Lough Hyne

A saltwater lake near Skibbereen, joined to the sea by a narrow tidal channel called the Rapids, where the water rushes in and out with the tides. It was Ireland's first marine nature reserve, with an extraordinary variety of sea life. The water is warm enough for swimming in summer.

A walk up through the woods of Knockomagh Hill, behind the lake, gives a beautiful view over the lough and the coast. On summer nights, guided kayak tours paddle out to see the bioluminescence glowing in the water.