Things to See and Do in Fermanagh
22nd July 2026
One of the questions we hear most often at reception is a lovely one — what is there to see and do around here?
Fermanagh is a county shaped by water and time. Lakes cut through farmland, castles appear where you least expect them, and the pace of life invites you to slow down and simply enjoy.
Below, we have gathered the questions our guests ask most often — along with a few suggestions we hope will inspire your stay.
Q: We have never been to Fermanagh before — where should we start?
A: A warm welcome to you. The very best way to get your bearings is to take to the water.
Lough Erne is at the heart of everything here, and seeing it from the lake itself gives you a perspective no car journey ever could.
Our own Lady of the Lake cruiser offers scheduled tours and sunset dinner cruises right from the hotel marina. Or book a private tour with Erne Water Taxi — Barry, the guide, knows every island and every story on the lough.
If you would rather keep your feet on dry land, start with Enniskillen itself. It is Ireland's only island town, and a wander along its streets, a pint in Blakes of the Hollow and a visit to Enniskillen Castle make for a lovely first afternoon.
Q: What is the one thing we absolutely must not miss?
A: That is an easy one. The Marble Arch Caves.
Set in the foothills of Cuilcagh Mountain, about twenty-five minutes from the hotel, these are some of the finest show caves in Europe. You descend underground with expert guides who bring the limestone passages, underground rivers and stalactite formations wonderfully to life.
The tour takes about an hour, and children — and adults, for that matter — find it utterly magical. Do book ahead, especially during summer and school holidays.
Q: We love walking. Are there good walks nearby?
A: You are in for a treat. Fermanagh has some of the finest walking in the north of Ireland, and there is something for every level of ambition.
The most famous is the Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail — known locally, and now globally, as the Stairway to Heaven. A wooden boardwalk climbs steadily across blanket bog before rising up the mountain via a steep staircase to a viewing platform, and the views from the top are breathtaking.
Allow three hours for the round trip. The final staircase is not for the faint of heart — but it is worth every step.
For something gentler, the forest trails at Florence Court and Castle Coole are beautiful. Both are National Trust properties just outside Enniskillen, with peaceful woodland walks and glimpses of deer, red squirrels and — if you are lucky — a kingfisher along the water. The walled garden at Florence Court is a particularly lovely spot to linger.
The Crom Estate, on the shores of Upper Lough Erne, is also a wonderful choice. Two thousand acres of nature reserve, with trails along the lough shore where you will see more wildlife than people.
Q: We are interested in history and castles. What is worth visiting?
A: You have come to the right county. Fermanagh is dotted with castles, monastic ruins and stately homes — each with its own story.
Enniskillen Castle, right in the centre of town, dates back six hundred years and houses two museums — the Fermanagh County Museum and the Inniskillings Museum. It is modest in size but rich in character, and the café on the castle walls overlooking the river is a fine spot afterwards.
Devenish Island is perhaps the most atmospheric historical site in all of Fermanagh. Take the ferry from Trory Jetty and step ashore onto an island that has been a place of prayer and learning since the sixth century.
The twelfth-century round tower is perfectly preserved, and the ruins of the Augustinian abbey are deeply evocative. On a still day, with the lough stretching out around you, it feels entirely timeless.
Tully Castle and Monea Castle, both free to visit and open year-round, are wonderful for a quiet explore. Tully — a fortified house on the shores of Lower Lough Erne, attacked and burned in 1641 — now sits peacefully above the water, a striking ruin with a visitor centre in the old farmhouse below.
For something grander, Castle Coole and Florence Court are magnificent eighteenth-century houses managed by the National Trust. The guided tours bring to life the upstairs-downstairs world of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy — and the contrast between the lavish state rooms and the vast underground servant quarters at Castle Coole is genuinely fascinating.
Q: We have children with us. What will keep them happy?
A: Plenty. Fermanagh is wonderfully family-friendly, and children here seem to thrive on the mix of open space, water and adventure.
