Colmcille Climbers

Map OSNI 1;50,000 Sheet 17  or 1;25,000 Lough Erne Lower

The Ride

Don’t be put off by the ‘Lough Navar Scenic Drive’ signage, as vehicular traffic is only permitted on the first section of this route, and the tarmac provided helps to gain the height to the viewpoint/highpoint over Lower L. Erne. The Descent is largely on well surfaced forestry tracks wending their way between remote lakes ,and the section on the other side of the road from L.Navar takes in some lovely, rarely visited, and spectacular countryside. 

Tarmac or good forestry type tracks.

3.5 hours.  Height Gain  300m.  Distance 30km.

Approach

From Enniskillen, approx 9 km along the southern shore of Lower Lough Erne on A46 to Grid 14400 53700, forking left signposted L.Navar Forest Drive.  Follow this road for about 7 Km to a car park on the right Gr 07400 54800 with information board, map etc.

The route

Follow the tarmaced  road climbing gradually but steadily past Aghameelin Viewpoint for 5 Km to the prominent and well signposted viewpoint overlooking Lower L. Erne at Gr 06100 57650.   .A steep track descends north to the shores of the lake from the viewpoint, but this is not part of our route.

Retrace your route for about 1 Km to turn right at Gr  06050 56850, turning right again at Gr 05950 56800 going past a forestry barrier, and off the tarmac for the first time.  Allow 1 hour to here, depending on the time spent at the viewpoint.  The track beyond is at first level, then downhill, but marked with Ulster Way signage (yellow fern on blue background).  Turn right at the T junction and skirt Meenameen Lough, turning left just beyond it.  The track then skirts Lough Navar, turning back east and rejoining the scenic drive at Gr 04699 54500.  Turn right, descend, and rejoin the public highway at Gr. 05800 54100, about 40 minutes from turning off the scenic drive. ( Less than 2 Km will take you back along the road to the car park giving an outing of about 2 hours)

If you wish for something longer, turn right on joining the road, for a short distance (about half a km) turn left just past a bridge over the Sillees River, into the Conagher Forest. A forest track descends past an old quarry twisting its way down to cross a small river, before climbing again to join the road at Gr 06500 51900 (about half an hour).  Turn left and follow a delightful rocky valley downhill past a small lake (Doagh Lough) with some crags behind, then continuing to descend  towards Derrygonnelly, with views of the big cliffs of Knockmore on the right.  Bear left, and continue to the crossroads just north of the village, and turn left beyond the Derrygonnelly Harps GAA ground.  Less than 2 Km, you will meet the Lough Navar road, (on which you approached),  turn left and climb gradually back to the car park and your transport  3.5 hours approx.