10 Things to Do in Enniskillen You Can’t Do in Dublin | Westville Hotel

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Dublin has plenty going for it. Nobody’s arguing otherwise. But there are experiences you simply cannot have in the capital — things that require space, water, darkness, or the kind of quiet that doesn’t exist within the M50.

Enniskillen sits two hours north, in a county built around lakes, forests, and a pace of life that Dublin forgot decades ago. Here are ten things you can do in Fermanagh that the capital genuinely cannot offer.

1. Walk Above the Clouds on a Mountain Boardwalk

The Cuilcagh Boardwalk — locally called the “Stairway to Heaven” — is unlike any walk in Ireland. A wooden pathway climbs through blanket bog to the summit of Cuilcagh Mountain, ending at a viewing platform that, on the right day, sits above the cloud line.

Dublin has Phoenix Park. It has Howth Head. Nice walks, sure. But nothing that puts you above the clouds, looking down at a landscape of lakes and drumlins stretching to the horizon.

The boardwalk is about 40 minutes from Enniskillen. Allow half a day for the full experience — the climb, the views, the descent, and the recovery coffee afterwards. Wear proper boots. Check the weather. And bring a camera, because nobody believes you without photographic evidence.

2. Take an Underground Boat Trip Through 300-Million-Year-Old Caves

The Marble Arch Caves are one of Europe’s finest show caves, and the tour includes something Dublin definitely cannot match: a boat trip through flooded underground passages, surrounded by limestone formations older than dinosaurs.

The caves sit beneath Cuilcagh Mountain, carved out by underground rivers over geological timescales. The guided tour takes you through chambers with names like the Calcite Cradle and the Porridge Pot, past stalactites and stalagmites still growing millimetre by millimetre.

It’s about 30 minutes from Enniskillen, and it works regardless of weather — arguably better on a rainy day when you’d rather be underground anyway. Book ahead during busy periods.

3. Actually See the Stars

Dublin’s light pollution means you’ll struggle to see more than a handful of stars on any given night. Fermanagh is different. The county contains some of Ireland’s darkest skies, officially recognised and protected.

On a clear night away from Enniskillen town, the Milky Way becomes visible. Properly visible — not a faint smudge but a bright band across the sky, dense with stars you forgot existed. Satellites track overhead. Shooting stars appear without warning.

Our stargazing guide covers the best spots and what to look for. No special equipment needed — just your eyes, a clear night, and a willingness to stand in a field feeling very small.

4. Explore a Monastic Island by Boat

Devenish Island sits in Lower Lough Erne, accessible only by water. The ruins there date back to the 6th century — a monastery founded by St Molaise that became one of the most important religious sites in medieval Ireland.

The round tower still stands, remarkably intact. The church ruins and carved stones tell a story of scholarship and faith that predates Dublin’s Viking foundations. And the setting — a small island in a vast lake, reached by ferry — creates an atmosphere that no city museum can replicate.

Ferries run from Trory Point, about 15 minutes from Enniskillen. The island itself takes an hour or two to explore properly. Combine it with a Lough Erne boat trip for a full day on the water.

5. Swim in a Lake Without Crowds

Wild swimming has become popular in Dublin, but popular is the problem. Sandycove, the Forty Foot, Seapoint — all busy, all overlooked, all requiring you to change in a car park surrounded by strangers.

Fermanagh has 154 square miles of lake. Finding a quiet spot to swim is not difficult. Finding a spot where you’re completely alone is entirely possible. The water is fresh, the beaches are often empty, and nobody is filming a wellness influencer ten metres away.

A few notes: lake water is cold, even in summer. Know your limits. Swim with others if possible. And check access — most spots are fine but some land is private.

6. Eat Fish Caught That Morning From the Lake Outside

Lough Erne is famous for its fishing — pike, perch, bream, and trout pulled from waters that have sustained local communities for centuries. Several restaurants and hotels in the area serve fish caught locally, sometimes that same day.

Dublin has good seafood, certainly. But the direct line from lake to plate — fish caught within sight of where you’re eating — is something the capital cannot replicate. It’s a different relationship with food, connected to place in a way that restaurant supply chains rarely achieve.

Ask locally for recommendations, or check our food and drink guide for restaurants that prioritise local sourcing.

7. Drive for an Hour Without Hitting Traffic

This might sound like a joke, but it’s genuinely one of Fermanagh’s appeals for Dublin visitors.

The roads here are quiet. Scenic routes around Lough Erne, through forest parks, past farmland and lakeshores — you can drive for an hour and barely see another car. No tailgating. No roadworks. No checking Google Maps for traffic updates every ten minutes.

It’s not nothing. For anyone whose daily life involves the M50, the Red Cow, or the port tunnel, the simple pleasure of driving without stress is worth experiencing. Rent a car, pick a direction, stop when something looks interesting. That’s the entire plan.

8. Visit a Stately Home Without Queuing

Florence Court is one of Ireland’s finest 18th-century houses, set in grounds that include gardens, woodland walks, and the original Irish yew tree from which all Irish yews descend.

In Dublin, historic houses mean timed tickets, tour groups, and gift shops larger than the actual rooms. At Florence Court, you can often wander the grounds almost alone. The house tours are intimate. The walled garden is peaceful. The surrounding forest invites exploration without schedule.

It’s about 20 minutes from Enniskillen, and it works for all ages — enough history for the interested adults, enough outdoor space for children who need to run around.

9. Hear Traditional Music Without a Cover Charge

Dublin still has good traditional music, but finding it increasingly means navigating tourist-trap pubs, cover charges, or sessions so crowded you can’t hear the players over the background noise.

Enniskillen’s pubs host sessions regularly — musicians gathering to play because they want to, not because they’re being paid to perform for visitors. No booking required. No entry fee. Just walk in, find a seat, order a drink, and listen.

The quality varies, as it should — some nights are magical, others are merely pleasant. But the authenticity is consistent. These are local players, playing local music, in pubs that have hosted sessions for generations. See our nightlife guide for where to start.

10. Do Absolutely Nothing Without Guilt

This is the real one. The thing Dublin makes almost impossible.

In the capital, there’s always something you should be doing. Another restaurant to try, another exhibition to catch, another event you’ll regret missing. The city generates a low-level anxiety of opportunity cost — if you’re not doing something, you’re wasting it.

Fermanagh doesn’t work that way. Sitting by a lake doing nothing is a legitimate activity here. Reading a book in a pub garden counts as a productive afternoon. Watching the light change over the water for an hour is time well spent.

The landscape encourages stillness. The pace permits it. And after a weekend of genuinely doing very little, you’ll return to Dublin feeling more rested than any city break could achieve.

Making It Happen

Enniskillen is two hours from Dublin by car. The Westville Hotel sits in the town centre, walking distance from pubs and restaurants, with Fermanagh’s lakes and forests within easy reach.

Check their current offers for weekend packages. Book ahead for busier periods — bank holidays, summer weekends, St Patrick’s — but midweek often has availability even at short notice.

For a full overview of what the area offers, see our guides to the best things to do in Fermanagh and hidden gems around Enniskillen.

Dublin will still be there when you get back. But these ten things won’t come to you.