Popular Things to Do and See in Leitrim, Sligo and Enniskillen

Most Popular Things to do and See in Leitrim

Discover the walks directly from our door taking in the natural beauty of lovely Leitrim. Climb up behind Cullentragh Lodge to Cullentragh Lake for those intrepid wild swimmers or walk a little further to Lough MacNean.

This region of Ireland is an idyllic ‘back water’ where you can step off the ‘hamster wheel’ and take stock of life. Our location in Glenfarne, N. Leitrim is just a stones throw from the Counties of Cavan, Donegal, Sligo and Mayo. This location offers the best of country living with its abundance of lakes, rich landscape, monolithic monuments, waterfalls and incredible fauna and flora. The Wild Atlantic Way with its many sandy beaches and Top Surfing locations is only 30kms away and if its shopping you're looking for Sligo city and Enniskillen offer an array of 'individual, boutique shops and high street stores.

• The WB Yeats Trail - Take a tour of Ireland's most famous national and international poet. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in December 1923, the first Irish man to do so. He is buried in Drumcliffe, just outside Sligo city 30kms away.

• The Organic Centre at Rossiner – the oldest Organic Garden in Ireland with Eco shop, potato day, inspirational garden and great Cafe week
• Manorhamilton Castle was building a baronial mansion during the plantation of Leitrim by Sir Frederick Hamilton in 1634. Hamilton proved to be a tyrant noted for his cruelty to prisoners, many of whom he is known to have publicly hanged. After sustained rebellion the castle was burned to the ground in 1652 by the native Irish, although not before Hamilton had taken the opportunity to burn Sligo town.
• Parkes Castle in all its splendour located on Lough Gill gives guided tours. Parkes Castle, which is a 17th century castle. Once the home of Robert Parks and his family. The courtyard grounds contain evidence of an earlier 16th century tower, house structure once owned by Sir Brian O’Rourke who subsequently was executed at Tyburn, London in 1591. The castle has been restored using Irish Oak and traditional craftsmanship.
• The Rose of Innisfree water boat located to Parks castle which runs daily tours around Lough Gill passing by Innisfree Island, Church Island, Slishwood, Dooney Rock and Beesies Island. On Church Island the old church still stands today. You can sit back and enjoy some tea/coffee, home baking, snacks and a full bar service on board with a very good pint on board. Live commentary and Poetry recitals from the captain of the boat.
• Sean Mac Diarmada’s Homestead This house is the family home of the 1916 rebellion leader Sean Mac Diarmada the patriot who was one of seven signatories of the proclamation of independence in 1916. It is a three roomed thatched cottage with some thatched out buildings, partially surrounded by rhododendrons and with a fine view over upper Lough Macnean. His statue now stands at the intersection of the main street in Kiltyclogher Village. Sean Mac Dairmuida was executed on the 12th may 1916.The 1916 Rising was the precursor to events that led to the creation of the Irish Free State.
• Megalithic Cemeteries and mythical stones
• Historical villages including Dromahair at the entry point to Lough Gill
• ‘Ballroom of Romance’, Glenfarne - The World Famous Dance Hall
• The Glens Centre in Manorhamilton - a music and theatre venue
• Arigna Mines. This was once one of the few areas of Ireland to play a role in the Industrial Revolution, based first on iron extraction for a fifty-year period after 1788 – the local ironworks forged pikes in preparation for the 1798 Rebellion – and, subsequently, coal, which was worked here until 1990. The Arigna Miners Way is a waymarked 120-kilometre walking trail through the area, linking up with both the Leitrim Way and a historical trail taking in Boyle and parts of Sligo. The Arigna mining experience centre has guided tours to the underground mining caves. The centre was developed to preserve the energy heritage of the Arigna Valley and to ensure that Arigna maintains its link with energy themes past, present and future. This Energy Centre provides visitors with a unique insight into what coal mining life was like in the Arigna Valley since its beginning in the 1700’s until closure in 1990.
• Hill Walking, Forest walks and wild mushroom picking. (Sligo Walks / Leitrim Walks)
• Traditional music and local friendly pubs
• Glencar Waterfall – A well known tourist attraction where the 50ft high waterfalls situated in Glencar Lough served as an inspiration to William Butler Yeats. There are more waterfalls visible from the road although none is quite as romantic as this one.
• The Leitrim Design House is a unique showcase of Irish craft and design. Ceramics, glass, wood, metal, photography, hand-made books, fine art, textiles.

