For those who have had the fortune to gaze across Lough Allen, it's a captivating sight.
The triangular lake takes its place between the rolling hills of lovely Leitrim and will be one of the staging points this Saturday when the Leitrim Glens Sportive passes through the area.
The cycling event, which bears similarity to the Wicklow 200, starts in the north Leitrim town of Manorhamilton on Sunday, August 20th before taking in parts of Sligo, Roscommon and Fermanagh.
"It's based on the Wicklow 200," Seamus McGowan of Leitrim Glens Cycling Club tells me of a route that will take place across quiet public roads as well as some of the back-roads in north Leitrim and neighbouring areas in other counties.
"First of all there are two separate events. There's a 100 kilometre event and a 200 kilometre one. The 100km is basically designed for anybody who is able to get once or twice a week - for leisure cyclists. The first two stops we go from Manorhamilton to Dromahair and then over towards a place in County Sligo called Geevagh, which is 38 kilometres. And then you simply move on to Keadue and then Drumkeeran where you're passing Lough Allen on your right hand side. So it's nice, quiet country roads. The last 35km we head back towards Dromahair village and then we go up past a place called Newtownmanor and there is a climb there which is only about 1 kilometre long and then once you're over that, it's downhill from there back into Manorhamilton where there is a nice hot meal for everybody."
The 200km course is obviously that bit more extensive and tailored the more experienced cyclists, with more climbs to tackle.
"It's a challenge for the cyclists who are getting out 3-4 times a week and want a good challenge," McGowan explains, adding that some of the climbs will pass through areas like Arigna.
"On both routes there's lovely scenery. You've Lough Allen of course and then up on the other side then you have Lough Melvin and there's actually some dramatic scenery on the 200K route because you're going down towards Kinlough," says McGowan.
For more information on the Leitrim Glens Sportive, click here.
