The history of Belle Isle Estate

History of Belle Isle

Belle Isle has a rich history dating back to before the 15th century. It is the place where the Annals of Ulster were written and in the words of the esteemed Dr Katharine Simms of Trinity College Dublin she explains that the Annals of Ulster ‘represent fifteenth-century Fermanagh’s greatest cultural contribution’. Furthermore, in her opinion, ‘In no other part of the British Isles, perhaps in no other part of Europe has society in such a small closed community been chronicled in such detail.’

Belle Isle castle has passed through many names from the McManus Clan to the present day owner the Duke of Abercorn.

We have created a short history of Belle Isle for your information. This special place hold many stories, we hope that your will create you very own Belle Isle story when you stay with us.

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Book Your New Years Break at Belle Isle Estate, Fermanagh

Situated on the northern tip of Upper Lough Erne, Belle Isle is a 400-acre estate spread over eight picturesque islands. Inhabited since the 12th century, the estate today offers a wide range of attractive accommodations to suit the needs of your business or group outing.

Belle Isle Estate is delighted to be a winner of TripAdvisor's 'Certificate of Excellence' since 2014 - to view our recent reviews please follow the link below.

Our special offers are ever-changing allowing you to find something to suit your needs and to allow you to plan a unique experience for your corporate event at the beautiful Belle Isle Castle in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. Book your stay in our Courtyard & Cottages today.

Stay in the wonderful Belle Isle Castle

Belle Isle Castle can be booked for groups of up to 27 guests sharing. Thirteen individually styled rooms offer guests a very unique stay.

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Stay in a Courtyard Apartment

8 beautifully restored Courtyard Apartments sleeping between 2 and 8 guests.

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Stay in a Coach House Cottage

Our 2 lovingly restored Coach House Cottages each sleep up to 4 guests.

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Stay in one of our Holiday Cottages

3 cottages right next to the shore of Lough Erne, perfect for sleeping up to 6 guests.

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Belle Isle was a winner at the 2023 Irish Hotel awards!

Belle Isle Estate, Castle & Cottages

4.8

Based on 510 reviews

See all reviews Write a review

Jennifer Schafer

22:56 18 Dec 24

We have had an amazing couple of days at Belle Isle Estate, staying in Courtyard 4 (Chestnut). The accommodations were gorgeous and the location was even better. Such an amazing place to relax and unwind. Thank you for your hospitality!

Lisa Moore

13:05 15 Dec 24

Omg I could not have asked for a more perfect wedding even if I had won the euro millions- it was just outstanding.Amy and the whole team took care of every single aspect of the day. From our first email to viewing the venue to send vendors lists, Honestly everything aspect was perfect.

JEAN GILLESPIE

10:09 10 Dec 24

'Simply the best'....Belle Isle never lets us down......we leave feeling refreshed and relaxed. A little gem in the heart of Fermanagh.The Cottages are cosy, warm and spotlessly clean.We always book our next stay before we leave 😊

Allan McQuiston

11:59 09 Dec 24

Quite simply The BestAs my first stay in The Ash house appears on the very first page of the visitors book in September 1998, in total my bookings with Belle Isle are well over 15 times at least. This was a return visit after a 20 year hiatus and within minutes of arriving I felt like I was home again. This is a treasure of a place even Storm Darragh couldn't spoil it for us. We look forward to our next trip and meeting Emma and the rest of the team very soon.No negatives at all.

Ken McTernaghan

13:37 26 Nov 24

A terrific place to visit for a holiday break! The accommodation is truly five star. The walks around the estate fantastic, especially with the dog. The staff make you feel very welcome and would do everything in their power to make your stay a first class experience.

Hannah Moore

16:36 25 Nov 24

Beautiful picturesque setting. Lovely cottage and a cosy fire. Remote and very peaceful perfect for a getaway. Wi-Fi could be stronger.

Fergal Crawley

05:55 23 Nov 24

R Elder

16:38 15 Nov 24

Loved our three night stay in Oak Courtyard Cottage. Very restful, quiet and the cottage was warm and had everything we needed. Weather for Nov was amazing so lots of lovely walks and plenty to see and do in the area.

