Overview
Lough Nacung is two adjoining lakes, Upper and Lower, in the rugged Gweedore district of north-west County Donegal, with Mount Errigal, at 751 m, often reflected in the water on a still day. The Irish name, Loch na Cuinge, means ‘lake of the isthmus’, the narrow strip of bogland and forest that divides the two waters, and the Derryveagh Mountains frame the ground on almost every side.
ESB records the lake’s role, alongside Dunlewey Lough, in the Clady hydroelectric scheme. The area is also the Fawnboy Bog/Lough Nacung Special Area of Conservation, protecting northern Atlantic wet heath, active blanket bog and freshwater habitat.
Landscape and conservation
The twin basins were carved by glacial action, which also left the streams and waterfalls that feed the lakes. The lower lake drains into the Clady River, which runs to the Atlantic near Gaoth Dobhair. Gweedore has long been a stronghold of the Irish language, and peat-cutting is still a traditional use of the blanket bog around the shore. There are no monuments or ruins on the immediate banks; the character here is the wild, open ground and the Gaeltacht villages around it.
The SAC designation protects the peatland and freshwater habitat, so keep to public routes to stay clear of ground-nesting birds and fragile peat. The surrounding bog and wet heath hold upland birds, and dragonflies and damselflies work the surface in the warmer months.
Walking and cycling
Because the lake is part of an operating hydroelectric scheme, keep clear of weirs, canals and operating structures. Stay on public routes and leave private banks and roadside entrances clear. No lakeside route, trailhead or parking spot is recommended here.
Fishing
Fishing in Ireland is tightly regulated, and no public fishing access to these lakes is confirmed here. If you plan to fish, check the current byelaws and season dates with Inland Fisheries Ireland and the rules for the fishery owner before travelling, and keep off the peat banks.
Practical information
- Access: keep to public roads and routes and leave private shore and entrances clear.
- Facilities: none are confirmed, so bring water, food and weather layers. Mobile coverage can be patchy in this remote part of Gweedore.
Nearby
- Gweedore – the wider Gaeltacht district, with trad sessions, Irish-language heritage and quiet coastal villages.
- Derryveagh Mountains – a dramatic range to the north, with old stone forts and hard hillwalking.
- Glenveagh National Park – a short drive east, combining mountain terrain, old woodland and Glenveagh Castle.