Overview
Lough Dan (Irish: Loch Deán) is a boomerang-shaped ribbon lake set deep in the Wicklow Mountains, at the foot of Luggala and Knocknacloghoge. It lies 200 metres above sea level and covers about 1.03 square kilometres, fed by the River Cloghoge from the north-east and the Inchavore River from the north-west, then draining south by the River Avonmore. Much of the shoreline is private estate, but the north-western corner is national park, with free public access to a spot that feels a long way from the busier Glendalough valley. Dark, still water, dense conifer plantation, blanket bog and rough peaks make it a dependable trip for walkers and photographers after a quiet morning.
History and connections
For decades Lough Dan has been bound up with the Guinness estate at Luggala. The lake had a moment of pop-culture recognition when its surroundings stood in for exterior scenes in the 2009 Irish post-apocalyptic film One Hundred Mornings. It also has a scouting heritage: the Scouting Ireland national campsite sits beside the lake, and the site hosted the Lough Dan ‘97 jamboree, cut short in the end by heavy rain and flooding.
Public access was restricted in the early 2020s after a run of anti-social behaviour and littering. Estate owners and park authorities worked together to restore the area, and from 2024 controlled access has been fully reopened, with clear signage and designated routes. Visitors are asked to stick to leave-no-trace habits, which are what will keep the lake open.
Walking routes to the lake
There are three main ways down to Lough Dan, each a different pace and grade. All want sensible footwear, as the mountain paths go slick or boggy after rain.
- Old Military Road route: from the small car park near the Inchavore River, this is the most popular public path, a roughly 5km one-way walk along a historic gravel track once used for hauling timber, about three hours there and back. Keep left at the path forks; after about 40 minutes, look for three large boulders, and just past the second a narrow, easy-to-miss track branches left, the shortcut to Logan’s Way. Follow it to the river, then turn right onto a clear trail that runs to the pebble shore at Coon Beach.
- Lough Dan House approach: off Shinnagh Lane near Roundwood, starting close to the private Lough Dan House and scout centre. It is a shorter, straightforward 2km downhill walk of 30 to 45 minutes, direct but marshy in places. This section crosses private land, so keep dogs on a lead, mind the gate signs and take all litter home. Camping is not allowed.
- Ballinastoe car park via Luggala Estate: from the large Ballinastoe car park, cross a small gate onto the Luggala estate. The path follows an old road, drops past two bridges and a short staircase, then meets a muddy trail beside an old stone wall down to the northern shore. Dogs are not permitted on this estate section, lead or no lead.
Longer walks
Lough Dan makes a good base for longer circuits. The pebble at Coon Beach suits a quiet picnic or a brisk dip, though Irish mountain water stays cold all year. For summit views, the Knocknacloghoge loop (about 12km) climbs to 534m for a sweep over the lake and ridges; it starts from the Pier Gate on the Luggala estate but needs careful navigation through fern and bog. Stronger hillwalkers can take on the Scarr and Kanturk circuit, a demanding 20km loop over Scarr (641m) and Kanturk (523m), with high, distant views of the lake below.
Wildlife and nature
The land around the lake mixes commercial conifer with native patches of birch and oak. Spring flushes the forest floor and bog with bilberry, heather and bog cotton; autumn turns it bronze and russet. The open water and damp margins draw dragonflies, damselflies and the odd wading bird, and birdwatchers may pick out meadow pipits, skylarks and raptors like kestrels or peregrines over the higher ground. Fishing is not allowed on the lake, to protect its ecology, though the nearby River Avonmore and its tributaries hold wild brown trout. Arctic char were recorded here after the last ice age but are now thought locally extinct.
Practical information
- Getting there: roughly an hour’s drive north-west of Dublin. The main roads in are the Old Military Road (R115) via Sally Gap and the R759 from the N11, which leads to the Ballinastoe car park. There is no public transport to the trailheads.
- Car parks: Ballinastoe is the largest but fills fast at weekends, open 09.00 to 17.30; if it is full, there is limited roadside parking on the R759. The Old Military Road car park is smaller and open daily.
- Rules: access is free, but the lake sits on a mix of parkland and private estate. Mind the gate signs, keep to marked paths and take all waste home. Dogs go on a lead on public routes and are banned on the Luggala section. Camping and fishing are not allowed.
- Safety: mountain weather changes fast, so carry waterproofs, proper boots and a map or downloaded GPX file, as the mobile signal can be unreliable. The Old Military Road track is gravel and slippery when wet; blue signs mark the official park routes near the lake.
- Nearby: pair the trip with a drive over Sally Gap for the views of Lough Tay, or a detour to Lough Bray for another ribbon lake. The Ballinastoe MBT mountain-bike trail centre is right beside the main car park. Arrive before midday at weekends for a parking space, and bring a bag for your waste.