Michele Kotek

07:59 07 Nov 24

Miles Tallentire

07:18 07 Oct 24

A place to switch off and totally relax. We visited Belle Isle in October and were very fortunate weather wise. A car is required as there is nowhere to eat, drink or shop at Belle Isle just glorious peace and quiet. Dog friendly although dogs must be kept on a lead when outside the accommodation. We had a fully and tastefully decorated courtyard apartment complete with log burner. Will definitely return there.

Anita Davison

12:58 29 Sep 24

We stayed in ‘Ash’ Courtyard Apartment for six nights and it was so relaxing and peaceful. The apartment was spotless, comfortable and cosy with the log burner lit on chillier nights. It was well equipped and had everything we could possibly need. The estate itself is nothing less than spectacular and it was such a pleasure to walk around the grounds. An added bonus for us was that it was pet friendly as we had our dog with us to enjoy the experience. I just want to thank everyone who works so hard to keep Belle Isle such a fabulous place to stay! We definitely will be back!Kind regardsAnita, Gary and Jasper.

Chris Getty

07:44 24 Sep 24

Belle isle is a beautiful part of Northern Ireland. The cottage was amazing it was very clean. Had very comfortable beds and had everything needed for a perfect stay.

Kath Liddle

12:37 20 Sep 24

Idyllic spot.Made very welcome. Had everything we needed. Lovely to be able to wander around the estate.Grear for those looking for peace and quiet.Very pooch friendly.

Carmel Leahy

17:27 01 Sep 24

Could improve the wifi.

jorge romero

20:39 30 Aug 24

John Bell

12:19 22 Aug 24

Blown away from we entered the cottage. Fabulous location, tranquil... cottage very well equipped. spotless throughoutMost definitely will return.

Martin Navarro

20:45 19 Aug 24

Lynda Buick

11:36 18 Aug 24

Great place to stay, apartments have everything you need and want. A beautifully quiet nights sleep. Lovely views. Fab sunset. The grass in the walled garden was a joy for bare feet. Enjoyed the donkeys and the cows. My retriever not so much 😂. He’s scared of cows. Although pets are welcome they must be on their leads when out walking, which I didn’t pick up on when reading other reviews before I booked, so be advised. I had planned to just chill but the walks around the accommodation itself are very limited so we headed out instead. Glad we did. Crom Estate was divine, and my pup got to run wild and free at Big Dog Forest. The view from Little Dog was to die for. Great place for kids, not so much big dogs.

Charlie Gardiner

15:58 16 Aug 24

Great BBQ and fire pit

Frances Duffy

20:38 15 Aug 24

Two days celebrating my sister's wedding felt like a week as we settled into "our " castle. The rambling mansion offered plenty of rooms for socializing or quiet moments. The bedrooms were large, each decorated in tasteful style in tune with the grandeur of the castle without compromising comfort and modernity. The grounds are expansive, cows and sheep speckle the views of rustic woodlands, fields and lake. It really is the perfect setting for a private event away from distractions.

Adriana Puga

13:38 13 Aug 24

Stacey Curry

12:25 04 Aug 24

Chris Einkauf

16:21 02 Aug 24

We had our wedding at Belle Isle and everything about it blew our guests away -- the castle, the accommodations, the experiences, and the surrounding area. We'd highly recommend Belle Isle for anyone considering a wedding in Northern Ireland.

lisa gleeson

12:41 01 Aug 24

From the booking process to check outt. I was overwhelmed by how accomadating the staff were throughout the whole process and stay. Pleasant place to stay with all local activities near by. Highly recommend!

Marco S

12:31 30 Jul 24

eduard murray

11:07 30 Jul 24

Wonderful place for a short break. Beautiful surroundings, lovely accommodation and fantastic service. Would highly recommend.

Ciara Cassidy

08:22 30 Jul 24

Hannah Caputo

18:07 25 Jul 24

We had a such great time at Belle Isle. We hosted a murder mystery with Play Dead NI and Clay Pigeon Shooting with Hunterwest Activity Center. I'd highly recommend them both!! We also visited Enniskillen for dinner, drinks, and music one evening. Emma was so kind and knowledgeable. She was so helpful with planning before our stay and while we were at Belle Isle. The team at Horesheoe and Saddlers was also incredible. We had such wonderful service by Ann and the team. Definitely do the high tea!!

