Hostels in County Fermanagh

County Fermanagh is one of the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. It is in the Ulster province along the southern border with the Republic of Ireland. As a result, it is one of the few Northern Irish counties to be predominantly Catholic. The main town is Enniskillen; it is situated in the middle of the county between Upper and Lower Lough Erne.

County Fermanagh is dominated by its two lakes, Upper and Lower Erne, and is 30% water. It has Europe’s longest network of canals and waterways, some 435 miles worth. The county is very rural. Agriculture and tourism are the main industries in the county; farming consists mainly of grasslands rather than crops and the exports include dairy and beef. With extensive waterways, Fermanagh’s tourism mainly consists of multi-day cruises and small boat fishing.

Transportation to County Fermanagh is best with your own car. The Great Northern Railway was shut in 1957 and left the county as the only UK county without a railway. Buses from Belfast, Sligo, and Dublin do stop in Enniskillen but to explore the region you really must have your own transport.

Budget hostel accommodation in County Fermanagh is best found in Enniskillen. As with the rest of Ireland, hostel accommodation can be hard to find; traditional European-style hostels are very few and far between outside of the cities. For an authentic Northern Irish experience, consider staying at a b&b or guesthouse.

Once you have your accommodation sorted, get out and explore County Fermanagh. Travellers should visit Lough Erne’s Devenish and White Islands. Both have interesting archaeological ruins; Devenish’s 6th century monastery is like stepping back in time while White Island’s 12th century church and odd assortment of stone carvings are both mysterious and intriguing. The Marble Arch Caves, near Florencecourt, are a UNESCO Geopark site and of international importance. They are the longest cave system in Northern Ireland and one of the finest examples of British karst. For travellers keen to hike or hill walk, the forest outside of Enniskillen, Lough Navar, is the best place to go. The views from the top of the Magho lookout are panoramic, stretching across the lakes and out to the Atlantic Ocean. Visitors interested in the arts can explore the many artists in Enniskillen and Beleek; explore the galleries and speak with the artists-in-residence at the stone dairy in Enniskillen. Whatever you choose to do in County Fermanagh, you will enjoy it!

Handwritten by local expert for County Fermanagh hostels Jakob Lombardi