Blacklion

Walking trails, prehistory and fine dining in Blacklion

Blacklion offers various ways to enjoy a holiday combining nature, outdoor activities and cultural history. You can choose an easy stroll along public footpaths, explore the linear Cavan Way between Dowra and Blacklion, or discover the boulders and dolmens in Cavan Burren Park. Food is also part of the local character: MacNean House & Restaurant combines fine dining with a cookery school. When looking for a holiday rental in Blacklion, you can define the focus of your trip more specifically—from a short village walk to a longer hiking route.

From a village stroll to the Cavan Way

The Blacklion Village Trail is easy, follows public footpaths and is 2 km long. It takes about 30 minutes to complete. The trail starts and ends in the village of Blacklion. This makes it quite different from the Cavan Way: if you would like to include a shorter walk in your day’s plans, this offers a different kind of route from the linear trail between two villages. The stated distance and duration will help you consider the Village Trail as a separate activity.

The Cavan Way links Dowra and Blacklion on a linear route of 21.7 km. From there, the route descends towards the village of Blacklion. These details give the walk a different scale from the Village Trail: rather than a short route that starts and ends in the village, the focus is on a longer trail between two places. Detailed maps of the Cavan Way are available at the Market House Visitor Centre in Blacklion. The Blacklion Community Tourist Office also provides information about attractions, activities and events.

Boulders and dolmens in Cavan Burren Park

Cavan Burren Park is located in Cornagee, Burren, Blacklion, County Cavan. Its special features include well-preserved glacial boulders and impressive dolmens. The landscape brings together visible traces of the Ice Age and archaeological evidence. If you are interested in these subjects, you can make the park the focus of an outing centred on natural and cultural history.

Five marked walking trails run through Cavan Burren Park, including one that is fully accessible. This selection offers different ways to explore the park landscape, with the trails not all having the same conditions. The interpretation centre presents the park’s geological, archaeological, mythological and cultural history. As well as seeing the boulders and dolmens, you can learn about the different interpretations and areas of knowledge associated with the site.

Blacklion, Lough MacNean and Fermanagh

Blacklion is close to Lough MacNean and the border with Fermanagh. A bridge connects the village with Belcoo in Fermanagh. The Beara Breifne Way also follows the historic march of O’Sullivan Beara in 1603, leading to Blacklion in County Cavan. This historic route gives the village another point of interest alongside its walking trails and park landscape. If you are planning a stay, these different themes can help you decide what you would like to focus on during your trip.

Fine dining and a cookery school

MacNean House & Restaurant is located in Blacklion, County Cavan, at the foot of the Cuilcagh Mountains. The fine-dining restaurant is run by acclaimed chef Neven Maguire. It offers guests extended menus featuring award-winning dishes, as well as wines from around the world. MacNean House includes a restaurant and a cookery school. For travellers who want to include culinary experiences in their plans alongside walking trails and cultural history, this is another aspect of a stay in Blacklion.

More town and village pages

If you would also like to visit other town and village pages while planning your holiday, you can find Lavagh, Mullagh, Kingscourt, Ballyconnell, Dowra, Cloverhill, Cootehill and Belturbet here.

For the broader travel overview: County Cavan.