New destination for your 2024 holidays: Erne and Shannon boat hire

Ireland boating holidays, go rent a boat on the Shannon and Erne

Fans of canal boat hire will be excited to learn that for 2024 they will be able to do Erne and Shannon cruises. Next year, after three brand new bases open, Nicols’ canal boats will be a part of the Irish landscape..

A wide choice of boating holiday itineraries is on offer – split across both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. From the Nicols base in Bellanaleck in Northern Ireland you can explore the vast Lower Lough Erne and Upper Lough Erne lakes surrounded by stunning hills and dotted with small islands, stopping at places such as the fascinating town of Enniskillen with its famous castle.

Further south and on the Shannon – the longest river within the British Isles – are two other Nicols bases: one in Carrick-on-Shannon and one in Banagher. In addition to larger lakes connected by different rivers, a boat hire on Shannon will give the opportunity to discover picturesque and interesting stop-off towns by the waterside such as Athlone, Clonmacnoise and Portumna.

An Ireland boating holidays is a great idea for those new to boating as there is no commercial traffic on the waterways and only a small number of locks to negotiate. Crews will be able to enjoy the myth, folklore and hospitality of Ireland – travelling through emerald green countryside, village to village.

Ireland boat hire, a natural choice

Talking about the brand new destination, Nicols Marketing Manager Camille Binz, said: “We’re really excited to be welcoming our first crews to Ireland. The country is as famous for its beautiful countryside and inland waterways as it is for the warm welcome of the Irish people, so when we were looking at adding additional destinations to our collection, cruises on Shannon and Erne were the obvious choice.”

A fleet of new canal boats built by Nicol’s own boatyard in France will be heading to Ireland and they feature the very latest in boat design and technology. Boats can accommodate crews from couples up to larger groups of families and friends for unforgettable boat holidays. As all Nicols self-drive boating holidays, no previous experience or a licence is needed.

For more information on boating holidays in Ireland, visit our Ireland pages or call 02 41 56 46 56.