BargeTrip
5
Historical & Heritage Tours • Boat Tours • Private Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours
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10:00 - 19:00
Monday
10:00 - 19:00
Tuesday
10:00 - 19:00
Wednesday
10:00 - 19:00
Thursday
10:00 - 19:00
Friday
10:00 - 19:00
Saturday
10:00 - 19:00
Sunday
10:00 - 19:00
Full view

About
Experience the Grand Canal the way it was intended and take a leisurely cruise on a restored traditional Canal Barge. Cruises operate from Sallins Harbour which is only 30 minutes from Dublin city center by train and is located just off the M7 motorway. The barge is available for private charter for groups any day of the week and operates up to 6 scheduled cruises daily at weekends. Kildare is known as the Canals County with 120 km of still waters crossing its landscape and linking its towns and villages. The Captain will give you a unique insight into the life and history of the Grand Canal as it winds its way through the county Kildare countryside. You can choose a short one hour cruise to the Leinster Aqueduct where the canal crosses over the River Liffey, or a 2.5 hour cruise through Digby Lock where you'll experience the workings of an eighteenth century canal lock. There's bar service on-board serving a selection on locally brewed craft beers and in summer there are two 1.5 hour evening cruises to McCreevey's Lock. Afterwards you can enjoy a meal in one of the waterfront restaurants in Sallins village. The M.V. Amo is licensed by the Department of Transport and Tourism for 12 passengers. There’s an outdoor seating on the open decks at the bow and stern and it has a very comfortable interior with ample seating, toilet facilities and a wood-burning stove. Scheduled cruises operate from March to October and advance booking is essential.
Sallins, County Kildare, Ireland
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
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(37 reviews)

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5.0
328 reviews
Excellent
303
Very good
21
Average
2
Poor
2
Terrible
0
aoife d
Dublin, Ireland7 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
We recently did a trip - we had a great time. Our guide (sorry I forgot his name) is really knowledgeable about the nature and history in the area, the bar on board is much better stocked then I’d expect for a small-ish barge (they have a beer on tap and sharer bottles of Prosecco in addition to other stuff) and it’s just a lovely cosy time with family - we brought some kids too who loved it, very exciting day for them.
Written 12 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Voyage28130353819
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Friends
We did the 1.5hr trip with friends and family and honestly, the time went so fast we could have done the trip again. We enjoyed it from start to finish and even the rain at the beginning didn't dampen our spirits. We have walked the canal many times from Sallins and it was great to get a beautiful, alternative view while relaxing with a drink from the bar. Thank you for an unforgettable birthday.
Written 31 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
A great trip, very informative and lots of fun! Fun was had be all, kids enjoyed it loads, beer and coffee was fab
Written 21 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eddie Spagnolo
Dublin, Ireland3 contributions
Aug 2023 • Couples
What a fantastic narrow boat experience to sail the grand canal. Very peaceful, just sit back and relax and watch the sunset nice way to end the day.
Written 17 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah M
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
So enjoyable and relaxing, the guide pointed out any birds and wildlife and told us the history of the canal. Really recommend!
Written 15 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keelin O
2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Business
Went here with work and it was a great day outfit! Definitely going to hook again for a birthday party!
Great views and lovely staff
Great views and lovely staff
Written 13 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle
Kildare, Ireland2 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
Booked the barge trip for my cousins hen . Chris is an excellent skipper and Luca looked after us well with the well stocked bar on board . We had the option of sitting outside or below deck depending on the weather . The 2 and a half hours went by so quickly and we thoroughly enjoyed it . Chris was a wealth of knowledge on the history of the canal and took some amazing pictures for us . I would highly recommend the barge experience and all ten of us look forward to doing it again soon .
Written 13 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RozOS
County Kildare, Ireland26 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
We are a group of friends who get together on a regular basis but wanted to do something a little bit different. We all live in a village with the canal only a 5 minute walk away but none of us had ever been on a barge before. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the trip and we all learned something new. The skipper and the young woman who accompanied us looked after us very well. The bar was basic but perfectly adequate for our needs and we loved hearing about the history of the canal & Leinster Aqueduct and it’s current uses and wildlife. We would definitely recommend taking a trip with Bargetrip.ie.
Written 8 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael G
3 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
5 star.
