Overview
Marlbank packs a Bronze Age carved stone, an early Christian ring-fort, and a stretch of bare limestone pavement into a 600-metre loop you can finish in twenty minutes. Known locally as Killykeeghan, it sits on the northern slopes of Cuilcagh Mountain near Belcoo, between the limestone uplands and the Erne Lowlands, and is managed as part of the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark. This is one of the finest patches of limestone grassland in the province.
Set your expectations accordingly: it’s a short, low-key stop rather than a headline attraction, the car park and toilets only open Easter to September, and there’s no café on-site. If you stop for one thing, make it the cup-and-ring marked Bronze Age stone near the end of the loop.
Geology and history
The rock underfoot was laid down roughly 340 million years ago, when a shallow tropical sea covered the region and lime-rich mud settled on the sea floor, later compacting into fossil-bearing limestone. During the last Ice Age, around 18,000 years ago, ice sheets gouged and deepened the valley and left the drumlins you can still pick out from the summit. Look, too, for the glacial erratics – large boulders dumped by the ice – scattered to the right of the path.
People reshaped the surface layers. The slopes were once wooded with hazel, elm, and ash; clearances for farming since the Stone Age, followed by centuries of grazing, opened out the grassland that survives today. Old cultivation ridges from subsistence farming are still visible in one field along the walk. North of McGrath’s cottage, on the right of the laneway, is a run of limestone pavement – a rare and threatened habitat, and one Fermanagh holds almost all of in Northern Ireland.
What to look for on the walk
- Bronze Age Decorated Stone – A stone with distinctive cup-and-ring markings sits beside the path near the end of the loop.
- Early Christian cashel – Turn right onto the farm lane from McGrath’s cottage to find an old circular stone enclosure.
- Limestone pavement and erratics – The bare, fissured rock and the scattered ice-age boulders are the clearest reading of the Geopark’s geology on a short walk.
Wildflowers and wildlife
The thin, alkaline soil supports a specialist mix of grassland and scrub plants, and May to July is the window to see it at its best.
What grows here:
- In the hazel scrub, wood sorrel and primroses flower in spring.
- On the heathier patches, bog cotton, yellow bog asphodel, and ling heather come through into summer.
What to watch for:
- Cuckoos call across the grassland in May, and meadow pipits make their short, jerky display flights above it.
- Common blue and peacock butterflies work the flowering herbs.
- Red squirrels turn up in the hazel on occasion, though sightings are rare.
The viewpoint and interpretation
A short detour off the loop leads to the Marlbank Viewpoint, a designated geosite. On a clear day the view opens across the twin waters of Upper and Lower Lough MacNean, takes in the village of Belcoo, and reaches the forested ridges of Belmore Mountain, with Cushrush Island on the water below. The interpretation boards explain the drumlins, karst, and grassland, which makes the stop as much a lesson as a lookout.
McGrath’s cottage
The restored cottage runs as a modest heritage centre, open daily in July and August and at weekends in May, June, and September. Inside are artefacts from the old hazel-woodland farming community and displays on how traditional land use accidentally preserved the rare grassland. It’s a decent pause before or after the walk, especially for school groups.
Practical information
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Start point | NIEA car park (grid reference H109341) |
| Distance | 600 m (0.4 mi) circular loop |
| Terrain | Off-road grassy paths; uneven in places |
| Difficulty | Easy – suitable for families and casual walkers |
| Opening hours | Car park & toilets: 11:00 am – 6:00 pm, Easter to September (closed September–Easter) |
| Admission | Free (parking charges may apply) |
| Facilities | Car park, toilets, interpretive panels, limited-mobility access |
| Best time to visit | Late spring to early summer for the wildflowers; May for cuckoo song |
| Nearest town | Belcoo (approx. 1 mi) |
| Public transport | No direct service; nearest stop is Belcoo |
| How to get there | Follow signs for ‘Marlbank Scenic Loop’ and ‘Marble Arch Caves/Cuilcagh Geopark’. The car park is about 1 mile from the Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre. |
Getting there
Marlbank is reached via the Marlbank Road (BT92 1BR). Driving from Enniskillen, take the A509 toward the Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre and follow the brown tourist signs to the car park. There’s no direct bus; the nearest stop is in Belcoo, a short taxi ride or a 20-minute walk from the entrance. The reserve’s site manager is based at Castle Archdale Country Park (028 6634 4803).
Conservation and visitor guidelines
The grassland survives because of active conservation grazing, which keeps taller vegetation down and holds the open conditions the specialist plants and butterflies need. To protect it:
- Stay on the marked paths.
- Keep dogs on leads, especially in the spring and summer breeding season.
- Avoid trampling flowering patches or disturbing nesting birds.
- Take all litter home; a small NIEA team maintains the reserve.
The Marble Arch Caves Visitor Centre is a mile up the road with showcave tours, a café, and toilets, so most people fold Marlbank into a wider Geopark day rather than driving out for the loop on its own.