Kayaking Into Carrick-on-Shannon: A Slow Day on the River

It is one of those bright days when the River Shannon seems to stretch out in front of you without any hurry at all.

The kayak settles into the water, your dog sitting up front and watching everything that moves. The river is broad here, the surface broken only by the occasional ripple from a passing boat and the steady dip of your paddle. On either side, green banks run towards trees, fields and stretches of reeds, while boats sit moored farther ahead.

There is no rush to get anywhere.

You paddle towards Carrick-on-Shannon, following the river as the countryside slowly begins to give way to the town.

At first, it is mostly water, greenery and boats. Then the marina comes into view. Cruisers are tied along the river, people are sitting out on deck, and there is that relaxed feeling you get in a town where the water is part of everyday life rather than something sitting on the edge of it.

Your dog notices everything.

A duck disappearing into the reeds gets a long stare. A boat passing in the opposite direction requires another. Every now and then there is a shift of weight at the front of the kayak as something apparently very important happens on the riverbank.

You keep paddling.

The closer you get to Carrick-on-Shannon, the more the river starts to feel connected to the town. Buildings appear beside the water, the bridge comes into view, and you begin to hear the sounds of people rather than just birds and water.

This is where the paddle turns into a day out.

Find a suitable place to come ashore, pull the kayak in and give the dog a chance to stretch those legs. After sitting in front of you for the journey, there is usually quite a bit of sniffing to catch up on.

Then it is time for something considerably less adventurous.

A cup of tea.

One of the nice things about Carrick-on-Shannon is that you do not have to travel far from the river to find cafés, places to eat and somewhere to sit for a while. The town centre is compact enough to wander without turning your stop into another expedition.

You can walk along the riverside, explore some of the streets around the centre or simply find a table, order a drink and watch the town go by.

Carrick has the atmosphere of a place accustomed to visitors arriving by water. Boats come and go, people wander between the marina and town, and there is always a sense that another journey is beginning somewhere nearby.

For the dog, the stop is simple: a walk, a drink of water, plenty of new smells and possibly the hope that something edible will fall from the table.

Eventually, though, it is time to head back.

You return to the river, settle the kayak into the water and help your four-legged passenger back into position.

The town slowly falls behind you.

Within a few minutes, the sounds fade again. The marina becomes smaller, the banks become greener and you are back on that quiet stretch of Shannon where the paddle started.

The afternoon light sits across the water. Your dog has finally stopped watching every duck and is now perfectly happy just sitting at the front.

And that is really the appeal of kayaking around Carrick-on-Shannon.

You do not need a huge expedition.

Paddle into town. Tie up for a while. Have a cup of tea. Take the dog for a wander. Then get back onto the Shannon and paddle home again.