Tuesday 12th September
Our camp site is situated just off A46, which runs along the length of Lower Lough Erne, from Belleek in the north, to Enniskillen in the south. The Lough Erne Golf Resort and Castle Hume Golf Club are also just a short drive down the road. We are well located to explore this area of County Fermanagh. On the journey to our site, Ray had noticed a sign for a view point, which is always worth a visit. We set off to retrace our drive. Bingo!
Lough Navar is part of Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark. It was one of the first eight Geoparks to be recognised by UNESCO when they launched their Geoparks initiative in 2001. The entrance into the forest was particularly mysterious.
The narrow two way road led us through the forest and up to our first viewpoint Aghamaleen Viewpoint. The view here, looks to the south east over a large area of West Fermanagh. There was also the opportunity to take a 2 km walk to a waterfall from the car park. We continued our climb, stopping a number of times to wonder at the vast uprooted coniferous trees, displaying their shallow root system and the velvet covering of moss.
The forest is dark, dense and very wet. The way the moss has developed over time on the forest floor, the branches and trunks of the trees was so beautiful.
We finally made it to the main viewing point, the jewel of the forest, Magho Cliffs viewpoint. Apparently on a clear day, Lower Lough Erne, the Sperrin Mountains, Slieve League, the Atlantic Ocean and the Blue Stack Mountains can be seen.
As well as the 7 mile long drive, there are many walking paths and trails of various lengths. So plenty for all tastes, ages and fitness levels.
Back down from the forest, we made our way on the Glennasheevar Road to Garrison and on to our next place of interest. We took B52, which is basically a flat, straight road, which runs along the border between Fermanagh and Leitrim. It passes Lough Macnean Upper and into the town of Belcoo. The town is on the County Fermanagh/County Cavan border, beside the village of Blacklion in the Republic of Ireland.
We then followed the signs for Marble Arch Caves Geopark. We found plenty of parking, and even an electric vehicle charging point! My brother would be impressed.
Admission prices were good but we were informed that owing to the amount of rainfall over the last few weeks, the 10 minute boat tour has not been operating since early August! In fact, yesterday the caves were closed as the water levels were too high. So I guess we were lucky to choose to visit today.
We had a fantastic tour guide to take us on our voyage of discovery. She informed us, in her delightful Irish accent, that we would have to take the 154 steps down to the caves and again on exiting! Normally you would only have to do these once, as you would take the boat tour first and use a different entrance.
Once we had navigated the steps, our tour followed a walkway, taking us through different caves, with wonderful examples of different stalagmites and stalactites and rock formations that have evolved over millions of years.
Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and talked about the history and formation of the caves.
One of the interesting highlights, which no photograph could do justice to, was the stalactites on the ceiling of the caves reflected in the river below, resembling a ‘mini Atlantis’ underwater city.
Back out of the caves and into the visitor centre, there were well displayed information boards and artefacts to feed the mind. All in all an excellent way to spend an afternoon.
Amazing photographs.
Thank you 😄