The Lough Derg Way is a 114-kilometre waymarked walking and cycling route that circles the lake, passing through Killaloe, Scarriff, Mountshannon, Portumna, Portroe and Dromineer. The full circuit takes three to four days on foot or one long day by bike. Most visitors do individual sections: the Clare shore between Killaloe and Mountshannon offers the best combination of lakeshore views and light traffic.
The route is mostly on minor roads and farm tracks, and the surface is suitable for a hybrid or touring bike. Several sections pass close to the water's edge, and there are picnic spots and swimming points along the way. The Mountshannon to Whitegate section is particularly attractive in the evening light.