Castle Archdale Country Park is a firm favourite. Set on the shores of Lower Lough Erne, it has forest trails, a playground, wartime history and boat hire — rent a little motorboat, a canoe or a katakanu and explore the lough at your own pace. There are bicycles and pedal buggies too, if your crew prefers wheels to water.
The Headhunters Barber Shop and Railway Museum in Enniskillen sounds improbable — and it is, in the best possible way. The world's only combined barber shop and railway museum, full of eccentric memorabilia that children adore. You can even get a haircut while you are there.
The Marble Arch Caves, as mentioned, are a huge hit with all ages, and the first, gentler section of the Cuilcagh Boardwalk across the bog is perfectly manageable for older children.
For rainy days, the Ardhowen Theatre regularly programmes family shows, and there is bowling and a cinema in Enniskillen as well.
Q: We would love to get out on the water. What are our options?
A: You are staying at the right hotel. Our marina here at the Manor House offers day boat hire and boating holidays — our team at reception can talk you through the options and make all the arrangements.
If you fancy being chauffeured:
- The Lady of the Lake cruiser runs scheduled tours and sunset dinner cruises from our marina.
- Erne Water Taxi offers private tours tailored entirely to your interests — Barry can take you to Devenish Island, White Island with its mysterious stone figures, or simply for a meander around the islands with a glass of something cold in hand.
For something more active:
- Blue Green Yonder in Enniskillen rents canoes and paddleboards by the hour. Paddling the backwaters on a calm summer evening — nothing but the sound of water dripping from your paddle and the birds overhead — is one of the simplest and best pleasures the lakelands offer.
- Erne Adventures runs hydrobike tours around Enniskillen island — a wonderfully odd and memorable way to see the town from the water.
- Corralea Activity Centre, near Belcoo, offers canoe and paddleboard rental alongside electric bikes and archery.
Q: What about food — where should we eat beyond the hotel?
A: While our own Belleek Restaurant and Cellar Door Bistro will keep you very well fed, there are some wonderful spots nearby if you fancy an outing.
The Watermill Restaurant sits right on the edge of Lough Erne near Lisbellaw, and the lake views do a lot of the work before the food even arrives. Relaxed, welcoming and very good.
Blakes of the Hollow in Enniskillen is one of the most famous Victorian pubs in Ireland — renowned for its pints of Guinness and its Irish coffees. The interior, all dark wood, snug corners and stained glass, is worth the visit alone.
For a special afternoon, the Boatyard Distillery on the shores of Lough Erne offers tours where you learn about their award-winning gin and vodka — and even label your own bottle to take home. A wonderful couple of hours, and the tasting at the end is, naturally, the highlight.
Q: We are here for a short break and just want to relax. What would you suggest?
A: We understand that entirely. Sometimes the best holiday activity is no activity at all.
Our own Sanctuary Spa is the obvious place to start. A treatment or two, followed by time in the outdoor hot tub with views across the lough, is a genuinely restorative way to spend a day.
If you do feel like venturing out, the drive through Navar Forest to the clifftop viewpoint is spectacular — and requires nothing more than sitting in your car. On a clear day, the view stretches across Lough Erne all the way to Donegal and the Atlantic. One of the finest panoramas in the county, with forest walks from the same spot if the mood takes you.
Castle Coole's grounds are free to walk and wonderfully peaceful. Find a bench, bring a book, and let the afternoon drift by.
And do not underestimate the simple pleasure of afternoon tea in our Watergate Bar — book in advance and ask for a window seat overlooking the lough.
Q: What is the best time of year to visit?
A: Honestly, every season brings its own magic.
Spring sees the woodlands around Florence Court carpeted in bluebells, and the bog cotton on Cuilcagh in full bloom.
Summer is long, bright evenings on the lough — and there is nothing quite like a sunset cruise in July.
Autumn turns the forests around Crom and Castle Coole into a blaze of amber and gold.
And winter, particularly around Christmas, sees the hotel dressed in its festive finest — roaring fires, mulled wine and the kind of cosiness that makes you never want to leave.
The truth is, Fermanagh never really has an off-season. It just has different seasons of beauty.
