Lough Leane

What is kayaking Lough Leane like?

A shorter, beginner-friendly circuit focusing on Innisfallen Island and the sheltered south-eastern corner of Lough Leane. Land on Innisfallen to explore the atmospheric ruins where the Annals of Innisfallen were composed. White-tailed eagles, reintroduced to Killarney, are regularly spotted soaring above the oak-clad shoreline.

How do I paddle Lough Leane? Put-in, take-out and logistics

Lough Leane is the largest of Killarney's three lakes and sits entirely within the national park, which means no motorised craft are permitted — a genuine rarity in Ireland and a huge advantage for paddlers. Launch from the Ross Castle slipway, where the car park fills quickly in July and August, so arriving before 10 a.m. is wise. The first leg south-east along the shore passes through ancient sessile oakwood classified as a Special Area of Conservation, and the canopy comes right down to the waterline in places, creating shaded tunnels where you'll hear warblers and treecreepers.

When is the best time to paddle Lough Leane?

Innisfallen Island is the centrepiece of this route and sits about 1.5 km from the slipway. The monastic settlement here dates to the 6th century, and it was on this island that the Annals of Innisfallen — one of the key chronicles of early medieval Ireland — were compiled over several hundred years. Pull up on the small beach on the eastern side and walk the grassy loop past the Romanesque church doorway and the yew tree reputed to be over 700 years old. Back on the water, the return leg hugs the south-eastern shore towards Muckross and Brickeen Bridge, where the lake narrows into a shallow channel connecting to Muckross Lake. Keep an eye overhead: the white-tailed eagle reintroduction programme based in Killarney has produced breeding pairs since 2013, and these enormous birds — wingspan over two metres — are now a regular sight circling above Tomies Mountain.