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Lough Ramor, County Cavan

lough ramor

Lough Ramor is a beautiful lake near Virginia County Cavan.

I was there initially at Lough Ramor camping but I have chosen, in blogging terms, to keep the camping seperate from the actual lake via an entirely seperate post.

The fishing people will be much better versed than I in what it is good for but many boats and many methods were spoke about in how to best get ones rewards from a days outing.

Other than fishing, not so much water sports but canoeing and paddling boats were a regular fixture during my time there. I however chose to walk the peripherals and enjoy what it is I should and did admire.

Wikipedia tells me that it is a large natural lake of around 800 hectares, that Lough Ramor has been designated in 2011 by the EC as a Special Protection Area (SPA) and also

Lough Ramor is a partly wooded wetland site, a haven for many species of wildlife both resident and migratory. Available recorded history indicates that nearly half of the 170 acres (0.69 km2) of Deerpark woodland was once oak woodland, the timber being used for building and agricultural purposes. During the seventeenth century it was reported that early Virginia settlers had to transport their building timber from west Cavan and Fermanagh. The early nineteenth century saw extensive tree planting of ash, elm, oak, larch, spruce and Scots pine. In recent times additional broad leaf varieties were planted including sycamore.

The most recent site study conducted by the Government Department of the Environment describes the Lough Ramor area as a hollow in the Silurian strata that covers most of eastern County Cavan. Lough Ramor is a very shallow lake with a pH of 7.5 and a maximum depth of six metres. The water is nutritionally poor but is periodically enriched, resulting in algal blooms. Being situated on a different rock type than other Cavan lakes it differs also in appearance. Much of the shore has semi-natural woodland of alder, willows and hazel. The stands near Virginia were originally planted.

more images of Lough Ramor

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Mullach Lough, County Cavan

mullach lough

Located near Virginia County Cavan, I stumbled across this lake very much by accident. From one of the brochures I found this information:

Mullach Lake was formed by huge glaciers during the last ice age as was much of the landscape in this part of County Cavan. The lake is now home to a wide range of waterbirds including winter visitors from as far away as Iceland and Siberia making this an ideal spot to stop for a picnic.

I’m inclined to agree with whoever wrote it….

From what I can remember from reading the signage by the lake Mullach Lough is about 35 hectares in area with an average of 2.3 metres depth and a maximum of 8 metres.

More than that I could have sat here all day long. So very well maintained and really I am just surprised it is or has not been better noted by the tourism boards as being such a great asset. That said I wasn’t complaining.

It’s very evident that work has been done here in keeping the surrounds updated and the new walkway an addition that doesn’t look so out of place. The plant life here is stunning and the information given on the bird life would make me want to revisit if nothing else just to see how it would look at the varying times.

I did do the picnic option and spent about 3 hours here.

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Lough Ramor Caravan Camping Park

lough ramor camp site

Located 5 kilometres south of Virginia in County Cavan, this is probably one of the smaller campsites I have been to, but Lough Ramor is an absolute gem and sits right at the waters edge. To that note, I’ll do a separate post on Lough Ramor itself and keep this one to the camping and campers side of things.

If it’s the great outdoors you wish to enjoy, you won’t go wrong here but anything more than that and I honestly believe you may actually need a hotel complete with kids club. With that in mind and the facilities, the washrooms and bathrooms were hygienically spotless and clean as you could get from a campers perspective.

There are some permanent mobiles there which is always a good sign, but of note is the fact that the visiting campers areas are split into two zones. The tents seem to be placed right by the waters edge whilst the camper caravans are placed by the electric points on the upper area but slightly out of view of the water.

To those pitching tents, the lower ground is quite rocky beneath from which many bent pegs resulted. I highly recommend a length of re-bar and a steel headed mallet to be added to the camping essentials list.

I was there for four nights and loved every second even though the weather was often verging on extreme to mixed. Those there for the weekend lacking in the correct paraphernalia really stood, most moving on after day one.

In the town of Virginia the Super Valu is probably the best place to go shopping for supplies, but as per camping gear, should you find yourself stuck you may find yourself in a mild pickle. I did bring back up gas for my MSR pocket rocket [essential for a cuppa with 3 minutes brewed outside btw], but not for my Gelert compact double burner with grill – this did pose a mild problem and I could not find a supplier of camping gas, anywhere.

Of note for those looking to take a days excursions, directional signage is not a forté of Cavan County Council and in search of another lake, via its sign postings, I got lost and stumbled across Mullach Lough, not such a bad result in the end for that day I will admit.

In summary, I like Lough Ramor Camp site. Highly recommended if you love your fishing, light boating or you are simply looking for a relaxing weekend away.

email: loughramor@eircom.net

lough ramor camping