Walking

Barrow Navigation

Walking on the Barrow Navigation

The 114km long Barrow Way follows surviving towpaths and riverside roads from the canal hamlet of Lowtown in County Kildare to the beautiful monastic site and village of St Mullins in south County Carlow.

The Barrow Way is a peaceful route through a quiet sylvan landscape, with the constantly expanding river, growing more majestic every mile, for company. Terrain consists mainly of grassy towpaths, tracks and quiet roads.

Buy the Guide

Walking Guides and App's for the Barrow

Video by G Gibbs

Self Guided

Self Guided
Tour Guided

Robertstown - Rathangan

14km

3.5 - 4.5 hrs

Moderate

View Map

Rathangan - Monasterevin

10.5km

2.5 - 3.5 hours

Easy

View Map

Monasterevin - Vicarstown

12km

3 - 4 hours

Easy

View Map

Vicarstown - Athy

10.5km

2.5 - 3.5 hours

Easy

View Map

Athy - Maganey

10.5km

2.5 - 3.5 hours

Easy

View Map

Maganey - Carlow Town

8.5km

2 to 3 hours

Easy

View Map

Carlow Town - Leighlinbridge

11km

2.5 - 3.5 hours

Easy

View Map

Leighlinbridge - Goresbridge

14.5km

3.5 - 5 hours

Moderate

View Map

Goresbridge - Graiguenamanagh

14.5km

3.5 - 5 hours

Moderate

View Map

THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO TOUR GUIDED TRAILS AVAILABLE

Start planning your experience

See & Do

Filter by

Filter

Trailwalkers Ireland Ltd

17 Mourne Close, Skerries, Co. Dublin

NO EVENTS HAVE BEEN FOUND

View all

General Notices
Waterways Ireland manages the Barrow Navigation under the No. 3/1986 – Canals Act, 1986; which details the duties, powers and responsibilities of the organisation and the boat owner.
Bridges
Airdraft: 2.58m over a width of 2.4m*
Lowest Bridge: Carlow Bridge
*for guidance only
Dry Docks
Location
Athy (Barrow Line of the Grand Canal) CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO WORKS
Cost
€13.90 per day + security deposit of €250
Payment can be made by either cash or cheque to the Tullamore Office as part of the application procedure for the Dry Docks located on the Canals.
Accessibility:
Waterways Ireland Dry Docks are suitable for flat bottomed vessels only. Any other hull shape will require a shoring/propping certification by a qualified person, before entry will be permitted into the dry dock. Some dry docks may require pumping out prior to use and to a lesser degree during usage. It will be the responsibility of the person hiring the dry dock to have this carried out.
Preparation:
Before hiring a Waterways Ireland's dry dock facility to carry out boat repairs read the General Regulations Relating to the Use of Dry Docks.
Application Process:
Make an application a minimum of 30 days before the facility is needed.
Complete the Application Form
Attach an Insurance Verification Letter
For more information or to return hard copy forms
Primary Contact: Paul Smyth paul.smyth@waterwaysireland.org
Secondary Contact: Paul Carroll paul.carroll@waterwayireland.org