Angela and Jim Jones who stayed at Cullentragh Lodge June 2014 have kindly listed and commented on all the places they visited during their weeks stay. Angela and Jim's Trip to Leitrim

Eating Places we can recommend in Leitrim/Cavan

• McNean Bistro – Nevin Maguire’s World Famous Restaurant (open Thurs/Friday/Sat and Sun – reservations generally have to be made 3 months in advance)
• Osta - W8 Manorhamilton

Most Popular Things to See in Sligo

• The Wild Atlantic Way. Running from Donegal in the north to Cork in the south. We are nearby to the fabulous beaches in Sligo, Donegal and Mayo inculding Strandhill, Easkey, Enniscrone, Mullaghmore (world famous for Surfing) and Rosses Point (where we got married in 2003!)
• Voya Seaweed Baths at Strandhill – relax and detox with an organic seaweed bath
• The Yeats Trail (William Butler Yeats 1865 -1939) Nobel Prize Winner, poet, dramatist born in Dublin and regarded as one of the greatest English language poets of the 2 ^0th Century. He is buried in Drumcliffe, Co Sligo. This trail is for those of you who love grand old houses, magnificent scenery, a fine flavour of Irish culture and great stories.
• Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery - Just located outside Sligot this is one of Europe’s most significant and oldest collections of megalithic tombs and burial chambers dating back to 4840-4370 BC. Knocknarea Mountain, on whose summit sits the mystical Medb’s Cairn . Archaeologists have recorded over 60 tombs of which 30 are visible and there is a restored cottage an exhibition relating to the site with Guided Tours.
• Queen Maeve ‘s Grave, Knocknarea is two mile from Sligo final resting place of Maeve , Iron age Queen of Connacht .The huge cairn is 40ft high and has a circumference of 600ft .According to legend a smaller grave of the warrior king of Connacht, Eogan Bel, lies near Maeve’s cairn. The King was fatally injured at the battle of Sligo (537A.D)and his last order was to be buried upright with his blood-red javelin in his hand on the summit of Knocknarea, facing north to see the heroic King inspired his army to the grave and beyond, because of this The famous warriors run is held here every year.
• Creevylea Friary is located on the edge of Dromahair town; the most convenient access route is a footbridge across the River Bonet from the car park of the Abbey Manor Hotel. This monastery of the Franciscan third order regular was founded by Eoin O’Rourke and his wife Margaret. This was one of the last abbeys founded in Ireland before King Henry Vlll dissolved all the monasteries throughout Ireland and England, it was built in 1508.
• Old Abbey in Sligo with guided tours. This Dominican Friary was founded in mid-13th century by Maurice Fitzgerald. The site contains a great wealth of carvings including Gothic and Renaissance tomb sculpture, well preserve.
• Sligo Folk Park come and see the fully restored Millview house, which originates from the late 19th century. Here you can see, feel and even smell how life was at the turn of the last century. Millview house is surrounded by open workshops in which historical artefacts are restored to their former glory.

Our favourite Place to Eat in Sligo

• Lyons Cafe A superb cafe and bakery with an emphasis on wholesome, tasty, home cooked food which has been cooked with passion and creativity. Great Salads, daily dishes, desserts and cakes. Caters for vegetarians and Coeliacs.

• Eala Bhan Award winning sister restaurant to Tra Bhan in Strandhill
• Casa Mia Coffee, soup, sandwiches with Italian tapas served after 5pm
• Rugatino Run by Italians
• Coach Lane at Donaghy's Surf and Turf (good but expensive)

Most Popular Things to See and do in Fermanagh

• Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, Fermanagh - The caves are among one of the finest show caves in Europe
• Enniskillen Castle
• Cuilcagh Board Walk

Our favourite restaurant in Enniskillen

• Dollakis - Great lunch and evening venue with delicious, fresh greek meze style food. Caters for vegetarians