Days Out NI
Greenway & cycle trail Irvinestown

Castle Archdale Family Cycle Trail

A free woodland loop along the Lough Erne shore, mostly flat and off the public roads.

6 photos
Open accessRide it any time — best in daylight
FreeNo ticket needed
IrvinestownGreenway & cycle trail
Get directionsOfficial website
10kmDistance
2 hoursHow long
FreeCost
TarmacSurface
Buggy okBest for

Castle Archdale Family Cycle Trail — A free woodland loop along the Lough Erne shore, mostly flat and off the public roads.

  • Distance: Loop of roughly 8 to 10km (described variously as a 5 to 6 mile route).
  • Surface: Forest roads and firm tracks with a couple of short single-track sections; not tarmac.
  • Gradient: Mostly flat with gentle rises.
  • Traffic-free: Mostly traffic-free, off the public roads and shared with walkers.
  • Bike hire: Yes, seasonally at Castle Archdale Boat Hire by the marina, mountain bikes, stabiliser bikes and tow-behind buggies.
  • Buggy / scooter: Not ideal, the forest track and single-track suit bikes more than pushchairs or scooters.
Plan your visit

A woodland loop on the lough shore

The route is a loop of around 8 to 10km, kept off the public roads and shared with walkers. The surface is forest road and firm track, with a couple of short narrower single-track sections through the spruce trees rather than smooth tarmac. It's mostly flat with only gentle rises, billed as a great introduction for all ages and abilities. You ride past the ruins of the old castle, destroyed in the 17th-century rebellion, and traces of the park's WWII flying-boat base along the so-called Burma Road. The final mile hugs the shore of Lower Lough Erne, with panoramic views across to White Island and Davy's Island.

Free Mostly traffic-free Mostly flat Forest road & track ~10km loop Bike hire on site
Good to know before you go:

Greenways and country parks host seasonal sportives, family cycle days and ranger events through the year; check listings for dates.

Before you set off

What to bring

  • 🚲Bikes (or hire on the day)Check whether you bring your own or can hire at the start.
  • 🪖Helmets for everyoneEspecially the kids — a comfy helmet makes the whole spin better.
  • 💧Water and snacksNot every route has a café on it, so pack a little something.
  • 🧥A light layerYou warm up cycling but cool down at stops — easy to peel on and off.
Good to know

Everything before you go

Cost
Free to ride (country park may charge for parking in season; bike hire is paid)
Start / parking
Castle Archdale Country Park, marina car park, off the B82 a mile from Lisnarick on the Enniskillen side; car and coach parking on site
Distance
Loop of roughly 8 to 10km (described variously as a 5 to 6 mile route)
Surface
Forest roads and firm tracks with a couple of short single-track sections; not tarmac
Gradient
Mostly flat with gentle rises
Traffic-free?
Mostly traffic-free, off the public roads and shared with walkers
Bike hire
Yes, seasonally at Castle Archdale Boat Hire by the marina, mountain bikes, stabiliser bikes and tow-behind buggies
Buggy / scooter friendly
Not ideal, the forest track and single-track suit bikes more than pushchairs or scooters
Toilets / food
Toilets and a seasonal tea room at the country park
How long to allow
Around 2 hours for the loop, or a half-day with the park
Address
Castle Archdale Country Park, Lisnarick, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh, BT94 1PP
Questions

Before you go

Is it free?
Free to ride (country park may charge for parking in season; bike hire is paid)
How long is the route?
Loop of roughly 8 to 10km (described variously as a 5 to 6 mile route)
Is it traffic-free?
Mostly traffic-free, off the public roads and shared with walkers
Can I hire a bike?
Yes, seasonally at Castle Archdale Boat Hire by the marina, mountain bikes, stabiliser bikes and tow-behind buggies
Is it buggy and scooter friendly?
Not ideal, the forest track and single-track suit bikes more than pushchairs or scooters
Getting there

Castle Archdale Family Cycle Trail starts at Castle Archdale Country Park, marina car park, off the B82 a mile from Lisnarick on the Enniskillen side; car and coach parking on site. Tap below for directions to the start.

Directions on Google MapsOfficial website See it on our map
Nearby

Make more of the day

More days out around IrvinestownSee what else is close by More greenways & trails across NITraffic-free routes to walk and cycle
The story

About this trail

Castle Archdale Country Park covers around 230 acres of mature forest on the shores of Lower Lough Erne, about 15km north-west of Enniskillen. The cycle trail weaves through the forest and along the lough shore, taking riders past more than a thousand years of local history.

The old castle at the heart of the estate was destroyed during the 17th-century Irish rebellion, and its ruins still sit at the midpoint of the loop. During the Second World War the site became an RAF flying-boat base on Lough Erne, and reminders of that period, including old bomb and petrol stores, line the route known as the Burma Road.

Two interpretation panels, one at the marina and one at Old Castle Archdale, map out the cycle route, and summer boat trips run from the marina to White Island with its famous carved stone figures.