Fermanagh for families

Fermanagh, the lakeland county, has lots on offer for all the family, from caving to canoeing and from biking to hiking. No matter what your family is into, on water or dry land, you’re about to discover that a fun-filled Fermanagh family break is an adventure quite unlike any other. 

First find your home from home 

Every family wants a base from which to strike out and explore County Fermanagh. Killyhevlin Lakeside Lodges (4*) are situated right on the banks of Lough Erne, and these lodges provide the perfect unique self-catering experience. Your little ones will love staying at Arch House B&B. Situated on a working farm, you can collect eggs from the hens, watch calves or lambs being born or see the rabbits or llamas. If they're not a fan of animals, they can play in the well-equipped play area. 

Lakeview Fermanagh Self Catering holiday homes (4*) offer a tennis court, trampoline, swings and climbing frame to keep the little ones entertained outdoors, with a games room available indoors. For a little countryside haven, choose Manor House Country Hotel (4*) with family rooms available and leisure facilities including a swimming pool if the kids fancy a dip in between adventures. 

Ballycassidy Retreat (5*) is just ten minutes outside Enniskillen in Ballinamallard and in the heart of Fermanagh’s green and glorious countryside. This luxurious four-bedroomed accommodation sleeps up to 8 people and is the perfect base for families to explore the area. Nearby Cloughbally Mill Cottage (4*) is a converted eighteenth century corn mill offering luxury accommodation on the banks of the Ballinamallard river. The living room has a wood burning stove and oak floors and a spacious patio overlooks the river. 

Cargin House is ideally situated in the countryside near Upper Lough Erne and provides spacious, luxurious accommodation with a large private garden, so plenty of room for you to stretch out and the kids to run around. 

Do it all together at an adventure park 

You can choose relaxation or action-packed adventure at Finn Lough, on the northern shores of Lower Lough Erne.  Kayaks or pedal crafts are on hand providing the perfect way to explore the surrounding islands and sandy bays. Or there are cycling and walking trails if you prefer to keep your feet on dry land.  The on-site spa is perfect for grown-ups looking to relax and unwind. You can stay here too, in a selection of accommodation options, from cosy fully-equipped family cottages to the exquisite bubble domes which offer a 180-degree view of the stars above. 

Castle Archdale (4*) is another quality adventure centre option with a variety of accommodation options to suit every family on this 20-acre site on the wooded shores of Lough Erne. You can pitch up and pitch your own tent, stay in a luxury fixed caravan, or if you’ve got itchy feet and wheels, hitch up your own touring caravan or dormobile for one night, two nights or more. There’s plenty of on-site facilities including a fully-featured play area, alongside lots of water-based activities - canoeing, kayaking, sailing, wind surfing or day boat hire are all available from the marina. 

Capture a castle 

Castle Coole, one of Fermanagh's three National Trust properties alongside Crom Estate and Florence Court, displays stately grandeur in all its glory. Guided tours, picnics, country walks and an extensive calendar of events, including lots for the little ones to get involved in, are all on offer at this majestic 18th century home. 

Go underground at the Marble Arch Caves 

This natural underworld of rivers, show caves, chambers and winding passages at Marble Arch Caves are all waiting for you to explore in the electrically powered boats. Unexplored until little over a century ago, these caves feature stalactites, cavernous passages, underground pools and streams which have been formed and reformed as the water slowly dissolved the limestone bedrock over countless millennia. Go and explore the extensive caves with one of the popular guided tours and your whole family will discover more about geology, geography and archaeology than Indiana Jones himself ever did.  

Walk our Stairway to Heaven 

Nicknamed the Stairway to Heaven, the timbered Legnabrocky trail to the summit of Cuilcagh Mountain is a wonder of foresight and compassion for nature, as well as a fair challenge for walkers and strollers, young and old. Originally installed to protect the blanket bog and mountain flanks from pounding boots and shoes, it’s become a magnet for locals and visitors and has recently become an Instagram rival to some of Northern Ireland’s most snapped and papped locations. 

Discover your hidden talents 

Get active at the Share Discovery Village in Lisnaskea. All equipment and instruction is provided for activities, which include dinghy sailing, canoeing, archery, banana skiing, indoor and outdoor climbing wall, pedal go-karting, kayaking, windsurfing, orienteering and a wide range of creative arts, for example, pottery, modroc sculpture and T-shirt painting based in the Arts Centre. 

Food for families hungry for adventure 

Tasty, homemade food is the order of the day at The Jolly Sandwich Bar in Enniskillen.  Pancake breakfasts, hearty soup and sandwiches and tasty traybakes are just some of the delicacies waiting to be sampled. 

Did someone say pizza?  Families just love pizza and stone-baked pizza straight out of the special oven at The Firehouse in Enniskillen is a must!  With another, special Bertha oven, that gives a mouth-watering chargrilled flavour to favourite steak, chicken or fish dishes, your taste buds will thank you. 

As you can see, County Fermanagh is made for adventurous families and this is just a snapshot of what’s on offer in a place that’s sure to fill your family photo album with magical memories.