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Our Top Ten Places to Picnic

Our Top Ten Places to Picnic

Posted on 12th April 2018

It goes without saying that at our 400 acre island estate there are any number of places to picnic, whether thats on the shores of Lough Erne or in the midst of our woodland. Safe to say there really is nothing like a picnic to bring back childhood memories and create some of little ones. If you are staying at our self catering cottages or at Belle Isle Castle, we can arrange for you to collect your picnic from Belle Isle Bistro. If you decide that a day of exploration of the region is something you would like to do, then here are our top ten places to picnic and when you return to Belle Isle, you might just want to enjoy dinner at our Bistro, sure why not? You are on your holidays!

Lough Navar View Point Fermanagh
Rossnowlagh Beach Donegal
Castle Archdale Fermanagh
Sperrin Forest Park Tyrone
Lough Melvin Park Fermanagh
Castle Caldwell Fermanagh
Fowleys Falls Leitrim
Mullaghmore Beach Sligo
The Claddagh Glen Fermanagh
Stairway to Heaven Cuilcagh Mountain Walk

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

Belle Isle Estate, Castle & Cottages

4.8

Based on 485 reviews

See all reviews Write a review

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.

Paddie Devon

17:44 03 Mar 24

Enchanting location & great accommodation oozing with character. I couldn’t praise the staff enough. Genuinely friendly, welcoming & efficient. My family & I thoroughly enjoyed our stay in ‘The Rowan’ & I have no hesitation in recommending Belle Isle 😊

David McCullagh

17:37 01 Mar 24

We loved going to Belle Isle Estate. It was a great location for our family to enjoy the beautiful Fermanagh countryside. There is lots to do in the surrounding area and enjoyed our three day (2 night) break. The cottages are cosy and the staff went above and beyond to ensure we had a great stay.

Jonathan Watson

10:46 26 Feb 24

Faye Moulton

16:01 23 Feb 24

We had a fantastic one night stay in Belle Isle courtyard apartments. The accommodation is a beautifully renovated farm building/stable which was clean,spacious and cosy especially with the wood burning stove. The location is perfect, tranquil and beautiful countryside. I didn't want to leave! Fantastic walks around the grounds and gorgeous views for miles. It was the first time we took our 2 dogs away with us and this was the perfect place for them. They were exhausted when we left!The staff were extremely friendly and very helpful. They gave lots of info about places to visit and eat in the area.

Grainne Byrne

18:16 19 Feb 24

Very peaceful place to stay, lovely grounds for walks, added bonus that you can bring your dog, loved the open fire very cosy, 10/10 easy check in and out . Highly recommended for anyone who loves the outdoors with plenty of places to fish , Enniskillen not to far for eating out and shopping. Look forward to returning thank you

Stephen Garner

09:36 19 Feb 24

Aoife Hastings

10:20 18 Feb 24

Very good value for high quality accommodation in fabulous location

Sandra Scharlach

11:26 17 Feb 24

Had a beautiful stay at Belle Isle. Staff was so friendly and helpful.

Rhona Gannon

21:10 16 Feb 24

We stayed for 3 nights at No 1 Coach House and loved every minute of our time there. This was our second visit to Belle Isle with our little dog. The house is warm, cozy, impeccably clean and well furnished and has all facilities needed for a get away from it all break. The weather was mixed but the changing light on the many surrounding lakes provided wonderful photo opportunities- great for camera enthusiasts. Lovely walks on the estate and in the general Enniskillen area. Highly recommended!

Natalie McDowell

12:26 16 Feb 24

The most beautiful place to stay. We stayed in the Bridge House with stunning views of the lough. The house was so clean and cozy. It had everything we needed. The staff at reception could not have been nicer and more helpful. Great for families. Our 4 year old loved feeding the donkeys and playing on the climbing frame.

Owen Kennedy

19:10 30 Jan 24

John & Joan Graham

16:56 30 Jan 24

We had a fabulous four nights at Ash Cottage and our 13 year old fur babies enjoyed it even more. The cottage was very well equipped and we look forward to returning in January to make use of the wood burning stove. The staff were excellent particularly Emma who went out of her way to help. we look forward to returning.And we did return in January, 24 and had another excellent four night stay, only this time using the cosy wood burning stove with all the firewood and other essentials provided. The cottage is, as we now know, extremely comfortable whatever the season. As usual the staff were excellent. It was a pleasure to meet up again with Emma and to meet Amy who, I am certain, will be a great addition to the Belle Isle team.

