Shannon Cruise October

It could be awfully cold and wet, would be my first thought!

Do the charter boats even run that late in the year? (I honestly have no idea, but I can't imagine the demand would be huge, see above)

Also if it has been raining a lot prior to trip the flow on the river could be fast making things tricky if you are not used to boats.

When I had a mooring on Lough Derg I used to sleep on my boat the odd time in winter.
I only had an 800 watt oil filled heater, I think a 3 kilowatt might have been better.

I have done this a number of times.
In slack water the options and range are extensive....so I won't dwell on those. I will restrict my comments on what you will likely find, which is that the flow is up, callows starting to flood and boat handling gets tricky due to the flow.

The secret is to stay away from areas where the flow is high. Saves the nerves and the boat.

The Inland waterways comments and advice page on Facebook will give you lots of water level and flow reports from fellow boaters at the time.

Taking a cruiser from Carrick to lough key would be fine.
The tricky bit is getting into Clarendon lock. The flow from the weir hits you on the port side , as you approach, so you have to have a good bit of pace on to punch through it. If the lock is against you hold back at the first jetty even if the dockside jetty is free.
The estate is worth a visit. However Bodaborg will be closed and Zipit is working at 50% capacity (you will need to book online). The cafe has moved out of doors and serves from vans.

I would avoid Battlebridge....there can be big flow out of Lough Allen.

Leitrim would be accessible but likely only the hotel marina, as the bridge airdraft is very low.

Downstream from Carrick will be fine, but avoid Jamestown. Big flow from astern that could catch you out with the bridge rapidly approaching.

The Jamestown canal is pleasant, and once down the trip to Dromod is nice.
Don't go below Dromod to Roosky. It will age you. Huge flow, very tricky weir.
Holding for the lifting bridge is not easy....and that was last week.

Careful as you approach Drumsna, it is the other end of the Jamestown loop and has an equal flow but this time you will be facing into it, have more control, but it will be strong.

The inner lakes at Grange are really nice. The flow there is minimal but what can catch you out is that if the rains fall and the levels rise and you are on the grange side of the bridge, you may be very tight on airdraft getting out. make sure you know what your boat airdraft is in metres before you leave...So check the forecast and consider the recent rainfall. If the airdraft clearance (checked against the airdraft gauge before the bridge) is say 4 inches and heavy rain has recently/will fall soon.... I would avoid entering Grange. The levels can rise really quickly. The only answer to getting back out under Carnadoe bridge is to remove the boat bridge windows or get your hire company to call out and they have a party trick.

At that time of the year the daylight hours are restricted anyway, so although it may appear that the cruising is limited, the available hours are also limited.

Nothing nicer than being wrapped up in a warm boat, with good company, at that time of the year.

David

as you look at the charts you may find it useful to also have a look at google maps. Just drop the yellow guy down on the blue Line on the Shannon and you get a view from the boat. You will see the bridges, air draft gauges, jetty, weirs etc.

and finally......the online charts can be best seen here...https://issuu.com/carrickcraft/docs/book

I have bought bikes, and found them not being used.

Lough key is the best area to use them. It is off-road and has lots of forest trails.
My kids actually walked the paths, investigated the caves, climbed the tower, found what must be the largest tree in Ireland and generally explored.

Other jettys I mentioned are attached to villages and any biking is on the public road.....which we didn't warm to.

We found the days were full, travelling and exploring each pull in. The bikes were decorations on the front!

David