Lakes of County Armagh: Lough Neagh and Five More Gems

County Armagh (Northern Ireland) may be the smallest of the six counties, but it holds a disproportionate share of the region's lakeland beauty—including a chunk of the British Isles' largest lake.

1. Lough Neagh — The Inland Sea

• Status: Largest lake in UK/Ireland (392 km² / 151 mi²).
• Armagh share: Western shore (Blackwatertown, Derrywarragh Island, Oxford Island NNR).
• Ecology: Ramsar site, SPA—wintering wildfowl (whooper swan, goldeneye, pochard), eel fishery, rare pollan (freshwater herring).
• Access: Oxford Island Discovery Centre (trails, hides, café), Kinnego Marina.

2. Lough Gullion — The Mountain Mirror

• Setting: Glacial corrie lake at foot of Slieve Gullion (573 m), Ring of Gullion AONB.
• Vibe: Dramatic, steep wooded slopes, folklore-rich (Cú Chulainn legends).
• Activities: Fishing (stocked trout), lakeside walk, forest trails, visitor centre.

3. Camlough Lake — The Reservoir with a View

• Origin: Dammed Camlough River (19th c. for linen mill water).
• Setting: Ringed by Camlough Mountain (Slieve na mBan) and rolling drumlins.
• Use: Coarse fishing (pike, perch, roach), boating, birding (great crested grebe, tufted duck).

4. Lough Ross — The Quiet One

• Small (~12 ha), wooded, near Keady. Coarse fishing, peaceful walks. Under-the-radar.

5. Lough Muckno — The Cross-Border Lake

• Straddles Armagh (west shore) / Monaghan (ROI). Large (3.5 km long).
• Muckno Lake Leisure Park (Castleblayney side): waterskiing, wakeboarding, sailing, camping.

6. Lough Shark — The Hidden Gem

• Small natural lake near Middletown. Angling (roach, perch), nature walks, very low pressure.

Why Armagh's Lakes Matter

They're glacial legacies (drumlin field + ice-scoured hollows) in a farmed landscape—critical wetland corridors, angling assets, and recreation lungs for a dense rural population. The Lough Neagh basin alone supports 100+ bird species and a commercial eel fishery worth £1M+/yr.