BORRIS BOAT TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Paddle the Barrow through the Valley of the Monks: 3- or 6‑hour canoe hires on a historic river corridor
Half-day (3 hr) and full-day (6 hr) canoe hire options on the River Barrow from Go With The Flow River Adventures; this guide explains the route choices, pickup/finish logistics and essential safety notes.
Paddle the Barrow through the Valley of the Monks: 3- or 6‑hour canoe hires on a historic river corridor.
Float through the Barrow’s wooded valleys and past castles, hand-built weirs and lock-keeper cottages on a half- or full-day canoe hire. The Valley of the Monks section delivers a calm, wildlife-rich corridor ideal for novices and experienced paddlers alike, with options to paddle to Graignamanagh and return or to continue downstream to St Mullins.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Mature wooded valleys and river wildlife
Paddlers pass through majestic, mature wooded valleys where herons, kingfishers, egrets, dippers and the occasional otter and swan are commonly seen, offering quiet immersion in nature along the Barrow.
Castles, cottages and historic river engineering
The route threads past old castles, ancient churches, historic estate houses and picturesque lock-keeper cottages, plus impressive hand-built weirs and a flat-water navigation channel that avoids rapids.
Flexible half-day or full-day paddles
Choose a 3‑hour half-day hire to Graignamanagh and back to base, or a 6‑hour full-day that runs to St Mullins (finish there requires arranging return transport).
What the day feels like
What the paddle feels like
This is a calm-water river experience: short stretches of steady paddling broken by long, quiet reaches for birdwatching and riverbank contemplation. The flat‑water navigation channel keeps you clear of the weirs, and the pace is dictated by your stroke and the river, making it easy to unwind for a few hours or a full day.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this hire suits — and who should choose a different option.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
Bring clothing suitable for getting wet, waterproof storage for electronics (barrels are available to protect belongings), and any personal travel insurance that covers canoeing up to grade 2; buoyancy jackets are provided and must be worn, helmets can be provided on request.
The operator does not provide insurance with the canoe hire; you are strongly recommended to take out travel or holiday insurance that covers canoeing up to level/grade 2 water.
Half-day hires (3 hours) run to Graignamanagh and back to base; full-day hires (6 hours) can finish at St Mullins but you must arrange your own return (taxi not included) — canoes may be collected from St Mullins or left in a storage paddock and should be secured until pickup.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
How long are the hire options?
There are two options: a half-day hire of 3 hours (to Graignamanagh and return to base) and a full-day hire of 6 hours (to Graignamanagh and finishing at St Mullins).
Do I need prior canoeing experience?
No experience is necessary; the river section used has a flat-water navigation channel that avoids weirs and rapids.
Are life jackets provided?
Yes — buoyancy jackets are provided for each individual and by law you are required to wear them at all times while canoeing; helmets can also be provided.
Is insurance included?
No — the operator does not provide any form of insurance with the canoe hire; you are strongly recommended to take out travel or holiday insurance that covers canoeing up to grade 2 water.
Can I go over the weirs in a canoe?
No — it is a condition of hire that you will not attempt to shoot or go down any weirs while still in the canoe; the flat-water navigation channel avoids all weirs and rapids.
What happens if I finish at St Mullins?
If you finish at St Mullins, canoes will be picked up there but you may be asked to secure them until collection; you will need to arrange your own car transfer or taxi back (taxi not included).