…Season
Mixed-age group…Best for
Lock-Keeper's C…Departs
Abhainn Cruises — Skippered RHIB heritage cruises on the River Bann and Lough Neagh from Toome.
The trip: Skippered private-charter boat tour on RHIB vessels (not a scheduled ferry).
Departs from: Lock-Keeper's Cottage, Toome Canal; some trips from Newferry Marina or Antrim Loughshore Park.
You may see: Lough Beg & Church Island, Toome bridges & eel fishery, whooper swans, water fowl, eel-fishing boats, Lough Neagh islands (never guaranteed).
Season: Seasonal and weather- and water-dependent; confirm current sailing dates with the operator.
Booking: Essential - book by phone/text/WhatsApp.
Cost: Varies by route and group size (e.g. ~360 pounds for up to 8 on the Bann heritage tour, ~85pp on the Coney Island charter) - check current prices.
Plan your visit
A guided cruise with real local stories
Your skipper greets you at the Lock-Keeper's Cottage on Toome Canal, runs a safety briefing and fits lifejackets before you head out on a covered RHIB. The River Bann heritage route slips under the old 1792 Toome bridge and the iconic blue bridge, past Europe's largest eel fishery, then into the hidden wildlife reserve of Lough Beg with its Church Island, immortalised in a Seamus Heaney poem. Longer charters cross Lough Neagh to islands such as Coney Island, with stories of Neolithic finds, Game of Thrones filming and the lough's eel-fishing tradition. You may spot whooper swans, water fowl and fishing boats, but nothing on the water is guaranteed. The boats reach a fair pace on open stretches, which younger passengers tend to love, and reviewers mention ages from 11 to 78 enjoying the same trip.
Skippered RHIB charterLeaves Toome (Lock-Keeper's Cottage)River Bann & Lough NeaghLough Beg & Church IslandSwans & eel fisheryBook ahead, weather-dependent
Good to know before you go:
Operators add sunset and special cruises, private charters and seasonal sailings, and Abhainn also runs themed Lough Neagh and Game of Thrones tours. Timetables are weather-dependent and seasonal, so check their own pages for current sailings, dates and prices.
Before you set off
What to bring
🧥Warm, windproof layersIt is always cooler and breezier out on the water — dress for it.
🧢A waterproofA bit of sea spray is all part of the adventure.
📷A cameraFor the wildlife, the coast and the castles seen from the sea.
🎫Your bookingMost trips need booking ahead — have the confirmation ready.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Type
Skippered private-charter boat tour on RHIB vessels (not a scheduled ferry)
Departs from
Lock-Keeper's Cottage, Toome Canal; some trips from Newferry Marina or Antrim Loughshore Park
Duration
Varies by route; longer Lough Neagh trips described as half-day
What you may see
Lough Beg & Church Island, Toome bridges & eel fishery, whooper swans, water fowl, eel-fishing boats, Lough Neagh islands (never guaranteed)
Season
Seasonal and weather- and water-dependent; confirm current sailing dates with the operator
Booking
Essential - book by phone/text/WhatsApp
Cost
Varies by route and group size (e.g. ~360 pounds for up to 8 on the Bann heritage tour, ~85pp on the Coney Island charter) - check current prices
Suitable for
Mixed-age groups (reviewers note 11 to 78); confirm young-child suitability and any access needs with the operator
Parking
Ample car parking at Newferry Marina; check parking at other departure points
Varies by route and group size (e.g. ~360 pounds for up to 8 on the Bann heritage tour, ~85pp on the Coney Island charter) - check current prices
How long is the trip?
Varies by route; longer Lough Neagh trips described as half-day
What might we see?
Lough Beg & Church Island, Toome bridges & eel fishery, whooper swans, water fowl, eel-fishing boats, Lough Neagh islands (never guaranteed)
When does it run?
Seasonal and weather- and water-dependent; confirm current sailing dates with the operator
Getting there
Abhainn Cruises departs from Lock-Keeper's Cottage, Toome Canal; some trips from Newferry Marina or Antrim Loughshore Park. Ample car parking at Newferry Marina; check parking at other departure points. Tap below for directions to the departure point.
Abhainn Cruises is run by local skippers Tim and Ben, OCN-accredited tour guides who were born and still live beside Lough Beg and the River Bann and have been running tours in the area for around ten years. Their RHIB vessels Stormborn and Endurance are coded by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The trips lean into the history and heritage of this stretch of water - the Mesolithic finds at Toome, the eel fishery, Church Island and the Seamus Heaney connection, and the skippers' first-hand stories from Game of Thrones filming on the canal and lough.