Paddling near Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland

Newtownabbey sits in County Antrim on the northern edge of Greater Belfast, placing paddlers within easy reach of some of Northern Ireland's most varied water. The River Lagan runs close by, Lough Neagh — the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles — lies roughly 20 km to the west, and the coast opens up access to sea kayaking along the famous Causeway Coast and around Strangford Lough. Canoeing and kayaking are well-established pursuits across the region, with nine marked canoe trails across Northern Ireland covering rivers, loughs and sheltered coastal waters.