Beautiful Lough Derg

Three counties, one lake. The magnificent Lough Derg’s pristinely clean and naturally sparkling blue waters make it an enchanting find. Galway, Clare and Tipperary border this famous lough and its lakeshores are dotted with picturesque villages and memorable places to stop.

Embrace magnificent scenery, tranquil lakeland vistas, outdoor adventure and heritage galore along Lough Derg’s spectacular shores. Nestled between counties Clare, Tipperary and Galway, Lough Derg’s 179km of idyllic shoreline is the Southern gateway to Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. Stretching over 40km from its northern reaches in Portumna to its southern sweep in Killaloe/Ballina, the lively towns and villages that dot the shoreline have a unique charm, extend the warmest welcomes and delight with fantastic local food.

The Lough Derg Way: 

Take in the lush scenery, lakeside vistas and abundance of heritage across counties Limerick, Clare and Tipperary on this magnificent 68km linear trail. Taking three days to complete, this pleasant linear route starts in Limerick City and ends in Dromineer, County Tipperary.

Best accessed from one of the five trailheads (Limerick City, Clonlara, Killaloe/Ballina, Garrykennedy, Dromineer), this walk follows the River Shannon and its canals northwestwards to the lake port of Dromineer on stunning Lough Derg. Passing quaint villages and heritage towns along the way, you’ll enjoy picturesque landscapes at every turn.

Places to Stay Near Lough Derg

Without doubt the your best option of places to stay when wanting to see Lough Derg is Lakeside Hotel in Killaloe. The hotel, as the name suggests, is situated right on the banks of Lough Derg with stunning views of the waterway. This renowned Clare hotel (or Tipperary Hotel, depending on where you're from) offers a selection of great value B&B and Dinner B&B deals and they also include options for lakeview rooms. We recommend: A trip to Ballycuggaran Forest where the walk will offer you stunning views of the lough.