We have booked a 10 day cruise with a couple of boaty friends on the River Shannon, starting from Williamstown on Louch Derg on 8th September. The boat looks fine, a newish 38 foot Haines type of cruiser.
Anyone done this before?? If so, any recommendations for "must do" stopovers, restaurants. pubs etc? Must say I'm quite looking forward to it, whatever the weather!!
Go upstream to Athlone. By the lock is Shauns Bar. Best watering hole in athlone. If you want "posh" head up onto Lough Ree and head for Hudsons Bay and have a meal in the Hotel there. A worth while stop off is Clonmacnois, dunno if thats spelt right, and the old monastic ruins.
You won't see and do everything in one trip though. Been on the shannon twice and still not seen it done it all.
Take a multi-tool to alter the limiter - Lough Derg in particular can get quite rough and some of the hire boats are very under-powered to cope with it with the limiter in place. But remember to put it back the way you found it afterwards, and respect the speed limit on the river stretches. If you make it all the way up the Shannon to the next Lough, Hodson Bay is very nice (port side when you exit the Shannon) and there's a very nice restaurant to Stbd. behind Quigley's marina with a pontoon to moor up. Excellent food, service and cocktails!
Having done this trip last year in our own boats ( article in MBM) I would advise you to stay on lock Derg, Mountshannon, Garykennedy and Terryglass are all lovely places with pubs that serve food. We did find that not all pubs on the Shannon served food. Portumna and Banager was a good place to stock up on supplies as well as Athlone other than that a little bit more down to the basics of bread and milk in the local grocery/pub/garage. Clonmacnois was a superb place to stay as long as you got good weather very ideal for bbq's. The scenery does change quiet extensively from Lock Derg's mountain's and hill's to flat barron farm land that goes up to Athlone.
Hope you get the same weather we did and I'm sure what ever route you take will be most enjoyable.
About a 10 minute journey from Shannon, by road, is Drumoland Castle - the finest 5 star hotel complex in Ireland formerly the seat of the ancient kings of Ireland - Brian Boru and so on. Not really your typical boaty haunt mind you, but for a very special dinner or a round of golf, is definitely worth the visit, if time and budget permits. Spent a long business weekend there last September and it is on a par with Gleneagles or The Grove in England. Cheers. Roy
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Just arrived back from a 2 week cruise on shannon (10th year doing so)
Lough derg is a great place especially mt shahhon and terryglass, killaloe was a bit dissapointing. If you head up river there are some great places to stop and enjoy the local hospitality,Athlone - but stay at the public marina + pay your dues 10 euro, hodson bay, Tarmonbarry - good pub just at the bridge, roosky good pub beside shannon bridge hotel can't rember name thats how good it was, dromond harbour good quiet place to stay over night with good pub + food 5 mins walk, next is carrick on shannon a major town with everthing, if weather is good lough key is a must but be warned take all supplies with you + cook on board
pm me if you need any other info
Shannon Cruise
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