Bradley Smith

19:35 23 Jan 24

We were there for a wedding. The hospitality was exceptional and the rooms were comfortable. The views of Lough Erne and the pastures from the sitting room were enough to draw us back

Wes McDaniel

14:29 18 Jan 24

Daniel Linden

10:05 14 Jan 24

John Nealon

22:38 08 Jan 24

Really beautiful location for a quiet getaway as a couple with a dog.

Hal Wilson

18:25 02 Jan 24

Really great service. We had issues with noisy neighbors and were moved without any drama- much appreciated

Kiely Mee

15:38 21 Dec 23

My now husband and I got married at the Belle Isle Estate. We live in Chicago, so planning a destination wedding seemed like it would be a stressful endeavor, but the team at Belle Isle made it incredibly stress-free. Calling it our dream wedding would be a major understatement, it exceeded all of our expectations. We rented the estate for a week so that all of our guests could stay with us for the days surrounding the wedding. Cherry was there every step of the way to help me plan and coordinate all of the events and make sure that we all had everything we needed and desired. She provided me with outstanding outside vendors for the wedding (Saddlers for catering, Clare Flowers for florals, Jill Wallace for makeup, Eden Hair for hair) as well as activities we could plan at the estate or nearby (Falconry- The Northern Ireland School of Falconry, horseback riding at The Forest Stables, Marble Arch Cave tour, Devenish Island boat tour, day at Florencourt) and helped me setup an afternoon tea and rehearsal dinner service with Saddlers. Cherry even provided recommendations on where to eat in Enniskillen and provided us with a travel itinerary for our honeymoon. Cherry was incredibly responsive, willing to answer all of my questions and really went above and beyond to make sure every detail was how we wanted it to be. Her communication was stellar and our meetings were always so productive and thorough. You wouldn’t know we were in another time zone or country for that matter! On the day of our wedding we had Emma there to handle every single thing big and small. She was right there when I needed her and somehow there when I didn’t know I needed her.The estate itself is just breathtaking and incredibly comfortable. The bridal suite is absolutely perfect for a “big day” stay and made for gorgeous photos. We loved being able to meet everyone for breakfast in the morning and getting to spend such quality time together throughout the week. It’s a week we’ll never forget with memories we are so grateful we were able to make with our friends and family.A huge thank you to Belle Isle and for everyone who helped make our wedding week spectacular! I hope to go back some day to celebrate an anniversary and show our kids where we were married. I can’t recommend this venue enough and I’ll be forever grateful!-Kiely

Maddie Byrne

21:19 07 Dec 23

Absolutely loved our stay here! Staff was all around fantastic, accommodations were lovely, and we had a wonderful time. Beautiful views in every direction. **We didn’t ;)** have anything bad to say about this place.

nelson reynal

05:52 03 Dec 23

Amanda Fisher

15:02 26 Nov 23

I love Belle Isle I keep returning as it’s a great location and just 15 mins from the centre of Enniskillen. The walled cottage garden is excellent for my dogs.

Jen Baker

16:00 24 Nov 23

Jack Lymanskyi

11:18 23 Nov 23

Amazing place. I shot a video for couple from America. Great place for elopement. "Lyman-sky videographer"

Sharon Hadden

15:36 20 Nov 23

Our families and friends met at Belle Isle Castle for 4 days and nights to celebrate our son and daughter-in-law’s wedding. The wedding day was wonderful and went very smoothly. We truly appreciated the professional staff who took care of us all so well. The castle felt like home for the 4 very special days we spent together there.

JEAN GILLESPIE

09:49 20 Nov 23

'Simply the best'....Belle Isle never lets us down......we leave feeling refreshed and relaxed. A little gem in the heart of Fermanagh

Brigit Houtten

14:09 17 Nov 23

From start to finish, Belle Isle Castle and its staff exceeded our expectations! Planning our wedding from another continent was a breeze! Emma is such a thoughtful and beautiful person, she mad sure everything was perfect for us and our guests throughout our entire stay (4x nights castle and cottages). They are true professionals and it was a magical experience we and our guests will remember forever. The property itself is such a dream, it has so much charm and character. Hopefully we get to visit again one day! Million thanks to Emma and the team!

pam nugent

14:12 12 Nov 23

The walled garden cottage was beautiful cosy and peaceful with wonderful window viewsCherry was very helpful and made us very welcome. We will definitely come back again highly recommend it

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

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Our Top Ten Places to Picnic

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