Overview
Lough Gartan (Irish Loch Gartáin) is a quiet freshwater lake in north County Donegal, about 15 km west of Letterkenny and just inside the eastern edge of Glenveagh National Park. It runs roughly 3.7 km long and half a kilometre wide, fed by the Bullaba River at its southern end and draining northeast into the River Leannan. It’s free, uncommercialised and easy: somewhere to walk, fish, or just follow the shore without fighting for a car-parking space.
St Colmcille’s lake
Gartan’s pull is Colmcille. By tradition, St Colmcille (Columba) was born, raised and schooled in the Gartan area around 521, and a large stone cross near Church Hill marks the spot the story points to. The Colmcille Heritage Centre on the shore tells his life – the founding of monasteries, the move to Iona, the long reach of his influence. A short detour from the car park reaches the Church of Ireland church at Churchill (1819, restored 1895), whose stained glass, paid for by Mrs Cornelia Adair of Glenveagh, follows Colmcille from baptism to his death on Iona.
Walking the lough
Three colour-coded, waymarked trails start from the free car park beside Wilkins Bar on the R251, all open year-round and fine for dogs:
- Red – Gartan Estate Walk (5 km, easy): a gentle lakeshore loop past the outdoor centre, mostly tarmac and gravel, buggy-friendly.
- Blue – Quartet Walk (14.5 km, moderate): a full circuit on minor roads and field gates, climbing over open hilltops for wide views of the lake and the Derryveagh Mountains.
- Orange – to St Colmcille’s birthplace (3.5 km each way, easy): inland from the car park to the stone cross.
From the birthplace, longer unmarked routes push on into Glenveagh – sturdy footwear and navigation needed, and worth it for the ridge-top views.
Fishing
The lough holds Arctic char alongside brown trout, with salmon and sea trout running through. Seasons run 15 February to 30 September for brown trout, and 1 January to 30 September for salmon and sea trout. No permit is needed for the water upstream of the Ramelton stretch, with the exception of Watts Pool, which is a private fishery; where permits are required, they come from Top Tackle or McClafferty’s pub in Churchill. The lough sits within the Leannan River Special Area of Conservation, so the birdlife is good – waterfowl, the odd kingfisher, woodland songbirds, and otter sign along the banks.
Around the lough
- Glebe House & Gallery: a Regency house on rising ground by the lake, home to the artist Derek Hill for close to thirty years. The gardens are free and open daily 10am–6pm; the house interior is closed for conservation until 2028.
- Wilkins Bar: a listed pub dating to 1833, run by the same family for seven generations, with the former post office (1899–1955) alongside.
- Gartan Outdoor Education & Training Centre: on an 87-acre wooded estate on the shore, running kayaking, canoeing, climbing and archery, with hostel-style rooms, on-site parking, disabled access and free Wi-Fi.
Practical information
Getting there: from Letterkenny, follow the R251 west for about 15 km; the Church Hill turn is signposted, and the car park is right beside Wilkins Bar. A day trip from Letterkenny to the Glenveagh area is doable by public transport, though a car makes the lough far easier.
Parking: free, level, room for about 30 cars, with benches and a picnic area. There’s a play park in Churchill, a five-minute drive away.
Accessibility: the Red trail and car park suit wheelchairs and buggies; the Blue and Orange trails have uneven, sometimes wet ground. Check conditions after heavy rain, as the minor roads can turn muddy.
If you want to walk the Orange trail on to Glenveagh Castle, set off before mid-afternoon – it’s four to five hours there and back, and the light goes early in these western valleys.