Fermanagh

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Fermanagh

Quills Woollen Market · Member

Hello,

I'm thinking of heading to Fermanagh in Sept and I dont really know much about the place.

Lough Erne looks interested where is best to stay Enniskillen or somewhere else.

Are Marble Arch Caves worth seeing

What are the top 5 things to do and name one restaurant that you recommend.

CowboyCraic · Guru

Two of my favorite places to stay are

Willowbank House - Enniskillen ---- beautiful views, black bacon, local sourced foods....porridge with Baileys.... Affordable elegance

& on Boa Island

The Courtyard - Kesh - lakeside rooms...

Both are more remote than Michele's offerings...If you are looking for a more "town" experience...

Bob has given you some excellent sites to see..

I would also suggest:

the Crom Estate which is a nature conservancy area...

The Buttermarket... Enniskillen.. Arts & Crafts shops...

The St Patrick Centre... Down... If Tim Campbell is about, tell him Bit sent you

Castle Coole ...both the house and the surrounding gardens...breathstealing

Aughakillymaude Mummers Centre ... I found it quite interesting...

Sheelin Irish LAce Museum & Shop... well worth the stop..

Michele Erdvig · Host

I was about to reply earlier but wicked thunderstorms and tornadoes made me shut things down and sit in the basement for 45 minutes. Dodged another weather bullet.

Great suggestions so far. I will note that Abocurragh Farm is several miles outside town in a very rural area. It is fabulous though. Bernie is a wonderful hostess, the rooms are lovely and comfortable, and breakfast is brilliant. If hotels are more your thing try Lough Erne Resort (sound familiar?) and Killyhevlin Hotel.

My top 5 would be:

Castle Coole
Belleek (love the flowering room, museum and "sale corner") I even saw a piece I have in the museum!
Marble Arch Caves (I was slightly miffed that the boats were not going on the underground lake when I was there so check in advance if that is important)
Boa Island (follow signs to Caldragh)
Ulster American Folk Park

If you ever go in the spring Crom Estate is gorgeous with bluebells.

Quills Woollen Market · Member

Is Fermanagh was good enough for Barack and co recently that it will do me.

Thanks so much for the tips. There's plenty there to keep me busy for tonight. Devenish Island looks good, I was told you can go into the tower and walk up to the top!

I;m more of a B&B/Guesthouse person and we'll have transport so I don't mind the remote locations. I can't believe more people dont go to Fermanagh! I mean no one I knew down here in Kerry has really holiday'd there.

CowboyCraic · Guru

True everywhere though...so many things to see and do "right outside" your door...and yet we stay in our own comfort zone. Fermanagh, situated as it is, seems to be the drive-thru county and that is a shame.

For its size, Fermanagh has an impressive amount of Ecclesiastic ruins and quite a few well-know folk who originated there. Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett both cane from Fermanagh.