After leaving the Arigna Mining Experience and stopping for lunch, we headed north into County Leitrim for our next stop: Glenade Lough View. It didn’t go quite as planned, but a wrong turn ended up showing us more of the valley than we’d originally bargained for.
A Detour We Didn’t Plan For
Coming from the south on the R280, the plan was simple: turn left just before the southern end of Glenade Lough and pull into the small car park only a few metres off the road. Our sat nav had other ideas. Instead, it routed us along the eastern side of the lake first, then sent us a few hundred metres past the northern end onto a small road toward Carrowduff. From there, it took us back down narrow lanes along the western shore before we finally reached the car park.
Annoying as the detour was, it did give us a genuinely spectacular view of the Glenade Cliffs along the way — steep rock faces rising roughly 220 to 250 metres above the valley floor. It’s an impressive sight, and if nothing else, our navigation mishap turned into an unplanned scenic drive.
Arriving at Glenade Lough View
After a few more minutes of driving, we finally reached the car park at the southern end of Glenade Lough, at coordinates 54.35940014064117, -8.259398306703321. It’s small — space for only about 6 to 7 cars — with a short jetty leading out into the lake.
Honestly, we’d pictured something a bit more dramatic. Between the modest size of the car park and the fact that we didn’t have the best weather on the day, it felt like a fairly low-key stop. On a clear, sunny day, though, this is almost certainly a lovely little spot for a short break by the water — the setting itself, tucked beneath the surrounding hills, has real potential.
Best Hiking Trails Around Glenade Lough
If you’ve got more time than we did, the area around Glenade Lough is genuinely good hiking territory. A few of the more popular routes include:
- Eagle’s Rock (around 6 km) — a hike up to a distinctive standalone rock formation, one of the more recognisable landmarks in this part of Leitrim.
- Truskmore Cliffs Loop — a route taking in the dramatic cliff scenery on the high ground above the valley.
- Devil’s Chimney Waterfall Loop (near Lurganboy) — a walk to one of Ireland’s tallest waterfalls, a short drive from the lake.
Worth noting: access to some of these routes can cross private land, so it’s worth checking current access information locally before setting out.
What’s the Deal with the Dobhar-chú Monster?
If you’ve searched for Glenade Lough online, you’ve probably come across this already — it’s one of the most Googled questions about the area. Local legend tells of the Dobhar-chú, a fearsome, otter-like creature sometimes called the “water hound,” said to have lived in the lake. According to the story, in 1722 a local woman named Grace Connolly was washing clothes by the water when she was attacked and killed by the creature. Her husband is said to have later killed it in revenge. A gravestone in nearby Conwall Cemetery, believed to date from that period, actually depicts the creature — complete with a hand gripping a weapon plunged into its neck — which has helped keep the legend alive and genuinely intriguing to this day.
Whether or not you believe a word of it, it’s the kind of local folklore that adds a bit of atmosphere to an otherwise quiet lakeside stop.
Final Thoughts
Glenade Lough View isn’t going to be the highlight of anyone’s Leitrim itinerary on its own, especially if the weather isn’t cooperating. But between the dramatic cliffs we stumbled onto thanks to our sat nav detour, the hiking options nearby, and the genuinely eerie Dobhar-chú legend, there’s more going on here than the small car park first suggests. If you’re driving the R280 through Glenade, it’s worth the short stop — just don’t be surprised if your navigation has other plans too.
Our Glenade Lough stop on video
A wrong turn, a stunning view and a sudden change in the weather. Here’s how our stop at Glenade Lough played out.
Glenade Lough: 🎥 See our lucky navigation mistake and the stormy lake view – watch from 4:12.
Or watch the full video of our second day in Ireland, from Lough Key to the wild Gleniff Horseshoe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is Glenade Lough View? The car park sits at the southern end of Glenade Lough, just off the R280 in County Leitrim, at coordinates 54.35940014064117, -8.259398306703321.
Is there parking at Glenade Lough View? Yes, but it’s small — space for roughly 6 to 7 cars.
What is the Dobhar-chú? An otter-like creature from Irish folklore said to have lived in Glenade Lough, tied to a local legend from 1722 involving the death of a woman named Grace Connolly. A gravestone depicting the creature still stands in nearby Conwall Cemetery.
What are the best hikes near Glenade Lough? Popular options include the hike to Eagle’s Rock (around 6 km), the Truskmore Cliffs Loop, and the Devil’s Chimney Waterfall Loop near Lurganboy.
How high are the Glenade Cliffs? Roughly 220 to 250 metres above the valley floor.
For more background on the area and current trail information, check the Leitrim Tourism website.
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← Previous stop: Arigna Mining Experience, an underground coal-mine tour
Next stop → Gleniff Horseshoe Drive, a dramatic loop under the cliffs
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