Glencar Waterfall is 50ft high and is situated at Glencar Lough and served as an inspiration to the William Butler Yeats and features in his poem ‘The Stolen Child’ The waterfall is really impressive after rain and can be viewed from a lovely wooded walk. The waterfall amenity includes a children’s playground, picnic areas, café facilities, tourism information and ample parking.
There are more waterfalls visible from the road although none are quite as romantic as this one.
Glencar Waterfall is situated 11km west of Manorhamilton, County Leitrim.
Directions – How to get to the Trailhead:
Take the N16 northwards toward Manorhamilton and Enniskillen; continue for about 7 km, turning left at the sign for Glencar waterfall. Follow this local road for a further 5km until you reach the trail head.
As you reach Glencar which straddles the border between counties Sligo and Leitrim with its dramatic steep cliffs, you will notice a series of waterfalls cascading from the heights. Glencar waterfall is perhaps the most dramatic descending from a 50ft rocky headland into a deep pool below in a haze of white spray. The Car Park at Glencar provides access to three alternative routes to the waterfall itself, the lake shore road walk and the “bog road” providing access to a spectacular semi-wilderness area in the Dartry Mountains.
The Routes
The Bog Road – From the car park at the Shore of Glencar Lake, walk west along the county road past the boathouse, take the first road on the right hand side and continue into the forest. As you exit the forest continue to the left, across the stile past the stream along a sheep track to a small heather clad hill to the walled cliff edge for more spectacular views of Glencar Lake and the Swiss Valley at some 500m. Return back along the bog road.
The Waterfall – It is most worthwhile to walk up the short path to Glencar waterfall. This is less than a 1km walk along a paved path and is suitable for all types of users. It provides a wonderful vantage point from which to view the waterfall which is particularly spectacular during wet conditions.
The Lake Shore – The walk along the lake shore is linear in nature, gentle in gradient and uses the public road which is generally quiet. The road hugs the shore line and provides wonderful views over the expanse of the lake. This walk gives the visitor a discreet view of the vast array of bird and animal life which thrive on the lake.
Did you know?
The famous poet W.B.Yeats immortalised the waterfall in his poem “the Stolen Child”. Where the Wandering Water gushes, from the hills above Glencar”.
*Sections of this route cross Coillte property, for up to date information on diversions/closures due to tree felling, please visit www.coillteoutdoors.ie
