Causeway leading to Church Island

Lough Beg

Plants: - Rare orchids Irish Ladies Tresses - spiranthes romanzoffiana - has creamy white flowers in spirals around the stem. It is nearly unknown in Britain and non existent on the Continent of Europe. However it is found over much of the United States of America.

How To get there

On foot across marshland in the dry season only - Lough Beg Nature Reserve and Wildfowl Refuge is designated as a Ramsar site. There's an ominous sign at gate which states- "Carry a stick... If your dog is on a lead and cattle approach you, release the dog". There is an old gate on the road which opens onto a stone causeway which was probably once used to reach Church Island.

Bird Life

Lough Beg is shallow with a abundant submerged vegetation. This attracts wildfowl, making the area a bird watcher's paradise. During a year the following can be seen. Whooper Swans, Berwick Swans, Greylag Geese, Pochard, Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pintail, Red-breasted Merganser, Coots, Lapwings, Golden Plovers, Curlew, Redshank; Snipe, Dunlins, Whimbrels, Black-tailed Godwits, Snipe, Great-crested Grebe, Shoveler, Shelduck, Green Sandpipers, Common Sandpipers, Greenshanks and Knots. It's a huge list and these various species make this an area of international importance for ornithologists. Birdwatching is said to best at a location at OS 298397

Fishing

The Black Forge Cottage

Hill Head (294294)

Has a blacksmith's forge which was the original venue for rehearsals of the "Forge Players" a drama group.

Seamus Heaney wrote a poem about Hill Head forge. Heaney passed the Forge every day on his way to school. The poem clearly alludes to the fact that he had never passed the threshold although the imagery he uses almost exactly reflects the workings of the Forge. The Forge is owned by Barney Devlin who has retained it and still opens it on request for a tour.