Lough Tay, Lake in Wicklow Mountains National Park, Ireland

Lough Tay is a mountain lake nestled between Mount Djouce and Mount Luggala in County Wicklow. Its dark waters create a striking contrast with the white sand beach along the northern shore.

Lough Tay appears as "Logh Tea" in the 1650s Down Survey, long before tea was known in Ireland. The lake and surrounding land formed part of the Guinness estate at Luggala, owned by Arthur Guinness; the family is said to have imported white sand for the northern shore. On the shore stand an ornamental building called the Temple and three Guinness family graves, including that of Tara Browne, whose 1966 death inspired the Beatles' "A Day in the Life".

The lake gained attention as a filming location for television productions, including the series Vikings where it portrayed the fictional village of Kattegat. This connection to popular storytelling draws visitors interested in seeing where scenes were shot.

The lake sits on private land with limited visitor access, but designated viewpoints along the R759 road offer good views. Plan to view it from pullouts and overlooks rather than attempting to reach the shore directly.

The white sand on the northern shore was imported and laid out by the Guinness family, which is why the lake is nicknamed the Guinness Lake. The philosopher Bertrand Russell visited Lough Tay twice as a young man and returned half a century later, only to find the view changed from the pebbly shore he remembered.