Overview
Broad Lough is the tidal estuary of the Vartry River, a long, shallow brackish lagoon held behind The Murrough – the sand-and-shingle spit, just north of Wicklow town, that carries the Dublin–Wexford railway line between the water and the Irish Sea. On the County Wicklow side it is fringed with reed beds, sea rush and salt-marsh grass; on the seaward side the spit runs out into dunes, marram and a broad band of coastal meadow that is one of the better wildlife corridors on this coast.
There are no boardwalks, no signage and no facilities at the water itself. That is the point of it: people come to walk a quiet stretch of shoreline and to watch birds, not for swimming or tours. Come at low tide, when the falling water uncovers mudflats and channels and the waders move in to feed – that is when the lagoon is at its best.
History & landscape
The name is plain enough: broad and lough, for a wide, shallow sheet of water. The lagoon is overlooked by Tinakilly House, the Victorian mansion built between 1876 and 1883 for Captain Robert Halpin – the Wicklow man who, as commander of the Great Eastern, laid much of the first transatlantic telegraph cable joining Europe to America. The house sits in seven acres of gardens, including a rose garden and a herb garden, at the top of an oak-lined avenue above the water. The lagoon is not a Special Area of Conservation, but it is recognised in the County Development Plan as the Broadlough Estuary and valued locally for its birdlife.
What to see and do
The walk – The Broad Lough Walk runs the strip between the sea and the lagoon, starting on solid ground and threading through trees, scrub and high grass, with the Wicklow Mountains rising inland behind the water. It is an out-and-back rather than a loop; the ground is a mix of gravel, sand and turf, so wear something with grip after rain.
Birdwatching – This is the main reason to come. Wintering ducks gather here – teal find refuge along the Leitrim River that feeds the lough – and little grebes turn up in autumn. Kingfishers work the freshwater channels, little egrets stalk the margins, and waders probe the mud whenever the tide is out. Bring binoculars, keep back from the reed beds in the March–August nesting season, and time your visit for the calmer light of early morning or late afternoon.
On the water – Kayaking is possible on Broad Lough, paddling the Vartry where it widens into the lagoon. There is no launch or hire on site, so this is one for those bringing their own boat.
Flora and fauna
The mix of fresh and salt water supports a wider range of invertebrates than either pure freshwater or the open sea, and that is what keeps the birds fed. Common reed (Phragmites australis) dominates the deeper edges, giving way to sea rush and thrift on the drier, salt-sprayed banks; in early summer sea campion and bird’s-foot trefoil colour the dune grass. Sandpipers, curlews and dunlin work the exposed mud, gulls and cormorants are constant, and terns arrive for the summer.
Practical information
- Access: The lagoon is reached off the R752 coastal road from Wicklow town. There is no ticket office or visitor centre, and no posted opening hours; it is open countryside along the estuary edge.
- Getting there by rail: Wicklow town is the nearest station, with services to and from Dublin, and the line itself runs out along The Murrough between the lagoon and the sea.
- Parking: There is no dedicated car park at the water. Tinakilly House is a working hotel, so parking there is not guaranteed for non-guests – ask first if you intend to use it.
- Facilities: Toilets and a café are inside the Tinakilly House hotel, for guests and patrons. Nothing at the lagoon itself.
- Tides: Low tide is the time to come – it uncovers the mudflats the birds feed on. High water pushes back to the dune line and leaves some paths wet. Check tide tables before you set out.
- Etiquette: Take litter home, keep dogs on a short lead near the reed beds in nesting season, and stay off the salt marsh.
Nearby attractions
- Brittas Bay – A wide sandy beach to the south, good for swimming, paddleboarding and coastal walks, with a dune nature reserve behind it.
- Ashford – A village just inland, the gateway to Mount Usher Gardens, one of Ireland’s finest Robinsonian-style riverside gardens.
- Arklow Maritime Museum – Further down the coast in Arklow’s old harbour, covering the town’s fishing and shipbuilding past.
Come at low water with binoculars and an hour to spare, and let the birds come to you – the lagoon rewards sitting still far more than covering ground.