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County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland
Derek Mackenzie-Hook
 Whatever your interests and passions are, Fermanagh has something for everyone. Here sport, leisure and entertainment, or simply enjoying yourself, take many forms. With its vast stretches of water, Fermanagh is known as Northern Ireland's Lake District. Considered by many to be the most attractive inland waterway in Europe, the beautiful Shannon-Erne Waterway allows visitors to access both the Shannon and Erne system, making this the largest navigable inland waterway in Europe. The centre of attraction in this tourist's Mecca is the magnificent Lough Erne, an island-studded paradise covering over 300 square miles. One of the best ways to explore the area is by boat and there are modern, well-equipped cabin cruisers available to hire from companies such as Carrick Craft, who are based at Derrylin on Upper Loch Erne. There are modern moorings conveniently located throughout the waterway, including on many of the islands where you can moor overnight and often have the whole island to yourself.
For landlubbers, there's a wide range of tourist attractions to suit for all tastes. You can experience Lough Erne without getting your feet wet by visiting the Explore Erne Exhibition Centre in Belleek, which tells the story of how 50 miles of lough and surrounding landscapes were formed. Here you can travel through time along the shores of Lough Erne and experience the changes from mythological beginnings to the age of hydro-electric power.
 The many historic sites, castle ruins and stately homes, both on islands and shores, tell the colourful story of County Fermanagh through the centuries and offer perfect opportunities for all the family to enjoy. There's Florence Court, an 18th-century mansion with pleasure gardens, an ice-house and water-powered sawmill. Enniskillen Castle houses The Regimental Museum and Watergate History and Heritage Centre. Now a Craft and Design Centre where you can see local craft people at work, the Buttermarket in Enniskillen is also worth visiting.
There are plenty of 20th-century attractions on offer too: leisure centres with a wide range of facilities include Fermanagh Lakeland Forum and the Castle Entertainment Centre in Enniskillen, Castle Park Centre in Lisnaskea and Bawnacre Centre in Irvinestown. There are also numerous activity centre's scattered throughout the county such as Drumrush Watersports Centre and Lusty Beg Island Activity Centre in Kesh, and Share Holiday Village in Lisnaskea.
 Don't miss the spectacular Marble Arch Caves at Florencecourt, recognised as one of Europe's finest systems. A tour of these caves is a truly memorable experience: spectacular walkways allow easy access through a bewildering array of cave formations. Electric boats carry visitors gracefully along a subterranean river through a natural underworld of huge caverns and rock formations. This is a must for all ages, but the tour lasts for 75 minutes, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and warm clothing.
USEFUL CONTACTS
 Fermanagh Tourist Information Centre
Enniskillen
Tel: +44 (0)28 6632 3110
Email: tic@fermanagh.gov.uk
www.fermanagh-online.com
Carrick Craft Cruisers
Reservations: +44 (0)28 3834 4993
Email: sales@carrickcraft.com
www.carrickcraft.com
Fermanagh Lakeland Forum
Enniskillen
Tel:+44 (0)28 6632 4121
Email: flf@fermanagh.gov.uk
www.lakelandforum.com
Enniskillen Castle
Tel: +44 (0)28 6632 5000
Email: castle@fermanagh.gov.uk
www.enniskillencastle.com
Florence Court
Tel: +44 (0)28 6634 8249
Email: ufcest@smtp.ntrust.org.uk
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
Marble Arch Caves
Tel: +44 (0)28 6634 8855
Email: mac@fermanagh.gov.uk
www.fermanagh-online.com/tourism
Recommended child-friendly accommodation:
Arch House
Tullyhona, Near Florencecourt
Tel: +44 (0)28 6634 8452
Email: tullyguest60@hotmail.com
www.archhouse.com
Stena Line offer an excellent ferry service to Ireland with routes from Stranraer to Belfast, Holyhead to Dublin and Dun Laoghaire, and Fishguard to Rosslare. The ferries are very family friendly and on some routes children can join the Family Zone with cinema and soft play toddlers area.
Reservations - Tel: +44 (0)8705 707070
www.stenaline.co.uk |
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