Ely Lodge Loughshore Walk

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Ely Lodge Loughshore Walk

This walk is part of Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark

Lower Lough Erne is fringed by a band of trees growing on the shore that was exposed during drainage schemes from the 1800’s to the 1950s. This damp woodland is a haven for mixed flocks of tits and siskins in winter, and in spring is carpeted with primroses, violets, wild garlic and marsh marigolds. Some islands are wooded and have heronries and breeding woodcock, others are grazed and have breeding curlew, lapwing, redshank and snipe, while on the exposed rocky islands gulls and common and Sandwich terns all breed. Speckled wood, green veined white and orange tip butterflies are commonplace; sheltered areas usually also have peacock and tortoiseshell and wherever there are mature oak and violet there is the possibility of silver-washed fritillaries.

Ely Lodge Forest part of the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark

Great crested and little grebe, tufted duck, mallard and mute swan can be seen from your car, while flowering rush and tufted sedge grow at the water’s edge. Bluebells and wood anemones are abundant in spring, while later in the summer broad leaved helleborines and bird’s nest orchids grow beside the path. Feral goats can sometimes be seen on the wooded offshore islands while red squirrels and pine martens reside in the area.

Location