Days Out NI
Water sports Irvinestown

Castle Archdale Boat Hire & Watersports

Self-hire boats, kayaks, SUPs and hydrobikes on Lough Erne in Castle Archdale Country Park.

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SeasonalSeasonal, weather-dependent; Canoe School…
From £15Per person
IrvinestownWater sports
Get directionsOfficial website
From £15Cost
July-AugustSeason
All agesBest for
Castle Archdale…Launches
FreeParking

Castle Archdale Boat Hire & Watersports — Self-hire boats, kayaks, SUPs and hydrobikes on Lough Erne in Castle Archdale Country Park.

  • What you can do: Day boat hire, kayaks, Canadian canoes, katakanu, SUPs, hydrobikes; instruction for ages 6+ at the summer Canoe School.
  • Public access: Open to the public — book and hire by the hour, no membership.
  • Booking: Advised (bicycle hire needs a phone call).
  • Age / ability: Most activities all ages; kayak/canoe/SUP need to be able to swim and be comfortable in the water; children accompanied by an adult. Canoe School ages 6+.
  • Kit provided: Day boats include buoyancy aids, instruction, charts and fuel; lifejackets provided.
  • Season: Seasonal, weather-dependent; Canoe School runs July-August (Mon & Tue 9am-1pm).
Plan your visit

Pick your boat and get on the water

The headline hire is the day boat: 17/19ft Orkney boats for up to 6-8 people, with full instruction, buoyancy aids, navigation charts and fuel included, so no previous experience or licence is required. For paddlers there are sit-on-top kayaks, Canadian canoes, the multi-person katakanu and stand-up paddleboards, plus the hydrobikes the centre was first to bring to Ireland. Kayaking, canoeing and SUP need you to be able to swim and be comfortable in the water, and children must be accompanied by an adult on the water. A summer Canoe School offers proper instruction for ages 6+, running through July and August on Monday and Tuesday mornings. From the marina you can paddle the sheltered local islands or take a day boat out to White Island to see the ancient church ruins.

Self-hire — book ahead Day boats, kayaks, SUPs, hydrobikes No licence or experience needed Swimmers for paddle kit Seasonal & weather-dependent Castle Archdale Marina
Good to know before you go:

Operators like this run kids' summer camps, taster sessions, instruction courses and seasonal hire windows; sessions are weather- and tide-dependent, so check their own pages for current dates, bookings and prices.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🩱Swimwear & a warm layerWear your togs under easy clothes; most places provide wetsuits.
  • 🧺A change of clothes & a towelYou WILL get wet — dry clothes for after are a must.
  • 💧Water and a snackYou will be hungry after all that paddling and splashing.
  • 🎫Your bookingLessons and hire usually need booking ahead — have it ready.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Type
Self-hire watersports centre (plus summer Canoe School)
What you can do
Day boat hire, kayaks, Canadian canoes, katakanu, SUPs, hydrobikes; instruction for ages 6+ at the summer Canoe School
Public access
Open to the public — book and hire by the hour, no membership
Booking
Advised (bicycle hire needs a phone call)
Age / ability
Most activities all ages; kayak/canoe/SUP need to be able to swim and be comfortable in the water; children accompanied by an adult. Canoe School ages 6+
Kit provided
Day boats include buoyancy aids, instruction, charts and fuel; lifejackets provided
Season
Seasonal, weather-dependent; Canoe School runs July-August (Mon & Tue 9am-1pm)
Cost
Roughly from £15-£16/hr paddle kit, from ~£19 hydrobikes, from £80 day boat — check current prices
Launches from
Castle Archdale Marina, Lower Lough Erne
Parking
Free parking throughout Castle Archdale Country Park
Address
Castle Archdale Marina, Castle Archdale Country Park, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh
Questions

Before you go

Do I need to book?
Advised (bicycle hire needs a phone call)
How much is it?
Roughly from £15-£16/hr paddle kit, from ~£19 hydrobikes, from £80 day boat — check current prices
When does it run?
Seasonal, weather-dependent; Canoe School runs July-August (Mon & Tue 9am-1pm)
Getting there

Castle Archdale Boat Hire & Watersports launches from Castle Archdale Marina, Lower Lough Erne. Free parking throughout Castle Archdale Country Park. Tap below for directions.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around IrvinestownSee what else is close by More water sports across NISurf, sail, kayak, SUP and more
The story

About the operator

Castle Archdale Boat Hire & Watersports operates from the marina inside Castle Archdale Country Park on Lower Lough Erne, with a second base in Enniskillen. The centre is known for bringing the first hydrobikes to Ireland and runs a summer Canoe School offering instruction for ages 6+ in July and August.

Alongside the watersports it offers self-hire day boats out to White Island, home to ancient church ruins and carved stone figures reached on a short trip across the lough.