Lough Neagh

Lough Neagh is Northern Ireland’s vast freshwater lake, the largest on the island and in the British Isles. It covers 383 square kilometres and stretches 31 kilometres long and 14 kilometres wide. Five of Northern Ireland’s six counties share its shores, while four local government districts manage its waters. The lake sits 32 kilometres west of Belfast and drains north through the River Bann to the sea. Its shallow edges and average depth of nine metres contrast with a deepest point of 24 metres. The lake supplies 40.7% of Northern Ireland’s drinking water, a role it has held for decades. Eel fishing has thrived here for centuries, with European eels travelling 6,000 kilometres from the Sargasso Sea to mature in its waters. These eels are now exported worldwide and protected under European law. Traditional working boats once carried coal and goods across the lough and its canals, linking Belfast, Newry and Limerick. Today, Lough Neagh Rescue keeps watch from three stations around its shores. Visitors find calm waters bordered by boglands and small islands like Ram’s Island and Coney Island. Birdwatchers come to see the many species that gather here year-round. The southern shore at Oxford Island offers paths through wetlands and views across the water. Nearby towns such as Antrim and Craigavon provide access to the lough’s edges. The lake’s changing light and wide horizons make it a place for quiet walks and watching the seasons shift.