Overview
Derryclare Wood is a 19-hectare oak nature reserve on the eastern slopes of the Twelve Bens, wedged between Derryclare Lough and Lough Inagh in the Inagh Valley. The National Parks and Wildlife Service established it on 13 June 1980 to protect one of Ireland’s scarce surviving stands of semi-natural sessile oak (Quercus petraea), mixed with rowan, downy birch and ash. It’s a small island of native broadleaf woodland inside a much larger 789-hectare commercial conifer forest owned by Coillte. The Irish name Doire Chláir means “oak wood of the plain, or of the plank-bridge”.
If you’ve time for one thing here, make it the lakeside loop after a still night, for the reflections.
Red squirrels and the wood
The reserve is best known for its red squirrels. In 2005 the NPWS moved 19 native reds here from Portumna Forest Park to build a secure western population away from the invasive grey squirrel, and it worked: the reds bred and have held on. They’re helped by the local pine marten – a native predator that keeps grey numbers down, while the lighter, quicker reds cope better with it.
The wood has its odd footnotes, too. A fungal parasite, Hemigrapha astericus, native to Australia and South America, was first recorded in the northern hemisphere here.
The reds are shy. You’re far more likely to see one early in the morning, and not at all if you crash off the path – so go quietly and keep to the trail.
The walk
A gentle 2 km loop runs through the oak canopy and along the shore of Derryclare Lough, well-marked with short boardwalk sections over the damp ground; it suits families and most abilities. The lough is the picture: still water reflecting the Twelve Bens, with the small Scots-pine islet known as Pine Island offshore. Robins, wrens and treecreepers supply most of the soundtrack.
The lough holds salmon and trout, but the rights are privately held: you’ll need an NPWS permit and separate permission from the local fishing lodge before you cast.
Practical information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Opening | Open year-round; no specific opening hours |
| Admission | Free |
| Parking | Small car park at the entrance gate on the R344 (limited spaces – arrive early in summer) |
| Trail | About 2 km loop, mostly easy with boardwalk sections |
| Facilities | None on site – bring water, snacks and a bag for your litter |
| Dogs | Keep dogs on a short lead to protect ground-nesting birds and the squirrels |
The reserve sits off the R344, which links the N59 between Recess and Kylemore Abbey; the turn-off is signposted to the small parking area and the gate onto the trail. Public transport is limited – the nearest stop is at Recess, so a car or taxi is the reliable option. There are no shops or cafés on site; Letterfrack (about 10 km) and Clifden (about 15 km) have food and accommodation.
Come early for the squirrels and after a calm night for the lake – and keep the dog on a short lead; this is a working nature reserve, not a park.