The beautiful Irish lakes you’ve never thought to visit
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If you’ve managed to sit through recent Netflix rom-com An Irish Wish – in which a flame-haired woman played by Lindsay Lohan journeys to the Emerald Isle, arriving at the spectacular shores of Lough Tay, to make her romantic wish to St Brigid – it’s likely that you, like me, struggled to understand the film’s appeal.
It is a treacle-saccharine nonsense of the purest kind, the sort of film which can be easily followed with the volume off – but there is one saving grace: its cinematic sweep of the Irish countryside, unquestionably the star.
And I’m not the only one to think so – the film has led to a surge of interest in its filming locations, and nowhere more so than County Wicklow’s Lough Tay.
Since its release in mid-March, online searches for the lake have increased more than 1,000-fold, and while Lough Tay is unquestionably a gem, it’s just one of a litany of beautiful (and often underrated) bodies of water dotted across Ireland.
They are, without exception, criminally picturesque, often with ancient spiritual or early Christian connections – and thoroughly deserving of a spot on your Ireland itinerary.
Here are seven of the loveliest.
Lough Tay & Lough Dan
These two jewels are set within the one gorgeous dog-legged valley, lying at the feet of Djouce (2,379 ft), and Luggala (1,952 ft) mountains, roughly an hour south of Dublin.
The catch with Lough Tay is that it is a small lake, backdropped by enormous granite cliffs, but engulfed within a privately owned estate, with no public access – unless you’re St Brigid.
However, a short walk from the roadside there are captivating, near vertical views down over the “Guinness Lake” – a nickname Lough Tay acquired thanks to its dark waters rimmed with white sand, on lands that were part of the Guinness family’s estate until very recently.
Start your descent on a paved pathway towards the more-easily accessible Lough Dan, glinting almost two miles to the south. Relax with a picnic on its lovely shore, before strolling back the same way. Give yourself a good three hours: it’s worth every minute.
Glenview Hotel (00 353 1 274 0000; glenviewhotel.com) has doubles from £79 per night.
Glendalough Lake
Less than 15 miles south of Lough Tay is the internationally renowned Glendalough. Pay €5 (£4.30) to enter the visitor centre and the 6th century monastic complex, before heading for the lakes.
The upper lake, roughly a mile west of the complex, is the cracker, with a tree-dotted, gentle path along its shore. But if you’re looking for something more rewarding, pick-up a Trail Guide at the visitor centre for multiple way-marked trails around this stunning valley, from gentle strolls to a seven-mile hike with a fair bit of elevation, looking down over the valley from the ridgeline – the views are sublime.
Lynham’s Hotel (00 353 404 45345; lynhamsoflaragh.ie) has doubles from £82 per night. Glendalough Hotel (00 353 404 45135; glendaloughhotel.com) has doubles from £120 per night.
Gougane Barra Lake
Quite possibly Ireland’s most charmingly situated lake. Buried within upland, inland West Cork, the petite St Finbar’s Oratory juts out into the water, with a forest park at its western terminus.
This small, placid lake is backdropped by a sparkling mountainous bowl, all peace and calm – likely why St Finbar founded a monastery here in the 6th century. There are plenty of trails, from gentle lakeshore strolls to more challenging terrain and distances (download the trail map here).
The fifth-generation Gougane Barra Hotel (00 353 26 47069; gouganebarrahotel.com) has doubles from £147 per night, and a fine restaurant and bar to boot.
Muckross Lake
Right in the heart of the majestic Killarney National Park, Muckross Lake (one of the three popular Lakes of Killarney) is set south of Killarney town, on the Ring of Kerry.
Spend an hour or two at the regal Muckross House & Gardens, then take a lakeside walk by ancient oak woodlands. If you’ve more time to spare (say, three or four hours), embark on the Muckross Lake Loop and Torc Waterfall – a longer way, but worth every step. It’s a popular spot during the summer months, so if you’re looking for solitude and peace, opt to visit in the early morning.
Castlerosse Park Resort (00 353 64 6631144; castlerosse.ie) has doubles from £138 per night.
Lough Derg
Lough Derg is the lowest lake on the Shannon system (the third largest on the island), and is wedged between the rolling, pastoral counties of Clare, Galway and Tipperary.
The lake itself is long (24 miles) and narrow, so you’ll need to set aside a few days for this one, and the 50-acre, magical Holy Island/Inis Cealtra (where the remnants of a 7th century monastery stand tall) is also well worth exploring.
As the lake’s shores are mostly private farmland, the best way to visit is aboard a cruiser. If that doesn’t appeal, opt for a leisurely drive about its hinterland instead, popping into the quaint, lakeside villages (Terryglass, Dromineer, Mountshannon or the wonderfully named Garrykennedy).
At the southern tip of the lake is Killaloe Hotel & Spa (00 353 61 622123; killaloehotel.ie), which has doubles from £190 per night. Emerald Star by Le Boat offers cruiser rental from Portumna, at the northern tip of the lake, from £768 per boat for seven nights (emeraldstar.ie).
Lough Erne
Broadly comparable to Lough Derg is County Fermanagh’s Lough Erne, just over the border. It’s split between upper and lower loughs, with more than 150 islands scattered between them. Upper Lough Erne is the more narrow, southern lake, while the Lower Lough is considerably wider and larger.
On the Lower Lough, get out to the round tower and monastic ruins of Devenish Island, founded by Saint Molaise 15 centuries ago, or take to a kayak and get out on the water. On the shores of the Upper Lough, spend at least a couple of hours wandering the 2,000-acre sylvan Crom Estate.
The five-star Lough Erne Resort (028 6632 3230; lougherneresort.com) has doubles from £208 per night, while the four-star Manor Country House Hotel (028 6862 2200; manorhousecountryhotel.com) has doubles from £151. Alternatively, consider hiring a cruiser for a few days.
