About the Sillees River
Local tradition says St Faber cursed the Sillees after changing its course, declaring it ‘bad for fishing and good for drowning’. It is a good line to keep in mind by the water, and it gives this quiet Fermanagh river more character than its size suggests.
The Sillees (Irish: Abhainn na Sailchis, the sally kesh river) rises in Lough Ahork within Lough Navar Forest and runs through south-west County Fermanagh: past Correl Glen, the village of Derrygonnelly, and the rolling countryside of Boho, then through the twin Carran and Ross Loughs before it joins Lower Lough Erne. Along the way it takes in tributaries including the Boho River, the Screenagh (which emerges from the Arch Cave) and the Reyfad Stream, feeding a corridor increasingly noted for its wildlife and its geology.
Walking the Correl Glen trail
The most accessible way to walk a stretch of the river is the Correl Glen nature trail. Starting from the car park opposite Falls Bridge (grid reference H074547), this loop covers roughly 0.8 miles (1.27 km) and is graded moderate. It follows the river through damp, shaded woodland before rising onto heathland, where you get clear views across the Fermanagh Scarplands and down to Carrick Lough.
Two interpretation panels along the way cover the area’s geology and history. The terrain is off-road and uneven, so wear sturdy footwear; families with older children will manage it, but it is not suitable for wheelchairs. The woodland floor supports filmy ferns in the moist micro-climate, and summer brings butterflies including the Holly Blue and Speckled Wood.
Wildlife and wetlands at Ross Lough
Downstream, the river shapes the ground around Ross Lough, a hollow among drumlins that now works as a rich wetland. Old drainage lowered the water table here and, without meaning to, encouraged a mix of swamp, fen and wet meadow. That mosaic supports alder, willow, yellow flag iris and the rare mudwort, which flowers from June to October.
Kingfishers work the banks and sedge warblers move through the tall reeds. The area is freely accessible, and quiet boardwalks let you watch the birds without disturbing them. Come early: mist often sits over the water and woodland at first light, which is the best time for photographs and the calmest way to see the place.
Folklore and ancient fossils
St Faber’s curse is only part of the river’s reputation. In the 18th century the highwayman Black Francis Corrigan was said to have leapt the Sillees on horseback after a robbery, and in Celtic belief rivers often marked boundaries with the Otherworld, so the Sillees kept its name as a liminal, uneasy place in local telling.
Beneath the folklore is genuine science. The river corridor is noted for its Carboniferous limestone exposures, which contain an exceptional set of silicified fossils: over 56 species of early Carboniferous brachiopods and 69 species of bryozoans. One brachiopod, Rugosochonetes silleesi, is named after the river. It is recognised as a site of Earth-science interest, and local geology groups occasionally run guided walks to the outcrops. More recently, an October 2025 dig on a plateau by the river near Derrygonnelly turned up Mesolithic microliths and a stone core dated to roughly 8,000 to 9,000 years ago, evidence of some of the first people in this landscape.
Practical information
Getting there – The Falls Bridge car park is signposted from the A46 and B82 junctions near Lough Navar Forest Drive. Spaces are limited, so arrive early at weekends and in peak walking season.
Public transport – The nearest town is Derrygonnelly, less than a mile from the trailhead. Translink buses connect the village with Enniskillen and other regional centres; check the Translink journey planner for timetables.
Facilities – No toilets at the Falls Bridge car park, though there is a bench and litter bins. Derrygonnelly has public toilets, a café and a pub within walking distance.
Safety and river levels – Take the ‘good for drowning’ line seriously. The Sillees floods after heavy rain, particularly around Boho, so check the latest flood warnings on the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council website before you set out, and stay well back from the banks when the water is high.
Fishing and canoeing – Despite the curse, the river holds northern pike, perch and brown trout, and it is popular with canoeists; some stretches cross private land, so ask permission before fishing. Riverside Farm Marina and Caravan Park, two miles from Enniskillen and open all year, overlooks the river if you want to stay nearby.
Nearby attractions – After a walk along the Sillees, Tully Castle is about 3.4 miles away, or follow the neighbouring Aghinrawn River for another riverside route.