Blueways Ireland Logo
  • Lough Derg
  • Shannon
  • Shannon-Erne
  • Explore
    • Trails
    • Highlights
  • Plan Your Trip
    • Itineraries
    • Get on the Blueways
    • Places to Stay
    • Places to Eat
    • Places to Go
    • My Wishlist
  • Home
  • Highlights
  • The Fairies of Lough Allen and Lough Key
The Fairies of Lough Allen and Lough Key image

The Fairies of Lough Allen and Lough Key

Last Updated: 30 May 2022
Watch Roscommon and Leitrim open up before your eyes, spilling secrets of long-forgotten saints, crumbling castles and fairy-filled forests…​

​The secret spa of Cleighran More: Deep within St Hugh's Holy Well and Sweathouse, the water runs orange – a mysterious miracle, or simply an iron-rich water source? All we know for sure is that this spot was the original restorative spa over three millennia ago. Though now crumbling, the originally cosy, cave-like structure of the Sweathouse trapped the heat of its occupants and the mineral-rich water, creating a sauna right here in the Leitrim countryside on the banks of Lough Allen.


If you have more time: If you prefer your water without rainbow hues, try a spot of angling in nearby Drumshanbo on the craggy shores of Lough Allen (pictured) and fish your worries away.


Take a boat tour to Castle Island: One of 32 islands on Lough Key, Castle Island is that bit special because – you guessed it – it's home to the hulking figure of an 18th-century folly that dominates the tiny island's skyline. Named McDermott's Castle in honour of a local King who lived on the island in the 1100s, this hidden gem is well worth hiring a boat on the mainland for a trip out to explore. [www.loughkeyboats.com]


If you have more time: Treat yourself to a slap-up meal at the AA Rosette Award Winning Douglas Hyde Restaurant in Roscommon's Kilronan Castle Estate & Spa.


Lough Key Forest Park, bring your camera: Towering oak, beech and red cedars; wood anemone and yellow iris scattering the forest floor; fallow deer stepping carefully through the branches – this is a cornucopia of Ireland's most breathtaking wildlife. Once you've had your fill of the local flora and fauna, try out the park's manmade treats: a 47-room puzzle trail, over 100km of walking and cycling trails, a woodland Segway tour – and the only Tree Canopy Walk in Ireland. Keep an eye out for the souterrain and fairy bridge, too! To warm up?  Have a hearty lunch at the Lakeside Café.


If you have more time: Check out Boyle Abbey, the silent, almost ghostly ruin would be unrecognisable to the flourishing monastic orders that dwelt here in the 12th century.


Visit www.ireland.com for more information. 

Follow Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
Join Us
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Blueways Toolkit
© Waterways Ireland
  • Freedom of Information
  • Privacy Notice
  • Cookies Policy
Partners
Sport NI Logo
Tourism NI Logo
Sport Ireland Logo
Waterways Ireland Logo
Failte Ireland Logo
Green Awards 2020 Winner Logo