Derryclare Lough is the kind of lake that makes you understand why painters kept coming back to Connemara. Enclosed between the southern Twelve Bens and the Maumturk foothills, it changes entirely depending on the light: slate grey under cloud, steel blue in the afternoon, deep amber and silver at dusk when the peaks reflect on it. The road along its northern shore is quiet and well-placed for views.
The lough has an excellent reputation for wild brown trout fishing; the Ballynahinch fishery controls the rights and takes guests. It also has a small woodland on its eastern shore, rare in a region where trees are scarce. The walk around the lake takes a few hours and involves some rough bog. It is a quieter alternative to the more trafficked Kylemore and Inagh routes.