Millisle Lagoon
A very small, walled off tidal lagoon. A good place to bring absolute beginners to paddling as it is shallow and protected.
Camlough Lake
A nice lake with lots of fish, birds and dragonflies. Easy paddling and great for swimming.
Castlewellan Lake
A lovely 4k lake loop. Castlewellan Forest Park is well equipped with toilets and a coffee van. You will get good views of the castle and surrounding forest whilst paddling. Lots of birds as well. The forest park hires out kayaks and paddleboards during business hours if you don't have your own equipment. The main car park has an entry fee and is around a 200m portage from the waters edge. There is a disabled/authorised car park right on the waters edge but access to that is granted at the staffs discretion.
Quoile River
Park up at Jane's Shore in Downpatrick and when you get in the water paddle left upstream. Lots of bird activity to observe. You can continue on and (water levels permitting!) navigate through the brief tunnel under the Belfast road. This is wide enough for a canoe. Stop at Inch Abbey and explore the beautiful ruins. Continue on until you paddle under the Quoile bridge train track. From here you can continue until the Quoile river meets the Annacloy river just beside Hollymount National Nature Reserve. This is a logical place to turn around and return to Jane's short but you can continue upstream the whole way to Annacloy if you like. It is a lengthy paddle with no public access and limited places to pull in for a break.
Castleward Canoe Trail
Paddle up the western side of Strangford Lough as far as you like before returning.