Only open since 2015, a wooden boardwalk in Co. Fermanagh has become a social media phenomenon in Ireland. The walkway is in Cuilcagh Mountain Park in Northern Ireland and forms part of the Cuilcagh Legnabrocky Trail. The original aim of the walkway was to protect the sensitive blanket bog and restore areas of peatland that had been eroded in a special area of conservation. But thanks to its beautiful design, the walkway now has the nickname ‘Stairway to Heaven’ in Ireland.
You’ll see photos of the walkway all over social media, with lockdown prompting even more Irish locals to explore their own region. People are flocking to the Stairway to Heaven as summer turns into autumn. There’s more than 20,000 variations of the Cuilcagh hashtag on Instagram, with countless images tagged for the geolocation.
The Stairway to Heaven is part of Cuilcagh Way
The route meanders through one of the largest expanses of blanket bog in Northern Ireland, traversing over farm tracks, boardwalk and mountain path. A steep climb is required to reach the 666 metre summit of Cuilcagh Mountain. The walkway however has has made the final 1.5km of the trek less of a slog – with amazing views to boot!
Your final ascent is via a steep section of steps, these are not for the faint of heart.
The viewing platform positioned precariously at the edge of the mountain plateau offers breath-taking views over the surrounding landscape and an opportunity to take a well-deserved rest before starting your decent.
The entire Stairway to Heaven trail will take you about 6 hours round trip, so bring snacks (and a rainjacket!). Your reward will be looking out over the incredible view of the Irish bogland…
For more information see Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail Map.
