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Fermanagh.com

On the water

Lough Erne boat trips and islands

How to get out on Lower and Upper Lough Erne — skippered trips, private hire and self-drive boats — and why every water plan needs a fallback.

Plan my trip — plan a trip around Lough Erne boat tripsBrowse all itineraries
A hire cruiser on bright open water beside a green wooded island on Lough Erne
Photo: Kenneth Allen · CC BY-SA 2.0

Lough Erne is really two loughs. Lower Lough Erne, north-west of Enniskillen, is the broad open water with the monastic islands and the long views. Upper Lough Erne, to the south, is narrower, wooded and sheltered, and feels quieter.

Getting onto the water is the point of a Fermanagh trip for a lot of visitors, but it is also the part most likely to change on the day.

Is it right for your trip?

Suits

  • Visitors who want at least one day defined by the lough rather than by driving
  • Couples and families comfortable rearranging a day around the weather
  • Anyone interested in the island monastic sites, particularly Devenish

Less suited to

  • A single fixed day where a cancellation would leave you with nothing planned
  • Winter trips, when far fewer operators run
  • Anyone who would rather not be on open water in changeable conditions

How long to allow

A scheduled or skippered trip
Usually a couple of hours including boarding, which leaves the rest of the day for Enniskillen or the lakeshore.
Self-drive day hire
Plan a full day. Briefing, slow speeds on the lough and the return leg all take longer than the map suggests.
An island visit
Allow time ashore as well as time afloat, and confirm how long you have before you land.

Planning the visit

  • Decide the kind of day first. A skippered or scheduled trip means someone else handles the boat and the timings. Private hire means the boat and the route are yours for an agreed period. Self-drive day hire means you take the boat out yourself after a briefing.
  • Book directly with the operator and ask what happens if the weather stops the sailing.
  • Check where you are departing from — Enniskillen, the Lower Lough Erne shore and Castle Archdale are all different starting points.
  • Keep the afternoon loose. A morning sailing that moves to the afternoon should not wreck the rest of your day.
  • For Devenish Island and other island landings, confirm with the operator whether landing is part of the trip or only a pass-by.

Where to base yourself

Enniskillen

The obvious base for scheduled trips from the town, and the easiest place to walk to dinner afterwards.

Lower Lough Erne lakeshore

Lakeshore hotels and self-catering around 15 minutes from town, best if you want water views and a slower day.

Castle Archdale

About 20 minutes north of Enniskillen, with a marina and the seasonal White Island ferry when it is operating.

Places locals mention

Compare all the areas to stay in Fermanagh

What else is nearby

Enniskillen Castle Museums sits on the water in the town, Castle Archdale Country Park gives you shore and forest walking without a boat, and Devenish Island is the best-known of the monastic sites.

Seasons, weather and what we cannot promise

  • Sailings, island landings, routes and hire all depend on the weather, water conditions and the individual operator.
  • Operating seasons vary between operators and much less runs outside the main season.
  • We do not publish timetables, prices or availability, and we do not list every boat company on the lough. Confirm everything directly.

If it does not happen

If the water is out, Enniskillen Castle Museums, Castle Coole and the shore and forest trails at Castle Archdale all keep a lough-side day going without a boat.

Itineraries that include it

Plan my trip — three questions, one plan

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