Overview
Lough Ennell (Irish: Loch Ainninn) spreads south-west of Mullingar in County Westmeath, a broad, shallow limestone lake about 6.5 km long and 2 km wide, covering roughly 12 km². It is shallow almost everywhere – two-thirds of it under 8 m, and nearly half less than 3 m deep – which is why its margins run to reed bed and wetland, and why it holds both waterfowl and a famous head of trout. The lake is designated a Special Area of Conservation, a Special Protection Area for birds and a Ramsar wetland site, among the most important limestone lakes in the midlands.
On the southern shore, Jonathan Swift Park at Lilliput is the main public access point, with a stony beach, a marked swimming area and a trailhead for walkers and cyclists.
The name comes from Ainninn, said in legend to be a son of a Fir Bolg king. If you’ve time for one thing here, make it a swim or a paddle off Lilliput on a warm afternoon, with Belvedere’s parkland along the far shore.
History and literary links
The River Brosna flows in near Mullingar and out towards Lilliput, and it’s Lilliput that carries the lake’s best-known story. Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, is said to have looked back from a boat at the small houses and fields along the shore and pictured them as a kingdom in miniature; the house then called ‘Nure’ became Lilliput House, and the townland has been Lilliput ever since.
On the northern edge stands Belvedere House, a Georgian hunting lodge above the water, now run by Westmeath County Council. Its 160 acres of parkland take in a walled garden and the Jealous Wall, a mock-Gothic sham ruin built by the first Earl of Belvedere purely to blot out the sight of his estranged brother’s house next door. The grounds host concerts, triathlons and festivals through the year.
What to see and do
Angling and watersports
Lough Ennell is one of the country’s better brown trout fisheries, and it produced the largest brown trout ever taken from an Irish lake – 26 lb (11.8 kg). It’s managed by the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board’s Midland Fisheries Group, which runs the stocking and the seasonal rules. Fly-anglers come for the trout; pike are the other main catch. Stocks have had their ups and downs, so check the current regulations before you fish.
Small craft can be hired from the boathouse on the southern shore – rowing boats, kayaks and paddleboards for pottering about the shallows and reed-lined coves. Jet skis have been banned by the county council since 2006, which keeps the lake quiet for sailing, paddling and watching birds.
Can you swim in Lough Ennell?
Yes, at Lilliput. The marked swimming area runs along the stony beach beside the boathouse, and it is one of only nine designated lake bathing waters in Ireland, three of which are in Westmeath. It shelves gently near the shore, which suits children, with deeper water further out. Diving and jumping are not allowed. One honest caveat: the water quality here has wobbled – the EPA rated the Lilliput bathing water ‘poor’ in 2019 – so check the council’s current bathing-water notice before you get in.
Walking and cycling
The Westmeath Way, a 33 km walking route from Kilbeggan to Mullingar, runs along the lake, and the park makes a natural stop on it. Belvedere House adds about 6 km of lakeshore paths, and there’s a woodland walk at Tudenham Park – where the trees hide a set of mythological woodcarvings by Richie Clarke. Cyclists can pick up a 4 km spur that links the lakeshore to the Royal Canal Greenway.
Golf and events
Mullingar Golf Club takes up the north-eastern fringe, a parkland course with several holes along the water. The lake also hosts triathlons and open-water swims through the summer, usually between Lilliput and Belvedere.
Wildlife
The shallow, nutrient-rich margins are good breeding and feeding ground for wetland birds: mute swan, great crested grebe, reed warbler, moorhen and the occasional kingfisher. Otters work the reed beds, best seen at dawn or dusk. Spring and autumn bring migrating birds through; summer is for nesting along the sheltered coves.
Accessibility and facilities
- Parking: free at the main entrance to Jonathan Swift Park, with a short, level path to the beach. There’s more parking at Belvedere House.
- Toilets: near the park entrance and boathouse.
- Access: the main path from the car park to the beach is paved.
- Dogs: welcome on the trails and beach, on a lead in peak season; clean up after them.
- Public transport: Mullingar, a few kilometres north, is the nearest hub, with a train station on the Dublin–Sligo line.
Practical information
- Getting there: from the M6, take exit 4 onto the N52 for Mullingar, then follow signs for ‘Jonathan Swift Park / Lilliput’ to the lakeside entrance.
- Admission: free to the park, beach and trails; boat hire and golf are charged separately.
- Camping: the Lough Ennell Caravan & Camping Park sits on 18 acres of mature woodland right on the lakeshore.
- Management: Westmeath County Council maintains the park and swimming zone.
For the trout, fish early morning or under cloud; for a swim, check the latest water-quality notice first, and go on a calm day when the shallows are clear.