1. Cladagh Glen
 The
glen of the Cladagh River extends upstream from the car park to
the Marble Arch and has been designated a nature reserve. Follow
the path on the east side of the glen finishing, after only 1 mile,
at the Marble Arch Caves visitor centre where refreshments are available in the small cafe.
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2. Clyhannagh
The car park at the foot of Cladagh Glen is also the starting point
for another, longer walk from the "Cuilcagh Mountain Walks"
package which explores the geology and archaeology of the area immediately
to the west of the glen. Along this walk you will pass two of the
three rivers that sink underground and merge to form the Cladagh
- the river which is responsible for excavating the Marble
Arch Caves.
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3. Hanging Rock
 From
the Cladagh Bridge car park, drive west towards Blacklion. After
1.5 miles is a small lay-by alongside the spectacular Hanging Rock;
a dramatic limestone cliff overlooking Lough Macnean Lower. An information
panel explains that the wood at the base of the cliff is also a
nature reserve.
A small track leads up to a spring issuing from the rock face.
Local folklore tells of an unfortunate salt merchant who met an
untimely end when a large boulder fell off the cliff face as he
was travelling on the road below. The boulder, the Cloghoge, can
still be seen at the side of the road 200m east of the entrance
to Gortatole Outdoor Education Centre.
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4. Marlbank Viewpoint
 Approximately
half a mile west from the Hanging Rock a minor road leads off to
the left. This junction is marked by a telephone box. Follow this
minor road (the Marlbank Scenic Loop) up-hill for less than one
mile until the Marlbank Viewpoint is reached. The view over Lough
Macnean Lower and the Arney Valley is spectacular and the small,
rounded hills or drumlins that fill the valley are obvious. The
picnic area here is used as the starting point for two circular
walks.
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5. Killykeegan
 From
the viewpoint, drive east along Marlbank Scenic Loop. Views towards
the lofty, flat summit of Cuilcagh open out in this sparsely populated
area. After three miles the entrance to the Killykeegan Nature Reserve
is reached. A car park here gives you the opportunity to stop and
follow the small walk around the nature reserve.
An information panel highlights aspects of the flora of the area
while information on the geology of the reserve is found in the
walks package. See the spectacular limestone pavements here or visit
the ruins of an ancient Celtic Farmstead or cashel.
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6. Marble Arch Caves
 From
the nature reserve drive east for another mile before reaching the
Marble Arch Showcaves. These truly spectacular caves were excavated
by the action of the Cladagh River and the undergtound tour includes
a boat-trip along a section of it. The caves are open from March
- September and the visitors centre here includes toilets and a
cafe together with a small book and gift shop.
More about Marble Arch Caves
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7. Cavan Way & The Burren
 After
leaving Marble Arch continue on the Marlbank Scenic Loop eastwards for two miles until the main
Florencecourt - Blacklion road is reached. Turn left at this junction
and drive the five miles to Blacklion, and it's close neighbour
Belcoo, offer a range of guest accommodation, restaurants, pubs
and shops. It also lies at the northern end of the Cavan Way, a
26 mile long waymarked trail to Dowra. The northern section of the
walk, from Blacklion to Shannon Pot, is featured in the Cuilcagh
Mountain Walks package and meanders across a truly spectacular area
rich in geological and achaeological features known as the Burren
(An Bhoirinn - stony place)
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8. Cornagee Viewpoint
 From
Blacklion drive west for 300m along the main street until a junction
with the R206 (signposted to Glangevlin) is reached. Follow the
R206 for about half a mile until another junction on the left hand
side is reached, signposted to the Cornagee Viewpoint (Corn na Gaoithe:
rounded windy hill).
Follow this minor road uphill for 1.5 miles to the viewpoint. The
view encompasses Lough Macnean Upper and the mountains of north
Leitrim. The broad, u-shaped valley of Glenfarne is very distinctive
and in clear weather the mountains of south Donegal may be seen
to the north-west with Truskmore, guarding over Sligo town, lying
due west.
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9. Gowlan
From Cornagee, continue southwards along the minor road until the
chapel at Gowlan crossroads is reached. This area is rich in archaeological
remains including well preserved cashels in Moneygashel townland.
A short circular walk from the Cuilcagh Mountain Walks package explores
the landscape, archaeology and rich folklore of this area.