Went on an hour trip on Saturday with friends. The trip was about an hour to the Leinster viaduct and back to base.The scenery and weather was fantastic with views of wildlife and countryside.
The skipper Chris was an absolute power house of knowledge on inland waterways and knew his stuff on anything canal or barge related.
Luke was serving lovely cold beers on lower deck.
I'd highly recommend this trip,good value for money excellent attentive staff.
Fairplay to ye.
Mike
Went on an hour trip on Saturday with friends. The trip was about an hour to the Leinster viaduct and back to base.The scenery and weather was fantastic with views of wildlife and countryside.
The skipper Chris was an absolute power house of knowledge on inland waterways and knew his stuff on anything canal or barge related.
Luke was serving lovely cold beers on lower deck.
I'd highly recommend this trip,good value for money excellent attentive staff.
Fairplay to ye.
Mike
Written 30 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rosemarie W
Bray, Wicklow, Ireland2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Business
We loved it! Great welcome, knowledgeable skipper! It was very relaxing and a very different kind of excursion, exploring and learning about our canal system. We would highly recommend it and are only sorry we went for the shorter trip! Another thing is that it doesn't matter what the weather is like!
Written 25 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phantasmus
United States529 contributions
Are these tours available only for private groups, or are there public scheduled tours taking place too?
joan891
County Dublin, Ireland7 contributions
If l book a trip and have to cancel, can l transfer payment to a later date, and how much notice is needed to cancel, Thank You
Susan H
Portstewart, UK6 contributions
I had booked the barge online for a Saturday with mum then had to change it to the Saturday after due to unforeseen circumstances . I phoned the owner Ger Loughlin. He was very accommodating and sent new email tickets having cancelled the first date. That was my experience. Susan
Carrie G
Monkton, MD2 contributions
Hi we have a group of 10 coming November 5-12. Any chance we could book the barge for a canal tour? I see you close after October. Thank you, Carrie
Ger L
Sallins, Ireland4 contributions
Hi Carrie.
No problem wit a private charter cruise in November. The wood burning stove will be on and there will be hot drinks at the bar.
email me using the contact page on the website and we can get you booked in.
Ger
judithrooke
Napier Nz6 contributions
Thanks for your reply. Is there an earlier departure around midday tomorrow?
I am visiting from NZ and could make my way to Nass tomorrow (Tuesday 8th) if there is an earlier trip as I am using public transport.
Thanks again.
Judith Rooke
Ger L
Sallins, Ireland4 contributions
Hi Judith,
Nothing scheduled on a Tuesday. We run the scheduled trips Thurs to Sunday. We can do a midweek private charter but need advance notice.
Ger
judithrooke
Napier Nz6 contributions
What is the timetable please for the 1.5hr trip and will you be operating tomorrow (Bank Holiday 7 May?)
Ger L
Sallins, Ireland4 contributions
Hi. The 1.5 hour departs at 5 pm on May 7th. See website for booking.
All the best,
Ger
noham
Ireland14 contributions
Is barge trip suitable for wheelchair user
Ger L
Sallins, Ireland4 contributions
Hi Noham. It isn't wheelchair accessible as it's an old vessels. I did have a wheelchair user today who had limited mobility and we were able to get him on board safely with assistance. However this is decided on a case by case basis.
There is another barge operating as Athy Boat tours that is purpose built for full disability access.
All the best. Ger
noham
Ireland14 contributions
Is Barge trip suitable for wheelchair users?
Sophie L
County Galway, Ireland8 contributions
Unfortunatly I dont think so, at least not on the barge we went on. There was a step to get on the barge from the edge of the canal and then very narrow steep steps to get inside the barge. It might be worth contacting the proprietor to see if a wheelchair could be brought on and parked up outside on the end of the barge. They maybe have a ramp that I dont know about.
labbydog11
Leland, NC190 contributions
What kind of lunch is served on the longer barge trip? Is there a "head" on board?
Ger L
Sallins, Ireland4 contributions
Hi. Thanks for getting in contact. Lunch is after the 2.5 hour Digby Lock Cruise and can be had at either Lock 13 Gastro Pub (7 days) or Two Cooks (Sundays only). Both very close by.
Toilet facilities on board.
All the best,
Ger