#37 Co. Fermanagh

7-in-7 challenge – Day 5

I was eagerly awaiting the tour of Fermanagh, of all the counties I was due to visit people repeatedly described Fermanagh as stunning, beautiful, magnificent etc. Additionally the planned elevation gain for the day was less than all of the other six counties with just 1340m of climbing ahead of me. With over 650km’s of riding already in my legs less climbing was a bonus but I was generally pretty chuffed at how my legs felt this far into the 7 day challenge.

The vast expanse of Lower Lough Erne was the dominating feature of the route which would completely circumnavigate the shores of this tranquil lake and many smaller water courses that speckle the county map.

A flaw in my preparation planning for day five resulted in a breakfast comprising of a couple of disappointing blueberry muffins and a mug of tea. I made a mental note to ensure when booking a B&B in future to check that it was a B&B and not just a bed! Full Irish breakfasts may not be the fuel of racing snakes but proved to be a good way to fuel the first fifty miles of tourist paced pedalling on the previous four days. I was not convinced a couple of corner shop muffins would be quite as effective and they certainly weren’t as enjoyable.

The view as I parked my car Dromard House B&B just outside Enniskillen backed up all the glowing descriptions I had had of Fermanagh and had me itching to get started. However, as I took the bike off the rack I decided another quick clean and lube was the order of the day to keep everything running smoothly.

I dropped down the steep track from the B&B car park to the busy Belfast road but within 200m I had turned into quiet country lanes heading North towards Irvinestown. A short climb brought extensive views and warnings of the incoming weather fronts.

Necarne Castle, previously called Irvine Castle hence, the nearby Irvinestown is a curious ruin closed to all. The surrounding estate in contrast appeared to be a thriving equine holiday centre offering stabling, extensive grounds and guest accommodation.

Rossmore point with views over Lough Erne was a perfect place to grab a quick snack and take a few minutes soaking up the scenery instead of just zooming past and snatching a glimpse of the passing vistas typically happens when riding all day.

The little war memorial commemorated the crash of an RAF Catalina Airboat returning from an operational mission possibly linked to shadowing and identifying the location of the Bismarck in 1941. All 10 airmen from the 49 squadron sadly lost their lives and were never found in the Lough Erne waters.

I continued along the compacted gravel paths of Archdale Country Park stopping briefly to take a snap of the derelict castle looming out of the brambles and undergrowth I thought how menacing, haunted and atmospheric it would look at dusk.

The Thatch Coffee shop in Belleek was an excellent find. Small and cosy offering traditional Irish recipes all home cooked, the interior seemingly untouched by any modern interior design fads! Cash only and no Wifi this was a cafe stop from another, simpler era!

Belleek sits right on the border with the Republic of Ireland, this was noticeable by the registration plates of many of the cars. As I left the village and crossed the river Erne I briefly crossed the Irish border only to re-enter Northern Ireland a hundred meters or so further on.

Now on the Western banks of Lough Erne, it was fascinating being able to look back along the miles of shoreline I had traversed along earlier in the day.

Five days of riding miraculously had still not took a toll on my legs and as I leisurely pedalled through even more delightful, scenic countryside I began to think that maybe a longer challenge could be considered in future. As I neared Enniskillen I mused on potential trips across Europe I could take in aid of MND.

The sun made a rare appearance and offered a welcome warmth in which to rest a short while at Monea castle.

Like many other castles in the area, Monea Castle was built during the Plantation in the 17th century, when settlers from Great Britain colonised lands in Ireland. Reverend Malcolm Hamilton built the castle in 1616 in a distinctly Scottish style.

The castle was attacked and occupied during the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and was lived in by the family of colonel Gustav Hamilton until 1704. A few decades later, a fire destroyed much of the castle, leaving it ruined as it is today.

The days climbing was completed by kilometer 130 and the remaining 35km sped by with no notable sights or challenging terrain it was easy spinning back to the impressive B&B outside Enniskillen.

Strava

The ride in numbers

163.3 km Distance

Elevation Gain 1890m

7hrs 35 min moving time (21.5 km/h)

1 coffee stop

3 bottles of water

No punctures

3 categorised climbs