Welcome to the Cladagh Glen Walk
Explore the stunning Cladagh Glen Nature Reserve on the Cladagh Glen walk. This popular walking route takes you through breathtaking ancient woodland landscape with rivers, gorge, waterfalls and beautiful woodland.
Key Information:
Length: 4.6miles (2.5 Km) linear route.
Difficulty: Low -Moderate
Duration: 1.5 hours
What to Expect:
Terrain: Gravel track , gravel pathways, boardwalk, stepped sections with steep gradient.
Scenery: The walking route meanders through one of Fermanagh’s pristine ancient woodlands.
Highlights: Cascades waterfall, Marble Arch, Marble Arch Caves resurgence, Cladagh River which has re-emerged from the show cave to flow down through the nature reserve.
Land: Dogs are permitted on this walk. The trail is through a limestone landscape with cave entrances, swallow holes and depressions. Please keep your dog on a lead at all times.
Car park:
There are two options for starting this walk:
1. Cladagh Glen Car Park- this car park (see map) is on the south end of the walk. It is free and open daily, year-round. This location is ideal for people with prams etc.
2. Marble Arch Caves Car Park- this car park (see map) is on the north end of the walk. It is free and open only during the operational hours 9:00am – 5:00pm of the Marble Arch Caves. This section of the walk is stepped, steep gradient and not accessible for prams etc.
Tips for Visitors:
1. This walk will take you to the Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre, open year-round why not make a day trip and book a guided cave tour Here and have lunch in the Cafe.
2.This walk is spectular and worth taking a camera with you.
3.Follow Leave No Trace principles to keep the trail beautiful.
4. There are no toilet facilities along the trail, there are toilet facilities at the Marble Arch Caves, to view their opening information click Here
Walk Description from the Cladagh Glen Car Park
Follow the course of the river through a narrow, steep-sided limestone gorge, thickly covered by ancient ash woodland. This rare type of damp ash woodland, once widespread, is now scarce in Ireland and protected within the Marlbank Area of Special Scientific Interest and the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark.
This walk captivates as you stroll along the gravel path, with the river gurgling and splashing on its journey towards the Erne lowlands. The undergrowth glows vibrant green, with moss and woodland ferns carpeting the ground beneath native trees. In spring and summer, a profusion of bluebells, wild garlic, and woodland plants add colour, while elusive animals like red squirrels and pine martens scavenge in the undergrowth.
After approximately one mile, you will pass the Cascades Waterfall, where crystal-clear water gushes down a natural limestone staircase after re-emerging from the Cascades cave system.
At the head of the gorge, the path reaches the Marble Arch, a spectacular natural archway spanning the river, a remnant of a former cave. A stepped boardwalk (with a steep gradient) takes you up and over the Marble Arch, where craggy holes in the limestone offer glimpses of the turbulent river below.
Leaving the river, the path winds slowly uphill through deep woodland. The woodland features several large depressions (shake holes) where the sound of gurgling water provides evidence of the network of underground rivers making their journey through the Marble Arch Caves beneath your feet.
The trail continues to the Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre, where you can enjoy a guided tour of one of Europe’s finest show caves or recharge your batteries in Marble Arch Café (Click here for Marble Arch Caves Opening Times ) before starting your return trip back down the Cladagh Glen.
General information
The habitat in this area is fragile and we kindly request that walkers respect the environment and do not stray from the designated route and paths. Your cooperation with this is appreciated.
Please note:
- It is important to choose a walk that suits everyone in your group.
- Be aware that mobile reception in the area is poor.
- In an Emergency: call 999 or 101 and ask for Mountain Rescue.
Did You Know?
The Cladagh Glen takes its name from the Cladagh River which is formed in the depths of the Marble Arch Caves when the Owenbrean, Shruhcroppa and Aghinrawn Rivers come together. The Cladagh River re-emerges from its underground journey at the Marble Arch Rising to make its way winding and twisting down through the narrow steep sided gorge of the Cladagh Glen.
Getting to the Start (by Car)
There are two options for parking for the Cladagh Glen Walk.
Option 1
Cladagh Glen car park. This car park is located along the Florencecourt to Blacklion Road. There is a signpost for the car park which is located on the road verge. This car park is free and open all year round. The car park can facilitate cars approximately 10 max.
Option 2
The Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre car park is a seasonal car park and is only open during the operational hours of the Visitor Centre. Please note: Outside the operation hours this car park is locked.
How to get here
Follow the signs for the Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre/Florencecourt from Enniskillen.
Take the A4 Sligo Road from Enniskillen. Turn left onto the A32 Swanlinbar Road. Turn right onto the Marble Arch Road. Continue through Florencecourt Village and go straight following the signs for Blacklion. Along this road you will approach a stone bridge, here you will see a signpost for the Cladagh Glen and will see the car park from the road.
Accessibility
If you start from car park (option 1), this walk is suitable for families with children and pushchairs (buggies) if you are content to lift the pushchair (buggie) over the 1 metre high stone stile at the start of the walk (at car park). The walk is a wide (2 metre gravel path) which will take you for 1mile through forest, past waterfalls and meanders along the river bank (please be aware for safety). After 1mile you reach the boardwalk steps which are not accessible for families/persons with pushchairs (buggies).
If you start from car park (option 2), this walk is suitable for families/persons who do not require pushchairs (buggies) but have active young children. The path is a mixture of narrow woodland gravel paths, stepped concrete paths, boardwalks, steps and wide gravel paths. The gradient of the paths works its way slowly downhill. We would highlight that there are a number of pot holes, depressions and cliffs along the walk with an active river so please keep children and pets near by.
The walk can be enjoyed by all ages with an average level of fitness.
Facilities
Outside the open season for the Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre there are no facilities for this walk. Click here for Marble Arch Caves Opening Information
Dogs
Dogs are permitted, when kept on a lead. Please note: There are shake holes, crevices, rivers and depressions along this walk so please keep pets to the pathway.
Events or Walking Groups Information
This site is owned by Forest Service Northern Ireland and managed by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Any requests for events or group walks please contact the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Regional Operations +44 (0) 28 66 344807.
More local attractions
Visitor Map Marble Arch Caves 
