This renowned beauty spot has one of the three Blue Flag Beach on Lough Derg. Stroll around this picturesque park, feed the ducks and swans, or even take a dip in Lough Derg’s refreshing water.
Ballycuggaran (Baile Ni Chogarain in Irish) is also the homeland of the O’Cuggarans, an important family at the court of Brian Boru.
Visit Crag Hill on the lower slopes of the Slieve Bernagh Mountains overlooking Lough Derg for spectacular views of the lake. On the southern side of Crag is a fort, dating to the early Christian period which was the original home of the O’Briens and the reputed birthplace of St. Flannan. Aoibheal’s Rock, the legendary abode of Aoibheal, fairy queen of the O’Briens, is at the highest point of Ballycuggaran. The great oak woods that originally clothed these hills were cut down to fire the iron furnaces of east Clare as well as for shipbuilding.
There are three way-marked trails in this forest – one is a moderate looped walk called the Crag Wood Walk and this trailhead also gives access onto the East Clare Way. A new trail was constructed in 2016 which allows the visitor to access Moylussa, the highest point in County Clare.
