Water Sports and Activities

Explore our loughs, rivers and waterways while enjoying some quality time on the water.

Make a splash in Mid Ulster

Take to the water and soak up some of the many water activities we’ve got to offer. With the entire western shore of Lough Neagh running through Mid Ulster, a network of streams and rivers feeding it, plus a variety of other loughs and rivers, there are lots of places to enjoy our waterways during your visit.

Set against a backdrop of the magnificent Sperrin Mountains and lush Mid Ulster greenery, and among spectacular wetland and aquatic plants and wildlife, time on the water really is a joy in this part of the world. Go canoeing or kayaking, sailing or windsurfing. Get out on the water at Splash NI, Mid Ulster's newest inflatable AquaPark, get active and — in all likelihood — get wet.

Get paddling on Mid Ulster’s canoe trails

Two of the best canoe trails in Northern Ireland flow through Mid Ulster’s waterways. Follow the Lower Bann Canoe trail, which runs 58km from Lough Neagh to the Atlantic Ocean, or paddle along the Blackwater Canoe Trail as the River Blackwater meanders through the picture-perfect County Tyrone countryside on its course to Lough Neagh.

Grab a paddle and start your canoeing adventure. Whether you’re a beginner keen to sample life on the river or a seasoned canoeist ready to tackle a full trail, our peaceful and picturesque waterways await.

Water sports centres in Mid Ulster

There are a couple of major water sports hubs in Mid Ulster. Ballyronan Marina, on the shores of Lough Neagh, is the starting point for leisure cruises, fishing trips and a wide range of water sports. Canoeing, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing are just some of the water sports available.

Another popular spot for water sports is the idyllic Newferry, where a floating platoon, slipway and canoe step makes it the perfect launching point to enter the Lower Bann. Head south for Lough Beg (and beyond it Lough Neagh) or north for the Atlantic Ocean!

Angling in Mid Ulster

Watch the world, the water and the kingfishers go by from the beautiful vantage point afforded by our many riverbanks as you enjoy a spot of angling. There are many places to go angling in Mid Ulster, including the Ballinderry River, the Moyola River and Lough Fea. There are also many fisheries dotted around, such as Altmore FIsheries, Annaginny Stillwater Trout & Coarse Fishery and Dungannon Park Lake Fishery.

You can explore the many fishing opportunities on Lough Neagh itself, too. Charter a boat and benefit from the experience and advice of one of our Lough Neagh fishermen, who will be happy to show you some of the best spots.

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Unwind by the water

Awaken your Giant Spirit

Stories from the shore

Savour the views between the shore and the high horizon. Stay a while in on-water glamping pods. Step out along boardwalks to drink in views of the water or catch glimpses of blue as you wander through woodlands.
Lough Neagh

With everything from relaxing boat cruises through to high-octane water sports, this huge body of water boasts an array of fun things to do on the water. You’ll be sharing the lough with the plants, birds and animals of this diverse wetland habitat.
Ballyronan Marina

The award-winning Ballyronan Marina has got everything you need to enjoy Mid Ulster's water activities. Boating trips, water sports and a Blue Flag beach are just some of the things available at this idyllic spot on the shores of Lough Neagh.
Canoeing, Sailing and Watersports

Get active on the water with a wide choice of water sports and activities available. Take a canoe or kayak onto our rivers or loughs, go sailing across the enormous expanse of water that is Lough Neagh or try your hand at windsurfing.
Angling

Salmon, dollaghan (Lough Neagh trout) and healthy stocks of many other native fish populate our many waterways. Find a stretch of river or a lough managed by one of our local angling clubs, relax in the spectacular scenery and wait for a bite.
Lough Neagh Stories

Experience the biggest lake in Ireland and Britain and Ireland in the company of a real fisherman.

Take time to explore

Awaken your Giant Spirit

Lough Neagh Fisheries Visitors Centre

Providing tourists with in-depth and informative insight into the fishing industry on the Lough and the various fish species found there, including the epic 6,000 km migration of eels to and from the Sargasso Sea in the North Atlantic Ocean.
Church Island on Lough Beg

Church Island is a small island on Lough Beg - 1.5 miles from Bellaghy. On a visit to the island you will discover the ruins of an old church with no spire.
Ardboe High Cross

A 10th Century Cross situated on a rocky height on the shores of Lough Neagh. It is a national monument which is believed to be the first High Cross of Ulster. The cross stands 18.5 feet high and 3.5 feet wide.
Coyles Cottage

A 300 year old thatched fisherman's cottage situated near the shores of Lough Neagh in the parish of Ardboe, Co. Tyrone. Believed to be the last authentic fisherman’s cottage in the area.