Cavan Lakelands Loop

Cavan is a land of water - 365 lakes, one for every day of the year according to local tradition. This peaceful route meanders through drumlins (ice age hills), beside tranquil lakes, and through unspoiled farming country far from the tourist crowds.

Why This Route?

Cavan offers a different kind of Irish experience:

• Lake paradise - Hundreds of lakes for fishing, boating, kayaking
• Gentle landscape - Rolling drumlins create intimate scenery
• Fishing heaven - World-class coarse and pike fishing
• Quiet roads - Some of Ireland's most peaceful driving
• Authentic Ireland - Working farms and traditional villages

Where to Stay

This 95-kilometre lakelands loop from Cavan Town through Killykeen, Belturbet, Ballyconnell, and Virginia can be driven in a day, but the fishing, kayaking, and quiet lake roads reward a slower two-day pace. Cavan Town is the natural overnight base -- the route starts and finishes here, and it has the county's best supply of hotels and guesthouses.

Cavan Town

From Cavan you are just fifteen minutes from Killykeen Forest Park and the island-studded waters of Lough Oughter. Spend day one paddling around Clough Oughter Castle and exploring Belturbet, then use day two for the longer leg south to Virginia and Lough Ramor. Back in town, a handful of good restaurants and traditional pubs make the evenings easy to fill.

The Landscape

Cavan's landscape was shaped by the last Ice Age. Drumlins - small rounded hills formed from glacial deposits - create a distinctive rolling terrain. Between the drumlins, water collected to form countless lakes.

The Route

Starting from Cavan Town

Begin in the county capital. Cavan Crystal is worth a visit to see master craftspeople at work.

Killykeen Forest Park

A beautiful forest park on a peninsula jutting into Lough Oughter. The lake is actually a complex maze of islands and channels - one of Ireland's most unusual waterways. Activities include:

• Waymarked walking trails
• Cycle routes
• Fishing (pike, bream, roach)
• Kayak and canoe access
• Historic ruins (Clough Oughter Castle)

Clough Oughter Castle

This ruined circular tower sits on a tiny island in Lough Oughter. Built in the 13th century by the O'Reillys, it's atmospherically inaccessible except by boat.

Lough Gowna

A tranquil lake straddling the Cavan-Longford border. The shoreline villages have traditional pubs and fishing facilities.

Ballyconnell

A pretty town on the Shannon-Erne Waterway - the canal linking Ireland's two great river systems. Boat trips and cruiser hire available.

Shannon Pot

The official source of the River Shannon, Ireland's longest river. The pot is a deep spring pool fed by underground streams from the Cuilcagh plateau. An easy short walk from the car park.

Dowra

A village on the infant River Shannon, at the point where it's still narrow enough to jump across. The surrounding hills mark the edge of the Cuilcagh UNESCO Global Geopark.

Cavan Burren Park

Not to be confused with Clare's Burren, this is a geological park with limestone pavement, megalithic tombs, and caves. The Giant's Grave is an impressive court tomb.

Virginia

Return via this attractive village on Lough Ramor, with waterside walks and historic buildings.

Fishing in Cavan

Coarse Fishing

Cavan's lakes are renowned for:

• Pike - Specimen fish common
• Bream - Large shoals in most lakes
• Roach - Abundant throughout
• Perch - Often underestimated

Where to Fish

• Killykeen - Pike, bream, perch
• Lough Sheelin - Famous trout fishery (shared with Meath/Westmeath)
• Lough Gowna - Pike, bream
• Lough Oughter system - Pike specialist venue

Information

• Permits required for some waters
• Local tackle shops have the latest information
• Guided fishing trips available

Practical Tips

1. Lake swimming - Some access points, but check locally
2. Fishing permits - Buy in local shops or online
3. Kayaking - Lough Oughter is exceptional for paddling
4. Shannon Pot - Very short walk, free access
5. Roads can be narrow - Take your time

Best Seasons

• Spring - Fishing season begins, flowers blooming
• Summer - Water activities at their best
• Autumn - Peaceful, good fishing, autumn colours
• Winter - Quiet but atmospheric; some facilities closed

Before You Drive This Route

Plan on 1-2 days for the Cavan Lakelands Loop: the 103km takes roughly 2 hours at the wheel, and the rest is why you came. If this is your first drive in Ireland, read driving on the left in Ireland before you collect the car — the first roundabout is not the moment to work it out. Travelling with children, our family road trip guide has the stops and timings that keep a day like this civil. If you have not booked a car yet, our guide to renting a car in Ireland covers what to choose and what the desk will ask for, and car hire excess insurance explains the excess you will be asked to cover. More drives in the same corner of the country are on the County Cavan page, and the Cavan Burren Geopark Trail pairs naturally with this one.