Saturday, January 19, 2008

Holidays in Fermanagh - 10 Great Walks

If you are thinking of coming to Fermanagh on holiday, the chances are you will be looking for some kind of outdoor activity. Why not pack your walking shoes and explore some of the 25 walks in this beautiful County. The walks take in some of the National Trust properties as well as the area known as the best view in Ireland. Here are a selection. CastleCoole Just outside the town of Enniskillen, this gentle walk takes in the National Trust estate of Castle Cool, home of the 6th Earl of Belmore and his family. The walk winds through the Beech walk and takes in stunning views of this Neo-classical Mansion. Just under 5 kilometers. Castle Archdale Leaving Enniskillen and taking the Kesh road, you wlll find the historic Castle Archdale. Both a forest walk with a marina on Lower Lough Erne, this location has the remains of a Castle dating back to the early 17th century. Castle Archdale was aslo an RAF station during the Second World War and was a base for flying boats. The walk travels through the forest and also along the edge of the lough. Just under 6 kilometers. Lough Navar, Magho Cliffs Around 20km outside Enniskillen going towards Belleck, you will find Lough Navar. Stunning views over the Lower Lough Erne at the summit, although this forest walk is not for the faint-hearted, the views are definitely worth the effort. Just over 4 kilometers. Conagher Forest Between Derrygonnelly and Garrison, this circular route takes you through open moorland and areas of wild heather. A walk through a nature reserve and interesting features because of the limestone rock. Guided walks are available and this walk requires good footwear. 4kilometers. Big Dog Forest A beautiful walk near Knockmore which shows the diversity of Fermanagh landscape and includes some old folklore. Covering moorland and mountain lakes, this walk is both charming and enjoyable. Big Dog along with Little Dog were reportedly dogs of Finn MacCool who were turned into stone by a local witch! Just over 4 kilometers. Ballintempo Forest Another circular walk which takes in waterfalls and an historic neolithic monument. Ballintempo lies to the east of Enniskillen towards Boho.Through conifer forest you will also pass many small lakes. Just over 12 kilometers. Belmore Forest In the midst of Fermanagh s cave country, you will pass a quarry where there is an impressive waterfall which has gouged out a pothole known locally as hole of the Doves . Just over 7 kilometers. Florence Court This walk takes in the grounds of the National Trust property Florence Court, former home of the Earl of Enniskillen and his family. This circular walk takes in some interesting terrain and views of Topped Mountain and the Clogher Valley. Just over 6 kilometers. Crom Estate A beautiful walk around the Crom Estate the grounds of which is the property of the National Trust. It is an important conservation site as well as giving the walker some valuable historical information about the estate and surrounding area. The walk includes woodland, wetland and lakeland as it borders Upper Lough Erne. Just under 5 kilometers. The Cuilcag Mountain Way An impressive and important walk through Cuilcagh Mountain Park, close to Marble Arch. The park was awarded Global Geopark status in 2004. A great deal of restoration of bog and peatland has been carried out and part of the walk will take you over a special floating road over the restored bogland. This walk, because of the length and terrain is recommended only for experienced walkers or at least walkers with good walking shoes and relatively good health. Just over 15 kilometers. In Ireland as a whole the best known walking trail and certainly the longest at 560 miles, is the Ulster Way. This famous circular path, now largely waymarked, runs all round Northern Ireland and has other trails coming in to join it, notably from Donegal and Cavan. Elaine is a business skills trainer as well as a professional coach. Both she and her husband Ken built a house in the beautiful countryside of Brookeborough , County Fermanagh. In 2007 they decided to offer Bed and Breakfast accommodation and are keen to welcome visitors from all over the world to Fermanagh. They would like to share with visitors the diversity of the lovely county as well as the broader beauty of Ireland. For more information have a look at aislinghousefermanagh.com

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