A big free country park on the shore of Lower Lough Erne — a marina full of boats, red deer in the trees, miles of forest and lough-shore trails, and a wartime story where flying boats once hunted U-boats. And boats out to White Island's ancient carved stone figures.
What you'll see and do — the marina on the lough with boat, kayak and canoe hire; a red deer enclosure, butterfly garden, wildflower meadow and wildfowl ponds; woodland and lough-shore walks and a family cycle trail; the Castle Archdale at War flying-boat museum in the visitor centre; the old Archdale courtyard and castle ruins; and a caravan and camping park.
White Island — from the marina you can get out on the water to White Island, where a ruined early church holds a row of eight carved stone figures, thought to be well over a thousand years old.
How long — an easy half day, and a full day if you add the museum, a boat trip or a picnic by the water.
Getting in — free to enter and free to park. The park and trails are open daily. Boat hire, the museum and the caravan-park café run to their own (often seasonal) hours.
Bring & food — comfy shoes for the trails and a picnic; there's a seasonal café/take-away at the caravan park, so bring your own to be sure out of season.
Dogs — dogs on leads are welcome around the park's walks (keep them close by the deer enclosure and wildlife areas).
Getting to White Island depends on the boat and the weather. Trips out to the island are seasonal and weather-dependent, and the arrangements change — check the current boat/ferry options at the marina before you count on it.
The museum and facilities keep seasonal hours. The visitor centre (with the war museum) and the caravan-park café/shop open on limited or seasonal days — confirm current opening before you travel.
Plan your visit
Can I just turn up? Yes — the park is free.
The country park is free to enter with free parking, and the grounds, gardens and walking trails are open daily — you simply arrive and explore. The parts that keep their own hours are the ones run separately: the visitor centre and the Castle Archdale at War museum tend to open on limited or seasonal days, the marina boat hire runs mainly through the warmer months and is weather-dependent, and the café, take-away and shop at the caravan park are seasonal too. If your day hinges on the museum, a boat out to White Island, or a hot lunch, check current opening before you set off.
Marina & boat hireForest & lough-shore trailsSeasonal café at caravan parkDogs on leadsFree parking
Two to remember:
Getting out to White Island depends on the boat service and the weather — it's seasonal and the arrangements change, so check at the marina before you build the day around it. And the war museum and the café keep seasonal, sometimes limited, hours — confirm current opening if either is a must for you.
Before you set off
What to wear & bring
🥾Comfy shoes or welliesThe lough-shore and forest paths are easy walking, but woodland ground gets muddy after rain — grippy shoes for the little ones.
🧥A coat, whatever the sky's doingYou're out by the water and under the trees — a light waterproof means a shower is never a reason to head home early.
🧺A picnicThere are grassy spots and benches by the lough. The caravan-park café is seasonal, so bring your own to be safe out of season.
🚲Bikes for the cycle trailThere's a family waymarked cycle route through the park — grand for getting the kids around the grounds.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
Free to enter the country park, with free parking. Boat, kayak and canoe hire at the marina, and the caravan/camping pitches, are charged separately — check current rates with the operators.
Hours
The grounds and walking trails are open daily. The visitor centre and Castle Archdale at War museum open on limited or seasonal days, and the caravan-park café, take-away and shop are seasonal (broadly weekends in spring and autumn, daily in high summer). Best to confirm current times before you travel.
What you'll see
A marina on Lower Lough Erne, a red deer enclosure, butterfly garden, wildflower meadow and wildfowl ponds, woodland and lough-shore walks, a family cycle trail, the old Archdale courtyard and the ruins of Old Castle Archdale, and the wartime flying-boat exhibition in the visitor centre.
The war museum
During the Second World War this was RAF Castle Archdale, a major flying-boat base. The "Castle Archdale at War" exhibition in the visitor centre tells that story with wartime items and photographs — confirm its opening days before a special trip.
White Island
An island out in the bay with a ruined early church and a row of eight ancient carved stone figures, thought to be well over a thousand years old. It's reached by boat from the marina — a seasonal, weather-dependent trip, so check the current boat or ferry arrangements at the marina.
The marina
Boat, kayak, Canadian canoe and paddleboard hire operate from the marina, mainly in the warmer months and weather permitting. Children must be with an adult and comfortable in water. Booking is advised.
Camping
There's a separately run caravan and camping park within the grounds, with its own facilities, shop and seasonal café — book direct if you're staying.
Food
A café, take-away and shop operate at the caravan park on a seasonal basis (weekends in the shoulder months, daily in high summer). Out of season, bring a picnic.
Dogs
Dogs on leads are welcome around the park's walks. Keep them close near the deer enclosure and wildlife areas.
Accessibility
Much of the estate is fairly level with surfaced paths near the courtyard and lough shore, though woodland tracks are rougher. Contact the park for the latest on accessible parking and facilities.
How long
Allow a good half day for the walks and the deer, and a full day if you add the museum, a boat trip or a leisurely picnic by the water.
Questions
Before you go
Is there a charge?
No — the country park is free to enter and free to park. The extras cost separately: boat hire at the marina, the caravan/camping pitches, and any charge for the museum. Check current rates with the operators.
How do I get out to White Island?
By boat from the marina. Trips out to the island are seasonal and weather-dependent, and the exact arrangements change over the years, so ask at the marina about the current boat or ferry options before you plan around it. On the island you'll find a ruined early church with its row of ancient carved figures.
Are there really deer?
Yes — there's a red deer enclosure within the park, along with a butterfly garden, wildflower meadow and wildfowl ponds. It's a lovely loop to walk with children.
What's the flying-boat connection?
In the Second World War this was RAF Castle Archdale, one of the big flying-boat bases — Catalinas and Short Sunderlands flew from the lough to protect Atlantic convoys, and crews from here helped track the Bismarck. The "Castle Archdale at War" exhibition in the visitor centre tells the story; check its opening days first.
Is there food on site?
There's a café, take-away and shop at the caravan park, but they're seasonal — busiest in summer and often weekends-only in spring and autumn. Bring a picnic to be sure, especially out of season; there are grand spots by the water.
Can I bring the dog?
Yes — dogs on leads are welcome around the park's walks. Keep them close near the deer enclosure and the wildlife areas.
Getting there
Castle Archdale Country Park, Lisnarick, near Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, BT94 1PP — on the shore of Lower Lough Erne, about 20 minutes from Enniskillen. Free parking on site.
Castle Archdale began as a plantation estate on the shore of Lower Lough Erne — the first castle was built here in 1615 by John Archdale, wrecked in the rebellion of 1641 and again in 1689, its ruins still standing among the trees. A later mansion followed in the 1770s, and around it grew the courtyard, walled grounds and woodland you walk today.
The estate's most dramatic chapter came in the Second World War, when it became RAF Castle Archdale — one of the great flying-boat bases, home at its peak to thousands of personnel. Catalinas and Short Sunderlands took off from the lough to guard the Atlantic convoys against U-boats, and crews from here helped find and fix the German battleship Bismarck in 1941. Today the estate is a free country park run by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, with the wartime story kept alive in the visitor-centre museum.
Out in the bay lies White Island, where a ruined early church holds a row of eight carved stone figures. They're thought to be well over a thousand years old — most reckoned to have been carved somewhere between the sixth and tenth centuries, some later reused as ordinary building stones before they were found and set back into the wall. Get out on the water, walk the deer trails, stand in front of those ancient faces — and go and live it.