Address: Waterways Ireland, Harbour Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly
Find out more about Dry Docks here.
Electricity & Water
Electricity is not available on public moorings on the Barrow. Fuel is available from petrol stations at Graiguenamanagh, Bagenalstown and Goresbridge.
Inspectorate
The Waterways Ireland Inspectorate are responsible for the enforcement of the Bye-laws relating to each waterway. They issue Marine Notices, Permits and enforce compliance with the bye-laws as required. The Assistant Inspector responsible for the Barrow Navigation is Shane Anderson, Harbour St, Tullamore Co Offaly Tel no +353 (0)87 2865726 or email shane.anderson@waterwaysireland.org
Locks
All the locks on the Barrow Navigation are operated manually. Please ensure you have a lock key to operate the lock, adequate crew to manage your boat, and good stop ropes and mooring ropes. Lock keys at a cost of €25 can be purchased from the Eastern Regional Office and Harbour St. in Tullamore.
Length & No of Locks
65km from Athy to St Mullins with 23 locks
Opening Hours of Locks: Daylight Hours
Navigation Dimensions: Length of locks: 18.5m / Beam of locks: 3.9m
Draft: In summer can be as low as 0.76m
Draft dimensions are given as a guide only and cannot be guaranteed.
For assistance with locks, contact the lock-keepers on the numbers below:
Ardreigh - Maganey
Noel Cross
(087) 951 0777
Bestfield - Bagenalstown
William O'Neill
(087) 951 1444
Fenniscourt - Borris
John O'Neill
(087) 951 6333
Ballingrane - St. Mullins
Patrick Gill
(087) 951 6600
Maintenance Works
Maintenance works on the waterways are, where possible, carried out during the winter. When navigating any waterway between 1 November and 17 March you are advised to contact Waterways Ireland Operations Division or the Inspectorate before making your journey to confirm that the waterway is open.
For further information on navigating and boat queries contact the Inspectorate:
Assistant Inspector of Navigation
Waterways Ireland, Harbour Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly
Tel no +353 (0)57 935 2300
Marine Notices
Marine Notices are used by Waterways Ireland to inform the public of changes to the usage of the waterways and may be permanent or temporary. Temporary notices are followed by a withdrawal notice to inform customers of the end to the impediment to navigation. They are issued by the Inspector Of Navigation to whom all queries can be directed.
Marine Notices
Permits and Registration
On the Barrow Navigation all boats must display a valid Combined Mooring and Passage Permit. This annual Permit includes mooring and lock passage charges and is the only permit required if boats intend to cruise continuously staying five days or less in any one location. Boats intending to stay more than five days in any one location will require an Extended Mooring Permit.
Combined Mooring & Passage Permit €126 / Extended Mooring & Passage €152
Permits can be purchased on the basis of a completing the online application.
Public Mooring Time Limits
On the Barrow Navigation a boat holding a Combined Mooring & Passage Permit can moor at the same public mooring or within 500 metres of the same place for 5 days.
Service Blocks
A service block has been partially opened at Clashganny with toilets male & female changing rooms and shower rooms.
Currently (2015) the showers are not yet commissioned.
The toilets and changing rooms are open as follows:
Summer (Apr-Oct) 09:00-19:00
Winter (Nov-mid March) 10:00-15:00
End March 10:00-17:00
A member of Waterways Ireland staff opens and closes these facilities. As yet the Smart Card system is not operational for this service block.
Slipways
Slipways are provided at the following locations to facilitate access to the Barrow Navigation:
Graiguecullen Park, Carlow Town
Clogrennan
Leighlinbridge
Bagenalstown
Goresbridge
Graiguenamanagh
Smart Cards
Smart cards are used to operate the locks on the Shannon-Erne Waterway and the Shannon Navigation and service blocks along the waterways. The cards are also used to gain access to the service blocks and to use the services.

Services use the following number of units:
• Locks: 1 unit (Shannon-Erne Waterway)
• Locks: 2 units (Shannon Navigation)
• Bridges: 2 units (Shannon Navigation)
• Pump-outs: 2 units
• Showers: 2 units
• Chemical Toilets: 2 units
• Washing Machines: 5 units
• Tumble Dryers: 5 units
• 2kwh Electricity: 1 unit

The smart cards cost €6.35 for a 10Unit card or €12.70 for a 20Unit card and can be purchased from the Patrollers, Lockkeepers, Waterways Ireland’s online shop www.shopwaterwaysireland.org and retail outlets along the waterway. Information on all outlets can be found here.
Speed Limit and your Wash
You are asked to consider the wash of your boat and its effect on others. All engine-powered boats create a wave of water, known as a wash, which flows outwards from the boat as it moves forward. Look behind you frequently to check the effect that your wash is having on other users. You are advised to reduce your speed in narrow channels to prevent bank erosion, damage to reed beds and destruction of birds' nests among reed and bank habitats. Slow down where boats are moored, when approaching quays, jetties or locks or where water activities are taking place.
Entering the waterway from the sea
All boats entering the River Barrow from the sea travel via the Estuary which is under the authority of the Port of Waterford. It is a major commercial port and you are advised to contact the Harbour Master for information in advance of navigating this channel.
Tel no +353 (0)51 874 907
Email: pc@portofwaterford.com
Web: www.portofwaterford.com
The tidal navigation upstream from the railway bridge at New Ross to St. Mullins comes under the authority of the Port of New Ross. It is also a busy port and you are advised to contact the Harbour Master for information on moorings and shipping traffic.
Tide tables are also available from this office Tel no +353 (0)51 421 303.

Posted: 17/08/2020

Marine Notice No 70 of 2020 - Barrow Navigation - Closure of Towpaths - Athy to Vicarstown & Ballteague to Glenaree - To facilitate Blue Way works

Notice Number 70 of 2020

Posted: 03/10/2018

Marine Notice 109 of 2018 - All Canals - Permit requirements for mooring of vessels and prohibition of discharge of polluting material (holding tanks)

Notice Number 109 of 2018

Posted: 28/09/2018

Marine Notice 102 of 2018 - Canals - Double mooring of Vessels

Notice Number 102 of 2018

View all notices

Ardreigh - Maganey	Noel Cross	(087) 951 0777
Bestfield - Bagenalstown	William O'Neill	(087) 951 1444
Fenniscourt - Borris	John O'Neill	(087) 951 6333
Ballingrane - St. Mullins	Patrick Gill	(087) 951 6600

Walking

Walking on the Barrow Navigation

Video by G Gibbs​

Walking trails on the Barrow Navigation

Start planning your experience

Video by G Gibbs