There is a completely different pace to life on the Grand Canal, and this 2.5-hour barge cruise from Sallins in County Kildare lets you experience it properly. You board a lovingly restored traditional canal barge - licensed for just 12 passengers - and glide through the Kildare countryside at a speed that lets you actually take in the scenery.
The route includes a stop at the Leinster Aqueduct, where the Grand Canal passes directly over the River Liffey. Your skipper gives a history talk here, explaining how this feat of Georgian engineering has carried barges across the river for over 200 years. Then you cruise on to the Digby Lock, which still operates exactly as it did in the 18th century. Watching the barge rise through the lock is one of those simple, satisfying things that everyone on board seems to enjoy.
The barge itself is comfortable and characterful. There is a wood-burning stove inside for cooler days, an onboard bar, and outdoor seating areas for when the weather cooperates. The skippers, Ger and Chris, have been running these canal journeys for over a decade, and their knowledge of the waterway’s history, wildlife, and biodiversity makes the trip far more than just a boat ride. You are welcome to bring snacks along.
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