Private Boat Tours & Water Taxi on Lough Ree — Departing Athlone
Small-group cruises, Failte Ireland–accredited guided tours, and an evening water taxi connecting Athlone’s best restaurants and hotels.
Featured Tours from Athlone
Three intimate water experiences on Lough Ree and the River Shannon — book private charters or an evening water taxi.
About Hidden Heartlands Tours
Hidden Heartlands Tours is a boat operator based in Athlone, County Westmeath, specialising in intimate water experiences on Lough Ree and the River Shannon. The company offers three distinct public products and private charters: Athlone’s only evening water taxi connecting Athlone Marina to premier restaurants and hotels; a two-hour guided cruise of the inner lakes of Lough Ree led by a Failte Ireland–accredited guide; and a private five-hour boat tour to the ancient monastic site of Clonmacnoise.
Trips are limited to a maximum of five guests, allowing personalised commentary, comfortable seating, and close attention to safety and scheduling. The water taxi service provides a stylish way to travel between Athlone’s riverfront locations, including Hodson Bay Hotel and nearby dining venues, while the lake cruises focus on landscape, islands and local wildlife. The private Clonmacnoise cruise combines scenic navigation with time ashore to visit the significant archaeological site founded in 544.
Hidden Heartlands Tours operates from central Athlone, offering straightforward access for local accommodations and visitors. The business highlights clear trip durations, defined passenger limits, and guided interpretation where accreditation is noted, making it a practical choice for visitors seeking private, small-group touring, evening transfers by water, or interpretive cruises in Ireland’s midlands.
Reserve a Private Lough Ree Cruise or Evening Water Taxi
Secure a private booking for up to five guests — select a guided 2‑hour lake cruise, a 5‑hour Clonmacnoise tour, or Athlone’s evening water taxi.