Your escape along the Shannon-Erne Blueway

Autumn in Cavan's Lake District

Autumn arrives gradually on the Erne. Boats are still moving along the waterway, but the landscape around the river begins to change, with the forests and fields around Cavan and Fermanagh taking on their autumn colours.

It is a particularly good time to explore beyond the river. The forests, lakes and walking trails are at their best for autumn colour, and cooler days make longer walks much more appealing. Back by the water, the lower sun brings some spectacular sunsets across the wide, uninterrupted horizon.

As the evenings draw in, the night sky starts to become part of the view again. On a clear night, the Milky Way is visible overhead, and there is still plenty of autumn left to enjoy before winter properly arrives.

Autumn is a great time to explore Cavan and Fermanagh. Cavan Burren Park and the wider Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark combine remarkable landscapes, archaeology and geology, while nearby Marble Arch Caves take you underground through the limestone landscape beneath Cuilcagh.

Crom Estate and Florence Court are particularly worth visiting as the colours change, while Enniskillen Castle gives you an indoor option in the heart of the town. Enniskillen itself is an easy day out, with its island setting, independent shops, cafés and historic centre. In Cavan, the County Museum in Ballyjamesduff covers more than 6,000 years of local history.

Closer to home, Killykeen Forest Park has miles of woodland trails beside Lough Oughter and is an obvious choice for autumn colour. Belturbet is just minutes away for a walk around Turbet Island and along the Shannon-Erne Waterway.

Autumn is made for getting outside here. Walk the Cuilcagh Boardwalk, explore the trails through Cavan Burren Park or spend a few hours among the lakes and woodland at Killykeen Forest Park. The grounds and trails at Florence Court and Crom Estate give you plenty more to explore across the border in Fermanagh.

For something completely different, Corleggy Cheeses is our next-door neighbour and runs hands-on cheese-making workshops where you can learn the process and make your own cheese to take home and mature.

And you don’t need to fill every day. Head out when the weather looks good, explore Cavan or Enniskillen when it doesn’t, then come back to the river and your own private deck.

Autumn is a good excuse to explore some of the food around Cavan and Fermanagh. Cavan and Enniskillen have independent food shops, bakeries and markets where you can pick up something to bring back and enjoy at your cabin or studio.

Closer to home, Cafe Nua in Belturbet is a favourite for breakfast or lunch, while The Seven Horseshoes is a great local option for traditional fare. For dinner further afield, The Olde Post Inn in Cloverhill is well worth the short drive, with thoughtful, well-executed cooking in a relaxed setting.

Autumn brings plenty of local events across Cavan and Fermanagh, from food and harvest events to live music, Halloween celebrations and smaller community gatherings. As the season moves towards Christmas, the first festive markets and events begin appearing across the towns and villages too. Check out our What’s On page for all the latest happenings.