Cassandra Gray

22:12 03 Jul 24

Words cannot even describe the incredible experience we had planning our wedding at Belle Isle Estate. Through the incredible distance between Colorado and Northern Ireland we always felt in complete control and on schedule with all things wedding related. The staff was absolutely amazing in making us feel prioritized and keeping us organized throughout the entire process.They walked us through the ENTIRE castle multiple times to truly make us feel connected to the venue, they always made time for us to check in whenever we requested (regardless of how far out our big day was) and took all of our details and ideas to heart. They truly made our wildest dreams come true.Planning a wedding is no easy task, especially when you are in a different country, but Belle Isle made it seem completely ordinary. They took extra measures and crafted a three day experience to make it uniquely ours, sharing suggestions when we were in need of ideas and adapting itineraries to meet all of our wishes. It was truly such a seamless process, and made so much stress and anxiety simply melt away with each call.Us and our guests felt completely at home when arriving at the estate. The rooms were something out of a dream, and all of our guests felt like actual royalty. Everyone had their own space which allowed for the best experience for everyone who had traveled so far. We utilized every space of the castle and planned different activities accordingly. The staff was so flexible and adjusted timelines as needed to ensure the perfect weekend was underway. We thoroughly enjoyed our time within the charming castle walls dancing, having family dinners, playing games and preparing for our big day - but the surrounding estate was such an added bonus. We took the time to go on group walks, watch the sheep graze, partake in some water activities such as fishing, boating and kayaking, and felt so lucky to have a moment of peace and disconnect from our normal daily lives. It is truly something out of a fairytale.We knew our wedding day would be magical in any setting, but this truly exceeded all of our expectations. The venue was clean, beautiful, comforting and an experience in itself. The staff was so incredibly attentive and charming throughout our 11 months working together.The vendor list provided is extensive, we felt no matter the decision we made it would be a perfect choice. Again, they would provide suggestions as needed to ensure we were making the right decisions. We would like to give a major shoutout to Amy who made this experience what it was. She went above and beyond for us and truly became a close friend. Leaving her was one of the hardest moments of the entire trip! She was not just our point of contact for the wedding, but she connected with all vendors and outside parties to truly let us be hands off once we boarded our plane to Dublin. She was there for every moment we needed her to be, and we are forever grateful.We truly want to thank everyone who played a part in hosting us and allowing us to have the most special day. We are already planning our trip back!

Marie McMullan

15:23 03 Jul 24

A beautiful place in which to relax and wind down. Perfect.

Brian Kerr

19:55 30 Jun 24

Amazing few days, we were a family group celebrating our parents 50th wedding anniversary, we enjoyed the easy going walks, swims off the jetty, we had nice bbq in the courtyard at picnic tables in the sunshine and the kids in our group had great fun with their cousins and in the small playground.

William Dowling

18:23 21 Jun 24

Lovely spot, very relaxing.

John Slowey

09:36 20 Jun 24

Our Clan gathered from all parts of the world for a family reunion and I honestly can’t thank Belle Isle Estate enough for the wonderful time we experienced. We hired the Belle Isle Bistro for the weekend and a local caterer (Saddlers) provided excellent food and service over the celebrations.Accommodation on the Estate was great. A perfect venue for this type of event.Thank you to John, Amy and Lana for looking after us so well.Slowey Family

Maurice Keane

17:24 10 Jun 24

First time to visit, thoroughly enjoyed our short stay. very relaxing would highly recommend Belle Isle and the surrounding area , plenty of historic buildings in the vicinity.

Julia Melendez

13:08 06 Jun 24

We were blessed to attend a family wedding weekend here. It couldn’t have been more wonderful!

Maddy Jenkins

09:58 04 Jun 24

BelleIsle is the perfect little getaway. We enjoyed our 2 days staying in Ash Cottage. The walks around the estate are lovely. Everything you need is there. Aimee greeted us on Sunday with a smile and a welcome. So peaceful and we are already looking at booking our return. Thank you BelleIsle.

Abby Ingalls

14:23 03 Jun 24

Recently traveled from the US to have our wedding at Belle Isle Estate- first time seeing the venue in person was the wedding weekend. The castle and grounds are absolutely stunning. So peaceful and original. Our guests had nothing but amazing things to say about their experience and had the best time exploring the castle/cottages and walking paths. Amy and John made our experience and wedding weekend perfect. Amy was our wedding coordinator- she was very easy to work with, responsive (especially during the planning phase), and quick to help with anything/everything. It was a weekend we will never forget and look forward to coming back and visiting!

