Glanmore Lake

Overview

Glanmore Lake sits low – just 8 m above the sea – in a deep valley on the Beara Peninsula, County Kerry, about 28 km south-west of Kenmare near the village of Lauragh. It runs roughly 1.25 km north to south and half a kilometre across, ringed by the Caha Mountains and old dry-stone walls, and drains west through the Croansaght River toward Kenmare Bay. It stays off most itineraries, which is much of the point.

The islands

Glanmore has at least four small islands, and they carry more history than the empty valley suggests. One, Illaunatee, was the hideaway of James Stephens, the Fenian leader, when he was on the run in the 1860s; before him it sheltered a poitín-maker who was later hanged. On another tiny island near the centre stand the remains of an old hermitage, likely early medieval, now just overgrown stone among the trees. You can reach them by paddling out in a small boat.

What to see and do

Fishing

Glanmore is a well-regarded salmon and sea-trout water. You can fish from the shore or hire a boat from a local guide by the day to reach the deeper sections. The still surface breaking with the occasional rising trout is part of the draw.

Wild swimming

It’s one of the best lake swims on Beara, set below Lackabane Mountain with the peaks reflected in it on a calm day. The water is cold year-round – bring a wetsuit – and there are no lifeguards, marked zones or rails, so it suits confident open-water swimmers rather than a casual paddle.

Walking and cycling

A quiet side road off the R574 leads to a forest-fringed track that loops around part of the lake, popular with walkers and cyclists for its gentle gradients and close water views. For maps and route advice, stop at the nearby Pedals & Boots Café, which covers the local trails that connect to the longer Beara Way. The valley is lined with ancient dry-stone walls, the mark of generations of farming in this remote corner of the peninsula.

Scenic views and photography

The single best view of the lake isn’t from its shore but from above. The Healy Pass (R574) climbs to 334 m, and from the road the lake lies out below against Lackabane and the wider Caha range. It’s the most photographed stretch on Beara, at its best at sunrise or on a clear autumn day when the bracken has turned gold. The road itself is narrow and full of hairpins, so it’s slow going – which is fine, because you’ll want to stop anyway.

Practical information

There’s no gate, no ticket and no facilities – no toilets, no café, nothing staffed – so bring water, food and whatever your swim or your fishing needs.

To reach the lake, drive from Kenmare along the R571 for about 24 km to the village of Lauragh, then turn onto the R574 toward the Healy Pass. Follow the road past the signs for local restaurants and look for a quiet turn-off on the right that drops down to the lakeshore. There’s roadside parking near the track entrance.

Signal drops out in the valley, so download your maps before you leave Kenmare. And time it for the light: the lake is at its best early, before the day’s cloud builds over the Cahas.