Crom Estate, Co. Fermanagh

The Crom Estate sits on the edge of Upper Lough Erne in Co Fermanagh and contains not one but two castles (albeit one is in ruins, but no less spectacular). You can hire a boat at the National Trust site or, like my family and I, you can take your bike and enjoy the trails. It's a beautiful estate and well worth a visit.

One highlight of the day, for me, was discovering the walled garden and the dilapidated glass house within it, not only as someone who would love to be a great gardener but also because it conformed so well to my vision of Caitlin's walled garden and glass house in my work in progress, The Glass House. As there are so many photos to post of the estate itself, I'll reserve the ones of the garden and glass house for another day.

Crom Old Castle

Current Crom Castle (privately owned)

The Boathouse

Bridge to the island (where the walled garden is) and the Summer House

View from the Summer House 

National Trust: Crom
Discover NI: Crom
http://cromcastle.com/index.html

Just Keep Moving...

Conscious that autumn is arriving, the nights getting longer and days getting cooler, a bright and dry start today drove me to get the bicycle out again. We're lucky enough to have easy access to the tow path which runs by the canal from Newry (County Down) to Portadown (County Armagh) and villages along the route give ideal opportunities for start points and destinations. I went from Scarva to Poyntzpass, which took me via Acton Lake.

It got me wondering - what inspires you to get out and about, take some exercise, enjoy the sights? Is there something about your local area you particularly enjoy or wish you had better access to?

More information can be found on the cycleni website:
http://www.cycleni.com/110/newry-canal-towpath/

Castle Ward

A house and estate in Strangford, Co Down owned by the National Trust. Has cycling trails through woodland, fields and along the shore. I mentioned the house in a previous post as I'm fond of its dual architecture (internally and externally).

View to Portaferry

Out across Strangford Lough

Temple Water 

The farmyard

A view of the Mournes on the coastal drive back via Ardglass

National Trust - Castle Ward