Lough Tay Lake

Address: Lough Tay (near Sally Gap), Wicklow Mountains, County Wicklow, Ireland

Hours: Open 24 hours (viewpoint only)

Admission: Free to view from the public road; private land access prohibited

Lough Tay is a small upland corrie lake in the Wicklow Mountains of eastern Ireland, noted locally for its distinctive dark water and small white sandy beach. It sits within the landscape traditionally associated with the Luggala estate.

A compact tableau of mountain slopes and shoreline makes the lake a popular short-stop for photographers and walkers. The most frequented views are from the R759 (Sally Gap) road and from the ridges immediately above the lake, which frame the water between steep hills on three sides. The setting is scenic rather than heavily developed, with informal paths rather than large visitor facilities.

The lake was formed by glacial action during the last ice age and occupies a corrie basin. The surrounding land has long been part of the private Luggala estate and has been managed as rural sporting and country estate land for many decades.

The lake lies in the Wicklow Mountains, within County Wicklow, to the south of Dublin and within easy driving distance of the greater Dublin area. The R759 passes close to the lake and serves as the usual access route.

• Best viewpoints: Accessible viewpoints from the R759 (Sally Gap) and the slopes above the lake give the most photographed vantage points.
• Nickname: Locally nicknamed the “Guinness Lake” because the dark water and small white sandy beach resemble a pint of stout.

Drive the R759 (the Sally Gap road) between Laragh and the Wicklow Gap; the classic viewpoint is a marked layby on the western side of the road, roughly 15 minutes’ drive from Glendalough and 40-50 minutes from Wicklow Town. There is no formal parking or public transport to the layby - access is by car or bicycle.

• Take the R759 (the Sally Gap road) and stop at the layby on the western side for the classic view - the vantage is public and only a short walk from the roadside.
• Do not attempt to descend to the white sandy 'beach' - the shore is on private Luggala Estate and is not open to the public.
• Sunrise and late afternoon provide the richest contrast: the dark peaty water and the strip of pale sand really read in low, oblique light.