Lough Tay is one of the most photographed places in County Wicklow. Seen from the road above, the dark water and pale curve of sand create the image that gave it its nickname, the Guinness Lake. On a private Wicklow day tour, it is a natural stop: dramatic scenery, a sense of remoteness, and one of the clearest views of the Wicklow Mountains on a route that is still close to Dublin.
Lough Tay in the Wicklow Mountains, one of the best known viewpoints on the Sally Gap drive.
The lake lies below the slopes of Djouce and Luggala and is fed by the Cloghoge River before draining south toward Lough Dan. Tourism sources in Wicklow and Ireland consistently highlight the contrast between the dark water and the bright shore, a visual effect strengthened by white sand imported by the Guinness family on the northern edge of the lake.
The nickname comes from appearance rather than branding. From the higher viewpoints, the lake can resemble a pint of stout: the deep, almost black water forms the body of the drink, while the pale beach suggests the creamy head. It is a memorable image, and one that has helped make Lough Tay a signature stop on scenic drives through Wicklow.
The wider setting matters just as much as the lake itself. Wicklow Mountains National Park is known for broad upland views, heather, bogland, rocky slopes and shifting light. Lough Tay sits within that larger landscape, which is why the viewpoint works so well on a day that can include the Sally Gap, Glenmacnass, and Glendalough.
Lough Tay itself is on private land and cannot be visited at the shoreline. The safe public views are from the roads and authorized viewpoints above, especially around the Military Road, Ballinastoe Woods, and the J.B. Malone Memorial area. A private tour is helpful here because stops can be timed carefully and the best places for photographs are easier to reach without the stress of self-driving on narrow mountain roads.
Michael Fox above Lough Tay on a clear day in the Wicklow Mountains.
On a guided day out from Dublin, Lough Tay is usually approached as part of a wider Wicklow circuit rather than as a single-stop destination. The route may continue to monastic ruins, gardens, waterfalls, film locations or village stops, depending on your interests. Because the tour is private, there is time to pause at viewpoints, watch the weather move across the hills, and wait for the light to improve.
Lough Tay is also known to many visitors as a filming location for the television series Vikings. The pale shore and dark water created a dramatic natural backdrop, while temporary shoreline buildings and a small harbor set helped transform the lake into a convincing Norse world. This mixture of mountain scenery and constructed detail is one reason Wicklow has been used so often for film and television production.
Lough Tay with shoreline buildings and the harbor set used for the Vikings television series.
From the public viewpoints above, you are looking down on the same striking landscape that appeared on screen. For guests interested in Wicklow film locations, Lough Tay pairs well with other scenic stops in the mountains, such as Into the Badlands in Wicklow and the stone bridge on the Sally Gap drive from the film P.S. I Love You. Even without its screen connection, it remains one of the classic scenic stops south of Dublin and works particularly well with Glendalough and the Sally Gap drive.
Both private Wicklow days include a stop to view Lough Tay from the mountain viewpoints above the lake.
Follow the mountain roads south of Dublin for a day that mixes wide Wicklow views with the early Christian remains at Glendalough. The route can include the Sally Gap, the viewpoints above Lough Tay, and time to explore Saint Kevin's monastic valley at a relaxed pace.
Price €675 for up to six guests, plus booking fees.
Designed for visitors who prefer a gentler scenic day, this private tour combines famous Wicklow viewpoints with elegant gardens. The itinerary includes Lough Tay and the Sally Gap with Powerscourt and Kilmacurragh Botanic Gardens.
Price €675 for up to six guests, plus booking fees.