IrishBeaches.ie
Monitored bathing water Lakeshore

The Cut (Lough Lene)

Co. Westmeath, Ireland
Water qualityExcellent EPA
Blue Flag 2026No
Green CoastNo
DogsTo be confirmed
Always verify the car-park location on arrival. Road and access conditions may change.

About The Cut (Lough Lene)

The Cut is Westmeath's best-loved lake beach, on clear, spring-fed Lough Lene near Collinstown — clean water over a sandy, rock-free bottom, lifeguarded through the summer season. It is shallow and safe along the shore, but deeper mid-lake where wind can raise a current, so check with the lifeguards before any distance swim. The mile swim out to Turgesius Island is the local test piece, and triathlon and masters clubs train here. Jet skis are banned, keeping the water calm, and the monastic ruins of Fore Abbey are close by. One of only a handful of designated inland bathing waters in Ireland — and Westmeath holds three of them.

Westmeath's three lake beaches

Westmeath holds three of Ireland's handful of designated inland bathing waters — The Cut, Lilliput and Portnashangan.

Lilliput (Lough Ennell) · Portnashangan (Lough Owel)

Get directions to the car park

This searches for the named car park on Google Maps — a place-name match, not yet a GPS-confirmed pin.

📍 Find The Cut, Lough Lene, Collinstown on Google Maps

Named from official sources but not yet pin-verified — always confirm on arrival.

Activity suitability

  • Surfing — No surf
  • Walking — Short walk (under 1km)
  • Lifeguard (summer) — Yes
  • Not yet confirmed: Swimming

Facilities

  • Toilets — Yes
  • Car park — Free
  • Lifeguard — Yes
  • Not yet confirmed: Disabled access, Shower, Café nearby

Facilities confirmed from Westmeath County Council and Fáilte Ireland Source.

Water quality

Water quality information is sourced from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland and is updated annually. During the bathing season real-time water quality updates are available at beaches.ie. Always check beaches.ie and local signage at the beach before swimming, particularly after heavy rainfall. IrishBeaches.ie accepts no liability for water quality conditions at the time of your visit.

EPA classification: Excellent (latest annual bathing-water assessment). Always check beaches.ie for the current rating.

Where to stay nearby

Search accommodation near The Cut (Lough Lene)

Verified local listings for Westmeath are coming as we build out our accommodation guide.