Lough Hyne is renowned among marine ecologists for the rich historical record of ecological research, a rarity in the field of marine ecology. Among the Irish people, it is renowned for its beauty and the diversity of organisms within. It is these special qualities that led to Lough Hyne being established as a marine reserve (the first in Europe). It is what drives the local community to preserve the lough. It is what attracts visitors from around the country and world. While we are exploring Lough Hyne through the lens of a marine ecologist, researching and digging into how this unique habitat is organized, many other people visit Lough Hyne daily, enjoying its many different aspects.
On an almost daily basis we see kayakers and paddle boarders of all ages and skill levels visiting. Lough Hyne creates a protected environment to get your kayaking chops wet and then an exciting ride over the Rapids and into Barloge Creek. Many of these kayakers will also bring their boat ashore and ride through the Rapids with a mask and snorkel, getting just a little closer to the life within the Lough. At night, kayak groups can been seen moving about into the pitch black of night, looking for the bioluminescence of microscopic algae in the water.
Locals around Lough Hyne gather for a brisk swim in the chilly (but seasonally warm-ish) waters. Many make it a daily habit, and it is not a rare observation to find a dog swimming alongside its owner. I’ve even heard tell of Lough Hyne being used by at least one individual as a training ground for international open water races. Less serious swimmers of all ages can be found jumping off the North Quay for a quick dip, both with and without a wetsuit. Inspired by all the swimmers, I myself took a dip in the lough, sans wetsuit, and swam from our residence at the Gate House to the Kelly’s Quay and back again. I can attest that it is in fact a brisk swim, not for those with low cold tolerance, but a rewarding accomplishment. It seems a badge of honor to say you braved and survived a swim in Lough Hyne.
Plenty of visitors enjoy the Lough from the shore, walking along the road that runs around the lough, sitting on a bench to view the birds and fish, picnicking next to the water, or hiking up Knockomagh (or Lough Hyne mountain) for an aerial view of the whole lough. The hike up the mountain takes you through a jungle of trees, vines, and moss, past vista view points, to the top of the mountain covered in yellow and purple wild flowers. In a surprisingly short amount of time, you can go from being at water level to overlooking the entire lough.
Beyond the beauty of the lough itself is the rich and ancient history of land surrounding it. Remnants and markers of inhabitants dating back to before the Bronze age up to present can be found. If you know what you’re looking for, or have Terri Kearney as a guide, you can take a jaunt through thousands of years in a short 2 mile loop around the lough.
The most exciting part of the Lough for me, however, is best observed with a snorkel, mask and some fins (and probably also a good wetsuit to keep away the cold). And snorkeling always attracts onlookers. Walking down the road toward North Quay, fully dressed in head-to-toe in snorkel gear, passersby ask if we’re “braving the water”. Truth be told, when all but your cheeks are covered in 5 mm of neoprene, it’s not really braving anything (but then again I’ve never had the luxury of living near a warm ocean). Without fail, someone will ask if there’s much to see in the water. To which I respond with an emphatic YES. The chance to see a mixture of cold water and Mediterranean organisms in one location is what attracts marine researchers and snorkel enthusiasts from around the world. Here’s just a sampling of what we’ve seen, snorkeling around the Lough:
On an almost daily basis we see kayakers and paddle boarders of all ages and skill levels visiting. Lough Hyne creates a protected environment to get your kayaking chops wet and then an exciting ride over the Rapids and into Barloge Creek. Many of these kayakers will also bring their boat ashore and ride through the Rapids with a mask and snorkel, getting just a little closer to the life within the Lough. At night, kayak groups can been seen moving about into the pitch black of night, looking for the bioluminescence of microscopic algae in the water.
Locals around Lough Hyne gather for a brisk swim in the chilly (but seasonally warm-ish) waters. Many make it a daily habit, and it is not a rare observation to find a dog swimming alongside its owner. I’ve even heard tell of Lough Hyne being used by at least one individual as a training ground for international open water races. Less serious swimmers of all ages can be found jumping off the North Quay for a quick dip, both with and without a wetsuit. Inspired by all the swimmers, I myself took a dip in the lough, sans wetsuit, and swam from our residence at the Gate House to the Kelly’s Quay and back again. I can attest that it is in fact a brisk swim, not for those with low cold tolerance, but a rewarding accomplishment. It seems a badge of honor to say you braved and survived a swim in Lough Hyne.
Plenty of visitors enjoy the Lough from the shore, walking along the road that runs around the lough, sitting on a bench to view the birds and fish, picnicking next to the water, or hiking up Knockomagh (or Lough Hyne mountain) for an aerial view of the whole lough. The hike up the mountain takes you through a jungle of trees, vines, and moss, past vista view points, to the top of the mountain covered in yellow and purple wild flowers. In a surprisingly short amount of time, you can go from being at water level to overlooking the entire lough.
Beyond the beauty of the lough itself is the rich and ancient history of land surrounding it. Remnants and markers of inhabitants dating back to before the Bronze age up to present can be found. If you know what you’re looking for, or have Terri Kearney as a guide, you can take a jaunt through thousands of years in a short 2 mile loop around the lough.
The most exciting part of the Lough for me, however, is best observed with a snorkel, mask and some fins (and probably also a good wetsuit to keep away the cold). And snorkeling always attracts onlookers. Walking down the road toward North Quay, fully dressed in head-to-toe in snorkel gear, passersby ask if we’re “braving the water”. Truth be told, when all but your cheeks are covered in 5 mm of neoprene, it’s not really braving anything (but then again I’ve never had the luxury of living near a warm ocean). Without fail, someone will ask if there’s much to see in the water. To which I respond with an emphatic YES. The chance to see a mixture of cold water and Mediterranean organisms in one location is what attracts marine researchers and snorkel enthusiasts from around the world. Here’s just a sampling of what we’ve seen, snorkeling around the Lough:
Being a marine ecologist, I am of course biased towards the critters in the water and, overall, the incredibly unique world that is Lough Hyne. Within a small area, one finds cold water and Mediterranean organisms, a deep water trough and the rocky intertidal, an underwater mudflat and a kelp bed, and over 100 years of research. But truly the beauty and magic of Lough Hyne is the untold treasures it holds, the countless ways it can be enjoyed, and the innumerable lenses through which Lough Hyne can be explored.
By: Sara Edquist
By: Sara Edquist