County Fermanagh

Water is the county: Upper and Lower Lough Erne, more than a hundred islands and an island county town at Enniskillen. Hire a boat and the place makes sense.

County Fermanagh facts

Province: Ulster
County town: Enniskillen
Setting: Inland
Touring region: Northern Ireland
Best for: history, family, hiking, castles, scenic drives
Places in the planner: 5

Water defines this county. Upper and Lower Lough Erne spread across the county in a network of bays and more than a hundred islands, with Enniskillen, the county town, itself set on an island between the two loughs, at its centre. Boating, fishing and slow lakeside days shape the visitor experience here.

On land, Fermanagh holds some of Ireland's finest country houses, including Castle Coole and Florence Court, early Christian carvings on Devenish Island, and, in the southwest, the Marble Arch Caves and Cuilcagh Mountain, shared with Cavan as a UNESCO Global Geopark. Hiring a boat, even for a day, is the best way to understand the county, and the Erne's marinas and waterside villages are set up for it. On wet days, the caves, great houses and Enniskillen's castle museums fill the time easily.

Top sights in Fermanagh

Lough Erne

Two connected lakes with island monasteries, cruising, fishing and waterside villages.

Devenish Island

An early Christian monastic site with a round tower, reached by ferry from near Enniskillen.

Marble Arch Caves

A show cave system of underground rivers, waterfalls and limestone formations.

Castle Coole

A neoclassical National Trust mansion on the edge of Enniskillen.

Cuilcagh Boardwalk

The Stairway to Heaven trail climbing Cuilcagh Mountain on the Cavan border.

Towns & cities in Fermanagh

Enniskillen

An island town doing its business between two loughs, with boats at the marinas and the castle on the river. Enniskillen, the county town of Fermanagh, sits between Upper and Lower Lough Erne.

Lisnaskea

Lakeside town on Upper Lough Erne in the east of the county.

Irvinestown

Small town near Castle Archdale and Lough Erne resorts.

Belleek

Village famous for its fine Parian china pottery, near the Donegal border.

Best time to visit

Late spring to early autumn is best for boating, island ferries and caves. Winter visits suit the great houses and quiet town breaks.

Getting there

Enniskillen is about two hours by road from Belfast and around two and a half hours northwest of Dublin. The nearest airports are in Belfast and Dublin.

Places for your trip

Enniskillen: An island town doing its business between two loughs, with boats at the marinas and the castle on the river. Enniskillen, the county town of Fermanagh, sits between Upper and Lower Lough Erne.
Devenish Island: Devenish Island in Lower Lough Erne contains an early monastic site with a well-preserved round tower.
Boa Island: Boa Island in Lower Lough Erne is known for carved stone figures, including a two-faced Janus-like figure in Caldragh graveyard.
Marble Arch Caves: The Marble Arch Caves are a system of limestone caves near Florencecourt in County Fermanagh.
Enniskillen Castle: The Maguire chieftains built their castle on the River Erne in the 16th century, and it guards the island town still.

What's on

No anchor festival is based here, but the Irish year is full: next up nationally is TradFest (20–24 Jan 2027, Temple Bar, Dublin). See the full events calendar

Nearby counties

County Fermanagh