Day 32 - County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Today I walked in the stunningly beautiful County of Fermanagh.  County Fermanagh is the only one of six counties that form Northern Ireland to not adjoin Lough Neagh.  County Fermanagh lays within the historical province of Ulster, and is also one of the thirty-two traditional counties of Ireland.

Agriculture and tourism are two of the most important industries in Fermanagh and it’s easy to understand why tourists visit this picturesque county as it has so much to offer. The waterways are extensively used for pleasure boating and there are many organisations where you can hire boats for short breaks.  The main town, Enniskillen, hosts a range of attractions including the Castle Coole Estate and Enniskillen Castle http://www.enniskillencastle.co.uk/

Enniskillen Castle

 Today I decided to walk at the Castle Archdale County Park, however it’s just one of many attractions (and I’ve provided links if you want to know more about them) outside Enniskillen that include:
• Belleek Pottery http://www.belleek.ie/visitors-centre/ 
• Castle Archdale http://www.castlearchdale.com/ 
• Crom Estate http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/
• Devenish Island http://www.enniskillen.com/devenish_island.htm
• Florence Court http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/
• Lough Navar Forest Park http://www.walkni.com/Walk.aspx?ID=261
• Marble Arch Caves http://www.marblearchcaves.net/ 

Castle Archdale County Park extends to cover 230 acres along the shores of Lower Lough Erne. This was the perfect place for me to walk today as the park boasts an abundance of nature trails and woodland and lough side-walks.

A wonderful treat to see Red Deer grazing at the
Castle Archdale Country Park, County Fermanagh

I also managed to see their butterfly garden, wildflower meadow and deer enclosure. The Visitors Centre is located where the original  Archdale Manor House (built in 1773) was situated.

The region is abundant in historical features with many monastic sites such as Devenish and White Island located nearby. In addition, Lough Erne played an important role in World War II as the most westerly flying-boat station.

Castle Archdale was the main base from which they flew and this is highlighted in an exhibition within the centre entitled 'Castle Archdale at War' which the staff opened for me to look at today.

With Fire Fighters from Enniskillen Fire Station,
Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service
who joined me at the begiining of my walk

I was delighted to be joined by Fire Fighters from Enniskillen Fire Station, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service and we has a great time catching up before I set off on my walk around the County Park.  It was good for me to have a quiet day to collect my thoughts and to walk at a comfortable pace so I could stretch my legs frequently and make sure I rested when I needed to.

Quite often the excitement and activity of each day takes over and it’s easy to overdo things and walk too quickly, stop and start too frequently for photos or interviews and I end up sore and shattered after each day, so today was perfect for taking things a little more easily.

At Castle Archdale Country Park,
County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

The weather was perfect and the views of County Fermanagh were breath-taking.  Not only am I enjoying meeting people throughout my 2012 mile journey, but I am thoroughly enjoying an educational side to the walk that I hadn’t expected.  Today is a good example and Castle Archdale was a pivotal location during World War 11.  I found their history fascinating and hope you’ll find this interesting;

A Catalina Aircraft

The Battle of the Atlantic was one campaign of the war that endured from the first day to the last.  The course of World War II depended on its outcome and there was a need to protect convoys, eliminate the U-Boat threat and find a way of patrolling the area.  There was an importance to close a 300 mile “Black Gap” over the Atlantic, so urgent aerial surveys were carried out in 1940.  On Christmas Day, Lower Lough Erne was surveyed to ascertain its suitability for long-range flying boats.

A Sunderland Aircraft

Although the survey was basically unfavourable, the strategic importance of the Lough Erne site meant that within one month, RAF Castle Archdale was under construction.  Eight principle RAF squadrons (240 Squadron, 209 Squadron, 201 Squadron, 422 Squadron, 119 Squadron, 423 Squadron, 228 Squadron and 202 squadron) served at Castle Archdale during the war. Some stayed for only 4-5 months, whilst others served for over 3 years in separate tours of duty. The first division to arrive in March 1941 was 240 Squadron.

Yet the 100 extra miles range possible from the new base would only become reality if they could fly due west, over neutral Eire. If the route over Donegal could not be used, then aircraft from Castle Archdale would need to fly north and out into the Atlantic through Lough Foyle invalidating any advantage gained from the new westerly base.

At Lough Neagh, Castle Archdale
County Park, County Fermanagh

It was therefore essential that an agreement be reached between Britain and Eire over airspace; and to this end discussions were entered into. Despite strained Anglo-Irish relations (due in part to Eire’s neutrality and also to her fear of invasion from Britain or Germany), an agreement between Britain’s representative, Sir John Maffey, and Eire’s Taoiseach, Eamon de Valera, was made in late January 1941 on the strict understanding that the agreement remained secret.

On the 27th May 1941, German battleship BISMARCK was sunk at 1100 hours – aircraft from 209 and 240 Squadrons operating from RAF Castle Archdale were responsible for locating the battleship after the Navy lost contact and their subsequent shadowing was largely responsible for the vessel’s destruction.  On the 4th August 1943, during her first voyage from Kiel, U489 was sunk by Sunderland crew of 423 Squadron.

By May 1945, the continual air and sea patrols, from Castle Archdale over that 100 extra miles, had paid off.  The U-Boat threat was eliminated and the convoys were safe once again.  The cost of war was immense and during World War Two, 784 U-Boats were sunk (1162 built).

Thanks to the staff of the Castle Archdale County Park, the many walkers who welcomed me and encouraged me on today’s walk and to the Fire Fighters, who once again came out to support me.

1766 mile to go.

Best wishes,

Phil