Route through Lough Derg

Geno · Guru

Route through Lough Derg

tony2phones · Guru

Up the M18 and take the Tulla turning aiming for the Lough Derg Drive R352 at Scarriff. Possibly stop at Mountshannon for a stretch of your legs by the harbour and look over to Holy Island. Continue on to Portumna give a wave up the hill as you pass the Corner Stone and Cannings in Gurteeny. (We have an open door policy if you want to pop over the Slieve for a scone and Coffee) Taking the right turn after Gurteeny takes you a minor detour past St Annes Well and the children's graveyard. http://www.irelandtravelkit.com/holy-wells-in-ballynakill-parish-woodford-co-galway/ Into Portumna past the Forest Park, Castle and Workhouse Centre. Over the Shannon and take the left turn at the Ferry Inn for Birr, There are a couple of Tower House castles off this road (R489), crossing over Riverstown before hitting Birr. N52 then to Cloggan then Shannonbridge and Clonmacnoise.

All good scenic/rural roads and should take about 2 1/2 hours (or a couple of days). Local guide availabe for some parts, given enough notice smile http://goo.gl/maps/Vnz90

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Tony will doubtless weigh in before long and I suspect that his opinion would/should carry more weight than mine, but ..

I last drove that route in June of 2009. We followed the R463 on the lower part, begining at Ballina and crssing over the bridge, to Killaloe.

We really enjoyed the whole drive -- particularly Mountshannon. Lake views may be somewhat limited by vegetation, depending on the time of year. Some pix, HERE .

Along YOUR proposed route is is Iniscealtra, AKA Holy Island, but the requisite Ferry is weather and season dependant. They have a Festival in Late May/ Early June.

Bob

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Ah, I see he beat me to it! biggrin biggrin

Bob

Geno · Guru

Thanks -- sounds like something we need to do!!!

Michele Erdvig · Host

I think Tony has you sorted. Let the weather determine the drive.

tony2phones · Guru

Just ships in Passing Bob. My views seldom carry much weight but I am the local in residence for Lough Derg,
There is a good scenic route heading up from Mountshannon and along the Slieve down into Woodford but its borheen and can be confusing.

Press feature

http://www.independent.ie/travel/inside-ireland/secret-ireland-lough-derg-2893274.html

The promo video form earlier this year

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRY4jNKFoCk

Geno · Guru

Really good information from everyone. Thanks. This has been on my to do list for years, but we have never taken the route along Lough Derg. Time to make that happen, and Tony we will give you a wave for a bit of coffee and a scone!

Geno