Lough Ouler, Natural lake in County Wicklow, Ireland.
Lough Ouler is a heart-shaped mountain lake nestled at about 817 meters elevation on the slopes of Tonelagee in County Wicklow. The water sits in a glacial basin surrounded by steep mountain walls that define the narrow valley.
The lake formed during the last ice age when glacial movement carved out a depression in the mountainside, creating the water body we see today. This glacial landscape formation is a defining feature of the Wicklow Mountains' postglacial geology.
Local hiking enthusiasts maintain several unmarked trails leading to Lough Ouler, preserving the natural state of the mountain paths.
The lake can be reached via two hiking routes: a 4-kilometer path up Tonelagee or an 8-kilometer circular trail starting from Glenmacnass Waterfall. Both routes are walkable in good weather, though mountain conditions can change quickly at elevation.
The lake's water displays surface patterns created by natural currents that are particularly visible from the mountain viewpoints surrounding the basin. These details often go unnoticed by visitors but become striking once you pause to watch the water closely.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
