Mountshannon

Visit the pristine village of Mountshannon, located on a hill overlooking Lough Derg. Small, but steeped in history, and with exceptional views over the Lough and Bushy Island, the village has several unique attractions alongside a park, bar, cafe, pizzeria, B&Bs and holiday homes. 

Walkers will enjoy routes such as the East Clare Way and shorter, family friendly forest and fairy trails, while adventure-seekers can sample stand-up paddle, sailing, cruising and kayaking on the nearby Lough Derg Blueway. Visit the maze inside Aistear Park, enjoy a picnic at the nearby seating area, which was carved from wood by local artists, or check out Mountshannon Beach, a lakeside bathing area which is a popular choice for families. 

There’s also plenty of local archeology to explore, including Ring Forts, Famine Graves, Holy wells and close access to Inis Cealtra (“Holy Island”), which is accessible via a short boat trip and includes churches, graveyards and historic stone carvings.