The River Laune is a tidal river that connects Lough Leane and Castlemaine Harbour and this 20km journey on grade 1 waters will take you through the Beaufort Valley to an ecosystem where freshwater and saltwater meet.

You can egress at Killorglin’s Fishery or continue to Ballykissane, where the Laune and Maine Rivers converge and flow into the sea. The route is divided into two, with the first bit stretching from Tomies on Lough Leane to Beaufort Bridge. Please note that if you wish to start from Tomies, you must first get a permit from the Ranger Station at no cost. The number of kayakers allowed to launch from Tomies is limited to protect the environment.

The twisting and winding journey has a couple of small rapids, great views of Dunloe Castle and wildlife, including herons, egrets and the occasional red deer. The second part of the route is from Beaufort Bridge back to Killorglin. A pleasant paddle of about 17km, it passes 16th-century Ballymalis Castle and ventures through the farmlands that fill the space between the mountains and the sea, before the statue of Puck heralds arrival into Killorglin. Because the Laune is a tidal river, this journey must be planned carefully to avoid getting stuck at low tide.