"Stairway to Heaven" in Northern Ireland
With the approaching winter, one wonders where would be worth going for a walk or a hike or what trip should one do for a weekend. I always love to come back to The Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.
It is a scenic experience no matter the season :)
How to get to The Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail?
It is located in Enniskillen in Northern Ireland and it is approximately 2.5- 3 hours’ drive from Dublin. Should you be looking to visit this spot from Dublin like me and my friend did, I would recommend planning for a nearby overnight stay and making it into a nice relaxed 2-day trip with a few stops at lakes, parks or other visitor attractions of your interest. Luckily the area boosts are plenty of sightseeing points, such as Florencecourt walled garden, Cavan Burren Park, Marble Arch Caves.
My tip for a 2-day trip is to book a lovely overnight stay in the beautiful Mount Edward Lodge (click on the name to get redirected to their page) which is located in Co. Sligo, only about a 1hour drive from the Cuilcagh Mountain. So once you are done with your morning or afternoon hike, head to this lodge with stunning views on Benbulben mountain as well as on the North Atlantic Ocean. Staying in this lodge will offer you a chance to discover more amazing places along the West Coast of Ireland.
But first, let me tell you a bit more about The Cuilcagh Boardwalk. It is also called the “Stairway to Heaven Walk” and rightly so as the views from the peak are indeed heavenly beautiful.
Suitability
It is approximately a 12km long walk and it takes on average 2-3 hours to walk to from the car park to the the final ascent and back. It is suitable for all fitness levels and frequently visited by families with children. A steep climb is required to reach the viewing platform on Cuilcagh Mountain which provides breathtaking views of the surrounding lands. If your knees give you troubles, you might want to take only the moderately flat walk toward the stairs for approx. 4.5km and leave out the 1.5 km wooden steep steps climb.
What to expect to see along the trail
Cuilcagh Boardwalk trail is a very scenic walk on its own. The land is made out of bog and limestone, often referred to as “The Fertile Rock” as it has also plenty of flowers during the year. The trail starts with a gravel track, but after about 2.7km it turns into a boardwalk with views on the largest blanket bog formations in Northern Ireland and the flat-top Cuilcagh Mountain.
If walking here in the spring one can admire the landscape covered by white bog cotton, if in summer and autumn one can admire magnificent moor grasses in green and purple shades.
The boardwalk was placed on the land to protect the precious bog from damage caused by ever more popular tourism, so please remember to stay on the designated track!
Few facts that might interest you
There are 450 steps to get to the peak of the Cuilcagh mountain. The mountain is 665m and it is the 170th highest peak on the Irish island. The Cuilcagh peak along with Marble Arch caves and Cladagh Glen belongs to Cuilcagh Mountain Park. The park is part of UNESCO World Heritage -European Geopark since 2001. Another interesting fact is that the underground water from the mountain is eventually reaching the Shannon River, which is the longest river in Ireland.
Do I need to book Cuilcagh Boardwalk in advance?
The land along this walk is privately owned by the Sheridan family and they are trying to preserve nature and their farmland as much as possible. Hence, there are also limited payable parking spaces in an attempt to regulate the number of entries. Customers are encouraged to prebook their car park spot. Everyone is entitled to 3 hours parking slot for a £5 fee. English pounds is after all the currency used in Northern Ireland, but do not panic if not have any pounds on you, the equivalent of €6 is accepted as well.
Can I bring my dog with me?
No dogs are allowed.
I can imagine the dog owners saying at this point “how very disappointing”, but please understand that the trail is on a working farm, and dogs could worry some of the freely roaming sheep and lambs in the lambing season. While some dog owners are happy to keep their furry friends on a leash, some might be very tempted to let them run loose and the only way to avoid this is prevention at entry.
What should I bring with me?
Be prepared with some decent hiking footwear, basic trainers might not protect you from small stones along the walk.
Irish weather can be unpredictable, so I would recommend packing a rain-resistant jacket as well as pair of sunglasses. Check out for example the Outdoor Adventure Store website or pop into one of their store in Dublin, Cork or Wicklow.
Make sure you pack your water bottle and some snacks as there are no shops on the entry road. However, only a 3km drive will bring you the Marble Arch Caves, where one can buy a few bits and pieces and use their washroom too.
It is a well looked after trail, clean, but with no bins as one is encouraged to bring any own rubbish back to their cars.
One can expect a nice atmosphere with people passing each other and often exchanging a bit of small talk along the way, so don’t be shy and say hello! 😊
Bring a good mood, but if not in one just yet, I am sure after a few steps and some shared smiles from other hikers along the way you will be smiling inside out in no time!
Ready to get the miles in and put the smile on? A trip to The Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail will surely help!
Let us know which is your favourite hiking trail in Ireland!?♡
~ Soňa I Smart Hiker
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