https://cuilcaghlakelands.org/geosite/florencecourt-forest-trail/
Florencecourt Forest Park covers an area of 1,200 hectares and this old estate forest and moorland is currently managed by the National Trust.
The Florencecourt Forest Trail is one of the walks on offer within Cuilcagh Mountain Park and is Section Five of the Cuilcagh Way, a waymarked route that stretches for 20.5 miles / 33.5km through a breath-taking patchwork of habitats in west Fermanagh. The route provides stunning views, fascinating geology, mystifying wildlife, captivating archaeology, and natural history and can be walked in sections. The trail is also surrounded by corridors of lofty trees, dynamic rivers, rambling stone field walls, a rich treasury of wildflowers and a unique density of rustic farmsteads.
Facilities: car parking, interpretation, picnic area, playpark, shop, tea rooms, toilets, Florencecourt House and a number of walking trails.
Florencecourt Forest Trail
When starting your walk from the Florencecourt House carpark follow the waymarked red trail, which takes you along narrow tracks that twist and turn and undulating course past mixed deciduous woodland crossing the Larganess River in several places. As you reach the edge of the forest you will pick up the trail sign for the Cuilcagh Way (Florencecourt Forest Trail). It weaves its way through forests alive with a wide variety of wildlife, birds, and plants before sauntering around the foothills of the Marlbank karst region, an area of limestone with characteristic weathering both above and below ground.
There are no significant climbs but along the western section of the trek there are some splendid views of Cuilcagh Mountain and the surrounding Marlbank hills. Attractions along the way include Gortmaconnell Rock, a knoll-shaped hill rising out of the green meadows with its craggy white slopes stark in the sunlight.
Please be aware:
For safety, conservation and insurance reasons, walk leaders and event organisers are not permitted to organise, advertise, or run an event of any nature in, or along any section of the Cuilcagh Way, where participants exceed 20, without prior written consent from the Marble Arch Caves. Application forms are available from the Marble Arch Caves and should be submitted well in advance of a planned walk or event. Please contact mac@fermanaghomagh.com for more information.
Florencecourt Forest Trail is alive with a wide variety of wildlife, birds, and plants. One of the most important features of the site is the display of the original Irish yew tree, which can be spotted on your travels. The story goes back to 1767, when a young local farmer, George Willis, found Yew saplings from the slopes of the surrounding mountains. George planted one for his own garden and gave the other to his landlord, William Cole, (the first Earl of Enniskillen).
The trees got so much attention, they became famous in the area, attracting attention from horticultural communities far and wide, and became so sought after that in 1820, it was commercially reproduced. It is believed that all Irish yew specimens across the world owe their creation to this Yew which resides within the grounds of Florence Court house, which is incredibly special.
Florencecourt Forest Trail skirts Florencecourt House, an 18th Century home, which is managed by the National Trust.
Enniskillen, Fermanagh
Visitors are guided through a fascinating natural underworld of rivers, waterfal...
Enniskillen, Fermanagh
The trail meanders along a farmland track, through one of the largest expanses o...
Marlbank, Fermanagh
The narrow-steep sided gorge of the Cladagh Glen is one of the most picturesque ...
Marlbank, Fermanagh
The reserve's limestone grassland is managed through conservation grazing and is...
Marlbank, Fermanagh
This delightful short walk leads you to one of the most incredible views in the ...
Burren, Cavan
A mythical, spiritual landscape of monuments, megalithic tombs, hut sites and pr...
Marlbank, Fermanagh
Cuilcagh Mountain Park takes in 2,500 hectares on the northern slopes of Cuilcag...
Derrylahan, Cavan
This tranquil Lough is part of a complex system of underground rivers associated...
Distances are from Florencecourt Forest Trail
This is a cooperation project between Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Cavan County Council.
This element of the project is part funded under Priority 6 (LEADER) of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs and the European Union. We would like to acknowledge the assistance of County Cavan Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), Cavan County Council, Breffni Integrated CLG, Department of Rural and Community Development, the EU and EAFRD in part-funding this project. Funded by the Irish Government Under the Leader Programme 2014-2020.
