Source of the Liffey River

Wicklow, Leinster Grade: 4 - 5 3.4km

Brief Description

Full on technical and testing run.

River Description

The first kilometer of the river is narrow continuous class 3 which upticks quite quickly to continuous class 4. After about 1k there are two tributaries about 500 meters apart on river right. After the first tributary the river begins to get steeper with increasingly technical moves. Almost immediately after the second tributary the gradient increases again substantially and from here until the end it's non stop, continuous, and difficult whitewater with a particularly long stretch of class 5 soon after the second tributary. There are three more big rapids nestled in amongst the last 1k of fast continuous class 4/5 water. Eddies are few and tight. In higher flows the bridge at the end is not passable. 

Safety & Access

Hazards

A serious undertaking on to be taken too lightly, it breaks boats and people.

Access Issues

None, no real room for parking at get on so be smart.

Water Level Information

Needs lots of water.

Directions to Put-in

Coming from the Upper Liffey get on travelling back towards Laragh you arrive at a cross roads take the left turn along the R115 (signposted for Dublin).

After 3Km you cross a small stone bridge, that's the get on.

Directions to Take-out

Format

Map

Interactive map loading...

Map Photos

Map OS Sheet 56 – whitewater kayaking, Co. Wicklow

Map OS Sheet 56

Adrian S

Location & Navigation

GPS Coordinates & External Maps

Takeout

Take Out

Lat: 53.1540890 Lng: -6.3418000

Putin

Lat: 53.1621180 Lng: -6.2995300

Version Information

Version: 3
Last Updated: 29 Mar 2026
Author: Nick Doran

River Statistics

3

Versions

GPS Points

2

Photos

2

Videos