An inspiring place, Lough Gill is set in a landscape of wooded hillsides, megaliths and mountains. Among those inspired was the poet WB Yeats, whose poems, The Stolen Child and Lake Isle of Innisfree, are set here. The lake is large - about 8kms by 2km - and activities include boating, fishing and walking its 40km perimeter. Waterbuses leave from Parkes Castle and fishing access is possible at Inishfree Pier, where boas can be hired. The lake holds brown trout and salmon.