Overview
Lough MacNean lies in two basins on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, split across County Fermanagh, Cavan and Leitrim, with the villages of Belcoo and Blacklion sitting on the narrow neck of land between the two lakes. The Irish name, Loch Mac nÉan, means ‘Mac nÉan’s lake’. Upper Lough MacNean, the larger western basin, covers around 983 hectares (2,429 acres) on its own; the Lower lake to the east is smaller. The lakes lie in the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark area, a cross-border UNESCO Global Geopark that runs through Fermanagh and Cavan.
A drainage scheme in the 1960s reshaped the lake and wiped out the eel fishery that had fed local families for generations.
Getting there and facilities
One way to see the lake from its shore is Coillte’s Glenfarne Wood, which has managed walks beside the water. Use the designated parking and the marked routes, and check the Coillte page for current site information before you go. Please leave private shorelines and islands undisturbed.
Walking and cycling
The marked paths at Glenfarne Wood are the place to start, and the sculptures along them form part of the wider Lough MacNean Sculpture Trail. For a different outlook over the lakes and Cuilcagh, check the trails at Cavan Burren Park. The Cavan Way ends near Blacklion, coming down through limestone karst from the Shannon Pot. On a clear day Cuilcagh Mountain fills the horizon to the east, with its own boardwalk trail starting a few kilometres out of Blacklion.
Angling and water sports
Lough MacNean is known as a coarse-fishing lake, with pike, perch, bream, roach and brown trout among the fish recorded. Fishing rules and licence requirements differ between the Northern Ireland and Republic sides, so check the current rules with the relevant authority before you go, and use only access that is clearly public. The lake has unmarked shallows, so take care on the water.
Islands and the sculpture trail
Both basins are dotted with islands. Cushrush and Inishee lie in the Lower lake; the Upper holds a scatter that includes Bilberry, Inishkeen and Trawnish among others. Cushrush is the archaeologically important one – flint microliths found there push human use of the lake back to the Mesolithic – and each basin still has a crannog, an artificial island once used as a fortified dwelling. Islands are not generally open to visitors, so enjoy them from the marked trails.
The Lough MacNean Sculpture Trail is a circular route studded with works by Irish artists, each piece tied to its spot along the border. It is as much a way to see the wider Geopark landscape as an art trail.
Dining and nearby attractions
Belcoo and Blacklion between them have cafés, tea rooms and pubs. Blacklion is also home to Neven Maguire’s MacNean House restaurant, so book well ahead if that’s the plan. Within a short drive:
- Aghanaglack dual-court tomb – a well-preserved Neolithic tomb just north of the lakes (Aghanaglack – Tomb and River Highlights).
- Cuilcagh Mountain Park – blanket-bog restoration trails and the summit boardwalk, starting east of Blacklion.
- Glenfarne Forest – more walking loops and woodland scenery.
Practical tips
Stay on marked routes and use official parking. Check the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark website for trail conditions and event listings before you travel.