Lough Tay

About this place

Lough Tay is a small lake in the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland, about 27 km south of Dublin in a straight line. It lies between Djouce, 725 metres high, and Luggala, 595 metres high, and is dominated by Luggala's east-facing granite cliffs. The whole lake belongs to the Luggala estate, formerly owned by the Guinness family, which is why it is nicknamed the Guinness Lake. The family is said to have brought in white sand and spread it on the northern shore, so the dark lake with its pale beach looks like a pint of their famous stout. The Cloghoge River feeds the lake, which drains south into Lough Dan. The philosopher Bertrand Russell visited as a young man and said its beauty made a profound impression on him. From above, the water looks almost black, the white beach curves along its northern end, heather and woodland slopes fall all around it, and the grey Luggala cliffs rise behind. On the shore stands a small ornamental building known as the Temple. The land around the lake is private and access to the shore is limited, so visitors view it from the car parks on the R759 above. Some climb the first boardwalked stretch of the path up Djouce, part of the long Wicklow Way trail, for a wider view.