Discover the beauty and brilliance of nature with a visit to the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark.
With a rich abundance of natural resources teamed with some of the very best facilities, the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark is the perfect location for an activity holiday. The vast expanses of open water and the rugged landscapes lend themselves to an array of activities including walking, cycling, angling, caving, canoeing, and cruising.
Awarded a Four Star Attraction rating by Tourism NI, an incredible subterranean world awaits at the Marble Arch Caves; this miracle of nature at the foothills of Cuilcagh Mountain offers something to suit everyone regardless of age, interests, or level of ability.
The Marble Arch Caves are estimated to be at least one million years old. The caves are still growing today, but these colossal time periods are hard to imagine. Human time has little meaning in the Marble Arch Caves, where a stalactite hanging from the cave roof may take more than 100 years to add just one millimetre to its length.
The three boats in the Marble Arch Caves have travelled around 55,000 kilometres along the cave river between 1985 and 2015, and the location enjoys an estimated 60,000 visitors every year. Formerly one of the smaller geoparks within the Global Geopark Network, a significant expansion into west Fermanagh and a subsequent expansion across the border into west Cavan has meant that the geopark is now 30 times its original size.
Guided tours depart the Marble Arch visitor centre each day and consist of a short walk down through the Marble Arch National Nature Reserve, a relaxing 10-minute underground boat journey, and a pleasant stroll of approximately 1.5km through the showcave.
Comfortable walking shoes and a warm sweater are recommended to be worn when visiting the caves. The length of the tour is weather dependent and parts of the cave may be inaccessible after heavy rain.
For further information on the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, contact Tourism Northern Ireland on CallSave +44 (0 )28 6634 8855 or see www.discovernorthernireland.com
