Overview
Lough Lene (Irish: Loch Léinn) was the first freshwater lake in Ireland to earn a Blue Flag, back when the country had only recently joined what was then the EEC – and the water still explains why. This is a hardwater marl lake, low in nutrients and clear enough to see the bottom well out from the shore, which is rare in Europe and rare enough in the Irish midlands to be worth the drive. It sits in the rolling limestone country of north County Westmeath, a short hop from the village of Collinstown and about twenty minutes from Mullingar. It covers around 417 hectares and drops to about 20 metres, and it is designated a Special Area of Conservation for the very qualities that make it good to swim in.
The public heart of it is the Cut, the designated bathing area 1.8km north of Collinstown crossroads on the Lake Road. That’s where you’ll find the beach, the car park, the changing facilities and the toilets. If you only do one thing here, swim at the Cut – the water is genuinely clear and, marl lake that it is, genuinely cold, even in a warm July.
History and archaeology
Lough Lene has been used for thousands of years, and it keeps handing things back. In 1968 divers recovered two remarkably preserved logboats from the mud near Castle Island: Roman-period craft about eight metres long, cut from oak and yew and joined with sophisticated woodwork. They are among the finest early boats found in Ireland and are held by the National Museum.
Castle Island gave up something smaller and stranger, too – a 7th-century silver bell, found in 1881. A half-size reproduction of it serves as the Ceann Comhairle’s bell, rung to call order in Dáil Éireann. Three islands break the lake’s surface, each with its own thread of history: Nun’s Island, tied to a medieval convent; Turgesius Island, named for the 9th-century Viking leader; and Castle Island itself.
The Viking connection carries onto the land. Randoon (Irish: Randún), on a 125-metre hill in Ranaghan townland just south-west of the lake, was a stronghold of Turgesius, who used Lough Lene as a base. The earthworks are protected under national heritage law, and from the top the ridge once kept watch over a scatter of ringforts across the surrounding townlands.
What to see and do
Can you swim in Lough Lene?
Yes. The Cut is a designated bathing water, one of only nine lake bathing waters in Ireland and one of three in Westmeath, so the water is sampled through the season from 1 June to 15 September. It has been classified Excellent in recent years, and the marl geology that makes it so clear also keeps it cold.
On the water
- Swimming – The Cut is the safe, marked place for a dip. Since 2022 a permanent swim trail of five large buoys has run along the North Shore, a 750-metre course (1,500 metres there and back) for anyone wanting a proper distance swim. Summer water temperatures sit around 17°C.
- Kayaking and paddleboarding – The sheltered surface suits non-motorised craft. Bring your own; hires here are occasional rather than guaranteed.
- Angling – Lough Lene is a managed fishery run by the Lough Lene Anglers Association, stocked with brown and rainbow trout. The rainbows do well, turning silver and muscular in the clear water.
- Birdwatching – The wet woodland and marshy margins hold teal, mallard and reed warblers, with waders such as curlew and lapwing in winter.
On land
- Randoon hillfort walk – A marked trail climbs through deciduous woodland to the summit, a moderate pull rewarded by a wide view over the lake and, on a clear day, toward the Hill of Uisneach.
- Cycling and walking – Quiet, low-traffic lanes ring the lake and link into the wider network of midland back roads, so a lakeside walk and a longer ride pair up easily.
Practical information
- Getting there – About 20 minutes by car from Mullingar, and roughly 100km from Dublin via the M4 and N52.
- Parking and facilities – Free car parking at the Cut and at the Randoon trailhead. The bathing area has changing rooms, toilets and marked swimming zones.
- Accessibility – The beach and car park are level; the Randoon trail is uneven and climbs steadily, so it suits able walkers.
- Safety – Swimmers should stay within the flagged area; the lake reaches 20 metres. Weather on the hill can change quickly, so bring layers.
Nearby
- Hill of Uisneach – The ancient ceremonial centre of Ireland, with a visitor centre and marked trail.
- Belvedere House – An 18th-century estate above Lough Ennell, known for its formal gardens and the spiteful folly called the Jealous Wall.
- Fore Abbey – Ruined monastic remains and the celebrated Seven Wonders, a few kilometres east.
The clear water is the draw, but give Randoon an hour while you’re here. Standing on a Viking’s hill fort with the lake laid out below is the kind of thing the midlands quietly does well.