The legend of the Lough
Lough Neagh is the largest freshwater lake in the British Isles covering 153 sq miles (400 sq km) and touches five of the six counties of Northern Ireland. The Lough has many stories concerning its origin. One of the best known is that of Ireland's legendary giant, Finn McCool, who is said to have created the Lough when he scooped up a portion of the land and tossed it at a Scottish rival. He missed and the earth landed in the Irish Sea thus creating the Isle of Man.
A great fishing lake
As the largest lake in the British Isles, Lough Neagh has always been synonymous with fishing. The rivers flowing into the Lough and the small lakes surrounding it offer fine fishing. Salmon, pollen, perch, bream, roach and dollaghan (Lough Neagh Trout) are among the species to be found and provide a range of challenges to all sorts of anglers.
A central feature of Craigavon
Lough Neagh has played a dominant role in the development of the region. Its vast surface area creates a unique microclimate and its many miles of shoreline area present hidden harbours, gently sloping shores, rich and varied habitats and recreation areas.
Discover Lough Neagh
Water has long been a feature of Craigavon and it remains an important feature of the area today with the Oxford Island National Nature Reserve and the many watersports activities available for residents and visitors alike. You can find out all about this wonderful natural resource by visiting the award winning Lough Neagh Discovery Centre.
Birdwatching
The rich diversity of habitats around Lough Neagh offers excellent opportunities for birdwatching all year round.
Oxford Island has discreet birdwatching hides, which provide open vistas onto the water where the hidden world of birds feeding, courting and nesting are revealed. Winter often brings several thousand diving duck with rarities such as smew, ring necked and long tailed duck in amongst the rafts of pochard, tufted duck and goldeneye. Surrounding farmland frequently sees flocks of whooper and bewick swans. In summer, the Lough and its shores provide support for grebe, mallard, terns, warblers, finches and coot.
Lurgan Park Lake offers a very good range of the common wildfowl species but also occasionally the rarer species such as the ring necked duck are seen.
The Craigavon Lake South is extensively used for watersports, but this does not deter a number of regular visitors including pochard, tufted duck, mallard, coot and grebe. The North Lake is almost exclusively reserved for wildfowl and is a stocked game fishery.
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