Devenish Island

Devenish is a low green island in Lower Lough Erne carrying one of Ireland's finest monastic sites, a beautifully preserved twelfth-century round tower, a ruined priory and old grave slabs, reached by a short seasonal ferry from Trory jetty north of Enniskillen. For aerial photography the round tower rising from the island turf, ringed by the still waters of the lough and its scattering of drumlin islands, is a genuinely world-class subject. Practically, you can either take the ferry across and launch from the island, or fly from the public shore and jetty at Trory out over the water toward the island if it stays within safe visual range. Access to the island depends on the ferry running, so check seasons and times before you travel. This is a state-care heritage site and a Special Protection Area for birds, so fly respectfully around the monuments and give any nesting or wintering wildfowl a wide margin. Winds sweep unobstructed across the open lough and a ditch into the water means losing the aircraft, so keep healthy battery and signal reserves at all times. The tower catches wonderful warm light in the evening, with the lough turning glassy and still and the whole island glowing against the darker far shore.