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10. Shannon Pot
 At
Gowlan crossraod turn right and follow the road west for approximately
one mile until the main R206 is reached again. At this junction
turn left and drive south towards Glangevlin. After only half a
mile turn left into the car park and picnic area at Shannon pot.
The Shannon Pot has for many years been accepted as the source
of the Shannon, the longest river in Ireland. The water here however
is now considered to come from several different sources and an
information panel explains more about this.
Shannon Pot is alsa the site of one of the areas most famous folk-tales.
This tells a story of a young girl who was tempted to eat from the
forbidden "tree of knowledge" that the magical druids
had planted at this site. However, as she bit into the fruit a huge
fountain of water sprang up, drowning the young girl and eventually
cutting a swathe of water throught the countryside before meeting
the sea far to the south. The girls name was Sionnán, or
Shannon in English and she gave her name to the river that the flood
had left in its place
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11. Tullydermot Viewpoint
 From
Shannon Pot, follow the R206 south to Glangevlin. At the kunction
here, turn left and follow the R200 towards Swanlinbar. The road
climbs and twists its way up and over the Bellavally Gap between
Cuilcagh to the north and Benbrack to the south.
After 4-5 miles the Tullydermot viewpoint overlooking Slive Rushen
and the lowlands of north Cavan is reached. There is also a good
view of the summit of Cuilcagh here and one can clearly see the
distinctive stepped profile caused by the different rock types that
make up the mountain.
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12. Swanlinbar
After leaving Tullydermot viewpoint, continue eastwards on the
R200 for half a mile until a road on the left is reached, signposted
towards Swanlinbar. Follow this minor road for approximately four
miles into the village where guest accommodation, shops and pubs
can be found. The Irish name for this village gives a clue to its
origin - Muileann an Iarainn means "Iron Mill."
The English name of Swanlinbar however has a different origin.
In the late 17th Century, four entrepreneurs established a mill
here, using iron ore from the Slieve Anierin Mountains, south west
of Cuilcagh. The gentlemens's names were Swift, Sanders,
Darling and Barry, hence Swanlinbar!
 Today
Swanlinbar is a quiet village but for over 200 years, it was a thriving,
bustling town, with people coming from all over Britain and Europe
to drink from the spa (or mineral) wells. These wells contain water
which is rich in naturally occuring minerals, such as sulphur, iron
and magnesium, and it was beleived that these minerals gave the
water healing qualities.
Visitors to the well here included Henry Gratten - the fater of
the Irish Parliament - and the former Bishop of Kilmore. Although
there are 5 or 6 spa wells in the vicinity of Swanlinbar, only 3
of them are easily accessible. The Drumbrochas spa is a sulphur
well, and such water is reputed to cure rheumatism. This well is
easily found on the left of the road as there is a step to get over
the low wall.
The Uragh Spa is rich in magnesium and is beleived to cure bad
stomachs. This was the site of The Spa Hotel, and some foundations
are still evident in the field. The Mullan Spa is another sulphur
spa and can be found in the field immediately before the checkpoint,
about 12 metres past the gate.
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13. Gortalughany & The Ulster Way
From Swanlibar, follow the R202 north (signposted to Enniskillen).
After 1.5 miles turn left into a minor road signposted Gortalughany.
This narrow road leads up to a viewpoint overlooking the Swanlinbar
valley with Upper Lough Erne visible in the distance.
The car park here is also the starting point for two walks featured
in the Cuilcagh Mountian Walks Package. One of the walks is a short,
circular route exploring the rocks and landscape of this area. The
other walk, along the Ulster Way, is much longer and culminates
in the final steep climb to the summit of Cuilcagh at 665m.
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14. Florencecourt
 After
visiting Gortalughany, return to the main road (the A32), turn left
and drive north 2.5 miles to the crossroads and turn left towards
Florencecourt. The 18th Century house and Gardens are the property
of The National Trust and the adjecent Forest Park has several walks.
More about Florenceourt House
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15. Brookfield
From Florencecourt, continue west and after 1.5 miles the Marlbank
Scenic Loop is reached again. The first bend on the Loop is the
starting point for a circular walk featured in the Cuilcagh Mountain
Walks Package exploring the limestone pavement of the area. The
Cuilcagh Scenic Drive itself however is finished by rreturning to
the bridge over the Cladagh River just another mile or so further
west along the Florencecourt to Blacklion road.
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