Around 2,000 acres of ancient woodland, islands and lakeshore on Upper Lough Erne — with romantic castle ruins by the water, a fairytale stone boathouse and red squirrels in the trees. One of Ireland's most important places for nature, and a whole day of easy walking.
What you'll see — the shores and islands of Upper Lough Erne, the romantic Old Castle ruins by the water, a Gothic boathouse and jetty, the ancient Crom Yews and miles of flat lakeside trails through native woodland.
Wildlife stronghold — Crom is one of Ireland's most important nature conservation areas and a stronghold for red squirrels and pine martens. Keep quiet and keep your eyes on the trees.
The ancient yews — a pair of intertwined yew trees said to be among the oldest in Ireland, thought to be many hundreds of years old, grow near the Old Castle.
How long & who for — half a day for the visitor centre and a lakeside stroll, a full day to walk the longer trails. All ages, with long flat paths that suit little legs, and dogs on a lead are welcome across the estate.
The visitor centre and facilities are seasonal. The tea room, boat hire and centre don't run all year — check current opening times before you travel, especially in winter and on weekdays.
The "new" Crom Castle is a private family home and not open to visitors — you don't tour a house here. It's the grounds, the wildlife and the walks you come for.
Getting in — a National Trust property, so members go free and non-members pay for entry and parking. There's a car park on site and a tea room when it's in season. Bring a picnic and make a day of it.
Plan your visit
Members free · everyone else pays at the gate
National Trust members walk in free. Non-members pay for entry and parking — the exact charge changes over time, so check the current price before you set off. The estate and walking trails are open through the year, but the visitor centre, tea room and boat hire are seasonal and don't run every day, so it's worth confirming what's open — especially in winter, on weekdays and early or late in the day. The new Crom Castle is a private home and not open to visitors; you come here for the grounds, the wildlife and the walks.
Tea room (seasonal)Visitor centreBoat hire & jettyLakeside walking trailsDogs on leads
Good to know:
The visitor centre, tea room and boat hire are seasonal — always check current opening before travelling, particularly in winter. The Old Castle ruins sit across the water and are best seen from the trails or by boat; watch little ones near the lough shore.
Before you set off
What to wear and bring
🥾Proper shoesMiles of lakeside trails on grass, gravel and soft ground — good footwear beats a soggy trainer, especially after rain.
🧥A coat, whatever the skyYou're out by open water here — a shower can blow in, and the woodland smells all the better for it.
🧺A picnicThe estate is made for one, with the tea room on hand when it's in season if you'd rather someone else did the baking.
🐕The dog's leadDogs are welcome across the estate on a lead — it's a wildlife haven, so keep them close near squirrels and ground-nesting birds.
Good to know
Everything before you go
Cost
National Trust members free. Non-members pay for entry and parking — the charge changes over time, so check the current price before you travel.
Opening
The estate and walking trails are open through the year. The visitor centre, tea room and boat hire are seasonal and don't run every day, so confirm current times before setting off, especially in winter.
The grounds
Around 2,000 acres of woodland, islands and lakeshore on Upper Lough Erne, with miles of long, flat waymarked trails and viewpoints over the water. The Old Castle ruins, boathouse and jetty are the landmarks to aim for.
Wildlife
One of Ireland's most important nature conservation areas — a stronghold for red squirrels and pine martens, with plenty of birdlife on and around the lough. Please stay on the trails.
The yews
A pair of ancient intertwined yew trees, said to be among the oldest in Ireland, grow near the Old Castle.
The castle
The romantic Old Castle is a ruin by the water. The newer Crom Castle is a private family home and not open to visitors.
Food
A seasonal tea room at the visitor centre when it's open. Picnics are welcome across the estate too.
Dogs
Welcome on a lead across the estate. Keep them close — this is a wildlife haven with red squirrels and ground-nesting birds.
Stay over
The estate has National Trust holiday cottages if you'd like to wake up here — book ahead through the National Trust.
Parking
On-site car park. Members park free; non-members pay — check current charges on the day.
How long
Half a day for the centre and a lakeside stroll; a full day if you're walking the longer trails.
Questions
Before you go
Is it free for National Trust members?
Yes — members go free, including parking. Non-members pay for entry and parking; the exact charge changes over time, so check the current price before you travel.
Can I go inside Crom Castle?
No — the newer Crom Castle is a private family home and isn't open to visitors. You come to Crom for the grounds, the wildlife and the walks, and to see the romantic Old Castle ruins by the water.
Is the visitor centre open all year?
The estate and trails are open through the year, but the visitor centre, tea room and boat hire are seasonal and don't run every day. Always check current opening before travelling, especially in winter and on weekdays.
Will we see the red squirrels?
Crom is a stronghold for red squirrels and pine martens — one of Ireland's most important places for wildlife. There's no guarantee on any given day, but keep quiet, keep to the trails and watch the trees, and your chances are good.
Is it good for young children?
Yes — the lakeside trails are long and flat, which suits little legs and buggies on the main paths. Keep an eye on children near the open water of the lough.
Can I bring the dog?
Dogs are welcome on a lead across the estate. Keep them close — this is a wildlife haven with red squirrels and ground-nesting birds.
Getting there
Newtownbutler, County Fermanagh, BT92 8AP — on the shores of Upper Lough Erne a few miles from Newtownbutler, with a signed car park on site by the visitor centre.
Crom sits on the wooded islands and shores of Upper Lough Erne, a maze of water and land that has been settled and fought over for centuries. The romantic Old Castle by the water is the ruin of an early 17th-century plantation castle, held for the Crichton family and, the story goes, besieged more than once before fire finally left it as the picturesque shell that stands today. The newer Crom Castle, built in the 19th century a little inland, is still the family's private home and is not open to visitors.
What has really made Crom, though, is what grew up around it. Left largely undisturbed, the estate became one of the most important nature conservation areas in Ireland — a stronghold for red squirrels and pine martens, its ancient yews said to be among the oldest in the country, its reed-fringed shores alive with birds. Today the National Trust looks after around 2,000 acres of it, and you're free to walk the trails, watch for wildlife and drink in one of the quietest, wildest corners of Fermanagh.