There is a lake in the Comeragh Mountains that most people who live in Waterford have either visited and never forgotten, or not yet visited and been told about repeatedly. Coumshingaun Lough sits in a glacial corrie — a deep bowl carved into the mountain by a glacier during the last Ice Age — surrounded on three sides by cliffs that rise 200 metres from the water. It is one of the most dramatic and beautiful natural landscapes in the south-east of Ireland, and the walk to reach it is well within the ability of any reasonably fit person with appropriate footwear.
The Walk
The route starts from a car park on the western slopes of the Comeraghs, off the R676 between Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel. From the car park, a well-worn path leads directly toward the mountain, crossing boggy moorland before beginning to climb. The terrain is rough in places and genuinely boggy after rain — this is not a walk you do in trainers. The ascent steepens in the final section before the lake, and the moment the corrie opens up in front of you is one of those landscape revelations that genuinely takes the breath away.
The round trip from the car park takes between two and three hours at a comfortable pace. The total distance is approximately 6 km with about 300 metres of ascent. It is classed as a moderate walk — not technically difficult but requiring some fitness and the right gear. Walking poles are useful on the descent, which can be slippery in wet conditions.
The View
From the rim of the corrie, the view extends across the Suir Valley to the south-east, with the city of Waterford visible in the distance on a clear day and the coastline beyond it. To the north, the Comeragh plateau stretches toward Tipperary. The lake below, dark and still, reflects the cliffs that encircle it. In autumn the surrounding bog and heather turn amber and gold. In winter the cliffs are often marked by ice. In spring the streams running off the plateau form temporary waterfalls down the cliff faces. Every season brings a different version of the same extraordinary place.
The Comeragh Mountains
Coumshingaun is the most visited point in the Comeraghs, but the mountain range is large and largely empty — a landscape of plateau, bog, mountain rivers and wild moorland that sees a fraction of the visitor numbers of better-known Irish hill ranges. The Mahon Falls, accessible from a separate car park off the R676, are a worthwhile addition to a day in the Comeraghs — a spectacular waterfall accessible via a short, easy walk that rewards families and those who can’t manage the Coumshingaun ascent.
Practical Information
Wear waterproof boots — the ground is almost always wet. Bring a map or download the route to your phone before you go; mobile signal on the mountain is unreliable. There are no facilities at the car park. The drive from Waterford City takes approximately 45 minutes. Do not attempt the walk in heavy rain, mist or high winds — conditions on the mountain can change quickly and navigation becomes difficult in low visibility. Tell someone where you’re going.
Coumshingaun Lough features in our guide to the Top 15 Things to Do in Waterford.