Overview
Lough Allua is less a lake than a wide, slow stretch of the young River Lee, strung out for about three miles below the village of Inchigeelagh in west County Cork. Look out across the water for a small clump of trees rising from it: that marks a crannóg, an early-medieval island dwelling, and there’s a standing stone on the shore that pushes the human story back to the Bronze Age.
Covering roughly 1.36 square kilometres, the lough lies in a steep, forested valley under the Sheehy Mountains, its level raised over the years by the hydro-electric dam downstream at Carrigadrohid. A minor road runs along the northern shore and the R584 along the south, between Inchigeelagh and Ballingeary. Take in the lake from permitted roadside stops or other established access points, and leave narrow roads and farm entrances clear.
This is a fishing and walking lake rather than a swimming one. If you’re not casting a line, the reason to come is the quiet north-shore road: little traffic, and long open views across the water to the hills.
Fishing
Lough Allua is best known to anglers. Its fish include pike, salmon, Arctic char, a cold-water species left behind by the last Ice Age, and brown trout. Inland Fisheries Ireland lists Lough Allua for pike and distinguishes it from the ESB permit waters farther downstream at Carrigadrohid and Inniscarra. Check the exact stretch, current rules and any local access permission before fishing, whether for pike, salmon or trout. If your route includes ESB-managed waters, check the operator’s current notices.
Walking and the shore
The ground around the lake is mostly flat, and the low-traffic road along the northern shore makes an easy walk or cycle with the Sheehy Mountains filling the view. Climb into the hills, though, and the terrain quickly turns steep and rough, so bring proper footwear. This is grazing country, with livestock in the fields alongside, so keep any dog under close control and leave gates as you find them.
Getting there
The lake is reached from the R584 on the south shore and the minor road on the north. Check where you can stop safely and legally before you park, as the roads are narrow. Don’t expect cafés or a visitor centre at the lake, so bring what you need; Inchigeelagh is the nearest village, but check what is open before relying on it. Public transport is limited, though some bus routes serve the wider area, so check current times before you travel.
Nearby attractions
Ballingeary is a short drive on, an Irish-speaking village. The Farranahineeny stone row, a line of prehistoric standing stones, lies nearby. Further west, Gougane Barra has forest-park trails and the much-photographed oratory of St Finbarr on its own small island in the lake.