Gordon Gillespie

08:33 28 May 24

The Fridge in the larger cottages are too small for 6 or 8 guests staying in a cottage and the shower facilities need an upgrade.The facilities externally need a refresh to match the inside of the properties which are of a high standardStaff lovely and location is great

Seamus O'Halloran

09:26 26 May 24

Wow, what a gorgeous place.Bear in mind these are self-catering apartments/houses, and there is nothing around the place at all, no shops, no restaurants, nothing, so make sure you bring supplies with you.We checked in, and the 2 girls in reception were absolutely amazing to deal with (and i mean, they would literally do anything within their power to help you).We were a family of 12 staying there for my father's surprise birthday which went down a treat (the staff let us hide our cars and sent my parent's to the room which we picked).We had two 2 bedroom houses, a 3 bedroom apartment and a 1 bedroom apartment. All were absolutely beautiful, inside and out. I can't speak more highly of the rooms.We were able to light the fire (firewood and Firestarter blocks provided), and it left a lovely smell in the houses.A small park out the back was just swings and a slide, but the kids were happy. Un the park was a firepit. This was our happy place. We sat around the firepit with an unlimited amount of wood (already provided) and really enjoyed our time as a family together. There were also barbecues provided and charcoal to light them were also included, so we went into enniskillen, bought a few burgers, sausages etc and had a great night.Would love to go back, and highly recommend the area and this accommodation to anyone looking a quiet weekend away, or to be used as a base to do other things while there.Cavan is not far at all, marble arch caves are close by, and we also hired boats, and went for a cruise.What a brilliant time and thanks to belle isle for making our weekend special 😀

Joanne Cathcart

12:50 21 May 24

I could not recommend Belle Isle enough for your wedding! (Or as an accommodation and getaway)You get the whole castle for the day, what more could you want! Our niece felt like a princess being able to sleep in a castle and truthfully that's how you felt with the treatment you got from the whole team at Belle Isle!Amy is a delight to work with and puts you at ease before and during the day. The catering by Saddlers was delicious and we really couldn't have wanted for more. And being able to have fireworks over the lake was the icing on top of the cake!!Thank you Belle Isle for our perfect day!!

Craig McKee

13:33 19 May 24

May’24 - Just returned from another stay stay in the Ash cottage and everything was perfect once again including the warm sunny weather! January’23 -Belle Isle castle estate is such an idyllic tranquil place to stay. My accommodation was the one bedroom ‘Ash’ self-catering cottage. Has everything you need for a stayover. The wood burning stove in the lounge area adds to the overall ambiance. Highly recommended.

Anne Marie Keown

09:31 13 May 24

The lodges were spotlessly clean and the care taken by the team welcoming us was amazing. Beautiful place

verton gibson

11:57 04 May 24

Stunning property, and views to die for.

Laura Gibson

15:41 29 Apr 24

Stayed here for a wedding, absolutely beautiful venue. The staff were extremely welcoming amd helpful. Outstanding location.

Maeve Daly

08:06 24 Apr 24

We spent a fabulous weekend in the Belle isle estate with 10 adults and 3 dogs in two of the courtyard houses. The accommodation was very comfortable and worked really well for our needs. We ate locally and barbequed on the 3rd night. We walked the beautiful grounds and gathered around the firepit for sing song and sundowners on the last evening. The staff are very warm and welcoming and were so helpful in recommending local places to eat.It was a magical holiday and I will recommend it highly to everybody I know.

Lynne Spence

08:47 05 Apr 24

Great accommodation - very clean, well stocked with everything you need and very friendly and helpful reception staff! Gorgeous walks and a great place to recharge the batteries. Highly recommend!

Rachel Frazer

20:05 01 Apr 24

We booked our wedding at Belle Isle for the final weekend in March 2024. Everything was so well taken care of, Emma went out of her way to make sure we were all looked after. She was incredible.

David McCann

16:52 24 Mar 24

Always the most relaxing stay. Love the location all the property’s are clean and fresh and such nice place to be.

Belle isle Estate and Private Island, Lisbellaw, Enniskillen, BT94 5HG, +44 (0) 286 638 7231

The history of Belle Isle Estate

History of Belle Isle

Book Your New Years Break at Belle Isle Estate, Fermanagh

Stay in the wonderful Belle Isle Castle

Stay in a Courtyard Apartment

Stay in a Coach House Cottage

Stay in one of our Holiday Cottages

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