1.2 miles
Loop
Easy
Ely Lodge Forest; Loughshore Walk
Ely Lodge Forest is part of the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark. Ely Lodge Forest gets its name from the nearby Ely Lodge, one of two gate lodges that would have adorned the gates of the demesne of the Marquis of Ely. During Victorian times the estate was one of the largest holdings in County Fermanagh.
TRAIL INFORMATION
The Loughshore Walk path takes you through 250 hectares of woodland containing a delightful mixture of coniferous and broadleaved trees. The conifers are mainly European larch, which is uncommon as they loose their needles in autumn. The broadleaves are dominated by ash and beech and the under storey of the forest includes natives such as hazel, holly, spindle and guilder rose.
Skirting the shoreline of Lower Lough Erne the walk offers views of Inish Lougher Island all the way over to Ely Lodge Estate. Lower Lough Erne and its surrounding landscape are a direct result of the last Ice Age, which ended around 13,000 years ago. Huge ice sheets moved across the land, sculpting the hills and islands we see around us and scouring out valleys, which gradually filled with water to form lakes such as Lough Erne.
The lake and surrounding forest are home to an array of wildlife. The great crested grebe, mute swan, grey heron and a variety of ducks are often spotted along the shoreline. Also deep within the forest you may glimpse the elusive pine marten, hedgehogs, foxes and red squirrels. This area has been identified as an important habitat for red squirrels and is promoted by the Fermanagh Red Squirrel Group as a Red Squirrel Trail.
TRAIL INFORMATION
The Loughshore Walk path takes you through 250 hectares of woodland containing a delightful mixture of coniferous and broadleaved trees. The conifers are mainly European larch, which is uncommon as they loose their needles in autumn. The broadleaves are dominated by ash and beech and the under storey of the forest includes natives such as hazel, holly, spindle and guilder rose.
Skirting the shoreline of Lower Lough Erne the walk offers views of Inish Lougher Island all the way over to Ely Lodge Estate. Lower Lough Erne and its surrounding landscape are a direct result of the last Ice Age, which ended around 13,000 years ago. Huge ice sheets moved across the land, sculpting the hills and islands we see around us and scouring out valleys, which gradually filled with water to form lakes such as Lough Erne.
The lake and surrounding forest are home to an array of wildlife. The great crested grebe, mute swan, grey heron and a variety of ducks are often spotted along the shoreline. Also deep within the forest you may glimpse the elusive pine marten, hedgehogs, foxes and red squirrels. This area has been identified as an important habitat for red squirrels and is promoted by the Fermanagh Red Squirrel Group as a Red Squirrel Trail.
- Point of Interest This area has been identified as an important habitat for red squirrels and is promoted by the Fermanagh Red Squirrel Group as a Red Squirrel Trail.
- Facilities Parking and Picnic Areas
- Public Transport Translink – journeyplanner.translink.co.uk
- Trail Grade Easy TRAIL GRADE DISCLAIMER
The trail grades shown on OutmoreNI.com and WalkNI.com are based on desk-based assessments of available trail information. The categories—Easy, Moderate, Strenuous, and Very Strenuous—follow the Sustainable Trails Development Guide grading system.
These grades are provided as a general guide to help users choose trails that may be suitable for them. They are not a substitute for official, on-site grading or safety information provided by the relevant land manager, which may differ from the information on these websites.
Outdoor activities involve inherent risks, including the risk of injury, death, property damage, and other hazards. By using information from OutmoreNI.com and WalkNI.com, you acknowledge that you do so at your own risk. OutmoreNI.com and WalkNI.com accept no responsibility or liability for any loss, injury, or damage arising from the use of this information.
Conditions on trails can change, and the actual environment may differ from what is described online. Users should always exercise their own judgment, take appropriate precautions, and remain responsible for their own safety and conduct at all times.
All information provided on OutmoreNI.com and WalkNI.com is intended as a guide only and should be used alongside your own experience, awareness, and careful decision-making.
Suitable for most people, these routes are relatively flat, smooth and well-defined with occasional gentle slopes. There may be minor obstacles such as gates and bridges. A basic level of fitness will help to enjoy these trails.
