Family-friendly Food & drink Walking
The lake county
Cavan is said to have a lake for every day of the year, and while nobody has counted recently, it certainly feels that way. This is a county of drumlins (small rounded hills left by the glaciers), winding lanes and water in every direction, with forest parks on the lakeshores, the source of the River Shannon in the hills and a strange limestone landscape up on the border. It’s the place for walking, fishing, a lakeside spa and some of the best food in the north-west.
It’s also handy: Cavan town is about an hour and a half from Dublin up the N3, so you can be on a lakeshore before lunch on a Saturday. Pack walking boots, a rain jacket and, if you fish, your rods.
Killykeen and Lough Oughter
West of Cavan town, Killykeen Forest Park sits in the middle of the maze of lakes and islands that makes up Lough Oughter. There are lakeshore walks and cycle trails through the woods, and from the shore you can see Clough Oughter Castle, a round 13th-century tower on its own tiny island, where Owen Roe O’Neill is said to have died in 1649. Kayaking tours sometimes paddle out to it in summer. The forest park is also a good spot for birdwatching, with herons, great crested grebes and kingfishers on the quieter channels.
The Cavan Burren and the Shannon Pot
Up in the hills near Blacklion, close to the Fermanagh border, the Cavan Burren Park is a landscape of limestone, glacial boulders and ancient tombs, with waymarked trails, an interpretive centre and wide views. It’s part of the cross-border UNESCO Global Geopark that also takes in the Marble Arch Caves and Cuilcagh in Fermanagh, and on a clear day you can see across both counties from the trails.
Nearby, at the foot of Cuilcagh, a quiet pool called the Shannon Pot is the traditional source of the Shannon, Ireland’s longest river. Legend says it’s named after Síonann, granddaughter of the sea god Lir, who was drowned here while looking for the salmon of knowledge. It’s a short, easy walk from the car park. From here, the Shannon runs over 300 km to the sea, past many of the places in our other guides.
More to explore
- Cavan County Museum, Ballyjamesduff: local history from the Stone Age to the present, including a recreated First World War trench in the grounds.
- Lough Sheelin and Lough Ramor: big lakes known for angling, with lakeside walks at Virginia.
- Butlersbridge: a pretty village on the River Annalee with a riverside pub.
- Dún a Rí Forest Park: riverside woodland walks near Kingscourt, with a wishing well and old ruins.
Fishing and water
Cavan is one of Ireland’s best counties for coarse angling, with pike, bream and roach in its lakes and rivers, and anglers come from all over Europe. If fishing isn’t your thing, hire a kayak or canoe, take a lakeshore walk or simply sit by the water with a coffee. The Shannon-Erne Waterway also passes through the west of the county at Ballyconnell.
When it rains
Cavan County Museum, the Johnston Central Library in Cavan town, a lakeside spa afternoon at Farnham Estate or the Slieve Russell, and a long lunch are all good wet-weather plans. Enniskillen, 40 minutes from Blacklion, has its castle museums and the Marble Arch Caves.
Where to eat and drink
Cavan has a proper food reputation thanks to chef Neven Maguire, whose MacNean House and Restaurant in Blacklion is one of the best-known restaurants in Ireland. Book months ahead. Elsewhere, look out for local beef and lamb, farmhouse cheeses and friendly pubs in Cavan town, Belturbet and Ballyconnell.
Good to know before you go
- Cavan has no railway, so you’ll need a car or the Dublin to Cavan bus.
- Lake walks can be muddy and boggy. Wear proper shoes.
- MacNean House books up months in advance, especially for Saturday nights.
- Anglers need the right permits for some waters. Check with Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Which area to stay in
Cavan town and the nearby Farnham Estate are best for Killykeen and the lakes. Ballyconnell and Blacklion put you close to the Cavan Burren, the Shannon Pot and Fermanagh. Virginia suits the south of the county and Lough Ramor.
A two-night plan
Friday: arrive and settle in at a lakeside hotel.
Saturday: Killykeen Forest Park and Lough Oughter in the morning, then the museum in Ballyjamesduff.
Sunday: the Cavan Burren and the Shannon Pot, with lunch in Blacklion before heading home.
Cavan is a lovely spa and lakes break for the St Brigid’s Day or October bank holiday. It combines well with Fermanagh and Carrick-on-Shannon.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the source of the River Shannon?
The traditional source is the Shannon Pot, a small pool at the foot of Cuilcagh Mountain in west Cavan, near Glangevlin. It’s a short walk from the car park.
What is the Cavan Burren Park?
A limestone landscape near Blacklion with glacial boulders, ancient tombs and waymarked trails, part of the cross-border Marble Arch Caves Geopark.
How far is Cavan from Dublin?
About an hour and a half by car on the N3 to Cavan town. There’s no train, but buses run from Dublin.
Is Cavan good for families?
Yes. Killykeen Forest Park, the Cavan Burren, the County Museum and the lakeside hotels with pools all suit children.
Where we’d stay
A spa and golf resort on a large lakeside estate just outside Cavan town.
A big hotel with a pool, spa and golf course in Ballyconnell.
A modern hotel on the edge of Cavan town, close to the lakes.
We may earn a small commission if you book, at no extra cost to you.
Getting there
About an hour and a half from Dublin. There’s no train, but buses run to Cavan town.
- By car: about an hour and a half from Dublin to Cavan town via the M3 and N3.
- By bus: services run from Dublin to Cavan town, some continuing to Enniskillen.
- Getting around: you’ll need a car for the forest parks, the Burren and the Shannon Pot.
Timetables change, especially on bank holidays, so check with the operator before you travel.
