Hotels in Fermanagh Lakelands

Fermanagh Lakelands rewards a bit of thought about where you base yourself, because the county's attractions are spread around two large loughs rather than clustered in one place. Enniskillen is the obvious anchor: it has the largest concentration of restaurants, pubs and shops, sits at the junction of the main roads in and out of the county, and puts Castle Coole, Enniskillen Castle and the Marble Arch Caves all within a short drive. Staying in the town suits visitors who want to walk to dinner in the evening and who plan to explore outwards by car during the day.

Further out on Lower Lough Erne, around Killadeas, Kesh and Boa Island, the accommodation options trade convenience for scenery: several properties sit directly on the water, with private jetties, lake views from the bedroom window and, at the more elevated end, spa facilities built around that lakeside setting. These suit a slower trip, where the accommodation itself is part of the appeal rather than just a base, and where a hire car or the on-site ferry becomes the way you get about.

For a quieter, village-based stay, Belleek and Belcoo both offer a genuine sense of place: Belleek for its pottery and proximity to Donegal, Belcoo for its position at the gateway to the Marble Arch Caves and Cuilcagh Mountains. Guest houses and B&Bs in these areas tend to be smaller and more personal, often run by people who know the local walking and fishing intimately and can point you towards a stretch of water or a trail that isn't on the tourist board leaflets.

Whichever base you choose, book ahead for July and August, when the lough cruises and watersports centres are at their busiest and the better-known properties fill up well in advance, and expect a genuinely wide range of prices, from simple farmhouse B&Bs to five-star resort hotels with golf courses and spas attached.