Lough Derg Blueway - Scarriff to Holy Island and Mountshannon via Scarriff Bay
Paddling Trail · Clare
Lough Derg Blueway - Scarriff to Holy Island and Mountshannon via Scarriff Bay is a 9 km intermediate waymarked linear route in Clare, starting near Scarriff.
Note from the trail operator
Difficulty: A long journey which is reasonably sheltered with exits at Ducey’s Pier. Suitable for intermediate paddlers with reasonable fitness.
As recorded in the register on 2026-08-13. Check with Waterways Ireland South Shannon Operations Division before travelling.
Grade
| Activity | Grade | Difficulty | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canoeing/Kayaking/Paddling | Intermediate | Moderate | 3 hours |
Getting there
Starts at Scarriff Harbour, near Scarriff.
Finishes at Mountshannon Harbour.
- Trailhead coordinates
- 52.90646, -8.52947
- Irish Grid reference
- R 64429 84058
The National Trails Register's own latitude and longitude fields are empty for all 1,186 trails on it. This trailhead comes from Sport Ireland's separate Trailheads dataset, matched to this trail on its register ID.
About the trail
Turn right as you depart the marina into the Scarriff river and pay attention to the motor cruiser traffic. You pass Reddan’s pier (.7 km) and then a marina on the left bank. You then exit the river (2.3 km), and pass Ducey’s Pier on the left which may be a convenient finish point. Continuing around the bay you will arrive at the Holy Island pier on the lake shore. From here it is 250 meters across to the island. You may want to land on the far side of the island, if the weather allows, as the nearer west side can be very mucky.
Who manages it
Waterways Ireland South Shannon Operations Division
Waterways Ireland South Shannon Operations Division
Conditions and closures change. The operator is the authority on both, not this page.
Elsewhere
Trails nearby
Measured trailhead to trailhead, in a straight line.
- Lough Derg BLueway - Mountshannon and Cloonoolia Bays 7.2 km away · 6.6 km trail
- Lough Derg Blueway - Mountshannon to Holy Island 7.2 km away · 5 km trail
- Lough Derg Blueway - Twomilegate (Ballycuggeran) to Annacarriga Loop 8.8 km away · 3 km trail
- Lough Derg Blueway - Twomilegate (Ballycuggeran) to Scarriff via Ballynagleragh 8.8 km away · 17.3 km trail
- Ballycuggaran - Crag Wood Walk 9.2 km away · 7.1 km trail
- Lough Derg Blueway - Castlelough to Killaloe 9.2 km away · 12 km trail
Common questions
How long is the Lough Derg Blueway - Scarriff to Holy Island and Mountshannon via Scarriff Bay?
9 km, recorded as a linear route on Sport Ireland's National Trails Register. Sport Ireland estimates 3 hours.
How hard is the Lough Derg Blueway - Scarriff to Holy Island and Mountshannon via Scarriff Bay?
Sport Ireland grades it Intermediate, with an overall difficulty of Moderate. Grades are set against national criteria, so they are comparable with other registered trails.
Where does the Lough Derg Blueway - Scarriff to Holy Island and Mountshannon via Scarriff Bay start?
Starts at Scarriff Harbour, near Scarriff. The trailhead is at 52.90646, -8.52947 (Irish Grid R 64429 84058).
Who manages the Lough Derg Blueway - Scarriff to Holy Island and Mountshannon via Scarriff Bay?
Waterways Ireland South Shannon Operations Division. They are the authority on current conditions and closures, not this page.
More in Clare
Trail data from the Sport Ireland National Trails Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Trailhead coordinates from the companion Trailheads dataset. Snapshot taken 2026-08-13.