The Cuilcagh Boardwalk trail (AKA the ‘Stairway to Heaven Ireland’) causes a lot of confusion, mainly due to the parking.
There are two car parks here – the first is privately owned, you can reserve a spot online and it sits at the start of the trail (costs £6).
The second is free but it’s 1km/0.6 miles from the start of the trail! The Stairway to Heaven walk is moderately difficult and takes 2 – 3.5 hours. Find all you need-to-know below!
Quick need-to-knows about walking the Stairway to Heaven Ireland
Although a visit to Ireland’s Stairway to Heaven is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
1. Location
You’ll find the Cuilcagh Boardwalk in County Fermanagh, a stone’s throw from Enniskillen Town and the Marble Arch Caves. A warning – many people just stick ‘Cuilcagh Mountain’ into Google Maps, head off on their merry way and then end up miles from the start point. Make sure to aim for one of the Cuilcagh Boardwalk car parks below!
2. Car parks
There are two Stairway to Heaven car parks. One is free and one is paid. Here’s what you need-to-know:
- Option 1: The Cuilcagh Boardwalk car park (£6 for 3 hours and it’s located at the start of the trail – here on maps – you have to pay in cash)
- Option 2: Killykeegan Nature Reserve car park (free but it’s 1km/0.6 miles from the start of the trail – here on maps)
3. The walk time/difficulty
The Stairway to Heaven/Cuilcagh Boardwalk trail is a steep, moderate hike that’s made tough at times due to how exposed the trail is. Even on good days the wind adds a chill factor here. There is also 450 steps at the end of the flat section of the Cuilcagh Boardwalk. The length of the trail varies depending on which car park you use:
- If you use the paid car park: 11km/6.8 miles and allow 2 – 3 hours
- If you use the free car park: 12km/7.5 miles 2.5 – 3.5 hours
4. Toilets
There is, at the time of typing, only one toilet for those doing the Stairway to Heaven hike. It’s located just down the road from the free car park (here on maps). Apparently new toilet facilities will be added to the paid car park at the start of the Cuilcagh trail at some point.
5. The weather, phone signal + adequate clothing
Weather conditions at Cuilcagh can change quickly, so it’s important to bring clothing that’ll keep you warm/dry. There’s also little-to-no mobile phone reception around Cuilcagh, so always let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to be back.
The Cuilcagh Boardwalk trail
The Cuilcagh Boardwalk trail is one of several walks that you can take on the long-distance Cuilcagh Waymarked Way – a 33km/20.5 mile walking route that encapsulates Cuilcagh Mountain and the surrounding area.
In this section, you’ll find an overview of the Cuilcagh Boardwalk trail and what to expect along the way. Just keep in mind that, as this is one of the more popular things to do in Fermanagh, it gets busy at times.
The start of the trail

Photo left licensed via Shutterstock
So, if you park at the free car park, you’ll need to carefully walk down along the road, past the toilets and then turn into the paid car park. It’s from here the trail starts.
If you’ve parking in the paid car park, you’ll start the Stairway to Heaven walk from there. This is, in my opinion, the toughest part of the walk.
You’ll saunter along a stoney path that has regular incline and declines. You’ll need to pass through around 4km/2.5 miles of relatively uneventful landscape before you hit the Cuilcagh boardwalk.
Reaching the boardwalk

Photos by The Irish Road Trip
The Cuilcagh hike/Stairway to Heaven Ireland trail gets slightly easier from this point, in my opinion. You follow the boardwalk and, despite the fact that there’s a slight incline, it doesn’t feel as taxing.
The boardwalk takes you through a large section of blanket bog (it’s protecting the bog). Keep following it and eventually you’ll see the steps off in the distance.
Make sure to turn around and look back towards the start of the Cuilcagh Legnabrocky trail – you’ll see the path you followed snaking its way through the bog.
The start of the climb

Photos via Shutterstock
Now the fun begins. It’s this section that Cuilcagh Mountain earned the nickname ‘The Stairway to Heaven Ireland’. You have 450 steps to conquer, but don’t be afraid to stop and rest if needed.
This is a steep ascent that’s made slightly easier thanks to the wiring on the steps that provides grip. There are several places to stop and let others pass if needed.
The viewing area

Photos via Shutterstock
When you reach the top of Cuilcagh, you’ll have a mighty view of the surrounding countryside. Unless you arrive on a misty day, that is!
The top of Cuilcagh Mountain can be a bit of an anti-climax. People tend to sit down for a bit and soak up the views before descending via the stairs.
Food and things to do near the Stairway to Heaven walk

Photos via Shutterstock
If you fancy a feed (and/or a bit of exploring) after the Stairway to Heaven walk, there’s a fair few options:
Food near Cuilcagh
You’ve several options food-wise, some of which are in nearby Enniskillen:
- The Chef’s Table (15-minute drive)
- 9th Avenue in Enniskillen (20-minute drive)
- Cuilcagh Cafe (20-minute drive)
Nearby attractions
The most popular thing to do after the Stairway to Heaven hike is to visit the Marble Arch Caves (couple of minutes drive).
There’s also the Cavan Burren Park (20-minute drive), Florence Court (10-minute drive) and Tullydermot Falls (25-minute drive).
FAQs about the Cuilcagh Legnabrocky trail
We’ve had a lot of questions over the years asking about everything from ‘Where’s free to park?’ to ‘Can you park closer to the boardwalk?’.
In the section below, we’ve popped in the most FAQs that we’ve received. If you have a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments section below.
How many steps are there?
In order to reach the top of the Stairway to Heaven in Fermanagh, you’ll need to conquer 450 steps. This may sound like a massive feat, but it isn’t too bad. In fact, I’ve always found the walk up to the Cuilcagh boardwalk (it starts a while after the second car park) to be tougher than the steps.
Where is the Stairway to Heaven Ireland?
You’ll find the Cuilcagh Boardwalk Trail, nicknamed the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ in Fermanagh. The trail takes you through one of Ireland’s largest blanket bogs via a convenient boardwalk.
What distance is the Stairway to Heaven in Fermanagh?
The walk from the paid Cuilcagh car park is 11km/6.8 miles and 2 – 3 hours long. The walk from the free car park is 12km/7.5 miles and 2.5 – 3.5 hours long.
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent much of the last 13 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 40 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.
Louise
Wednesday 30th of March 2022
Can you do this last walk at sunrise. 4/5 in morning . Thanks
Keith O'Hara
Wednesday 6th of April 2022
Hey Louise! I've tried to find this out but I haven't had much luck. The car park takes booking from 7, but I can't tell if you can walk through it when it's closed. Sorry - I know that's not much help!
Catherine
Friday 11th of March 2022
This article literally told me everything I wanted to know for this trip! Thanks for this!
kate campbell
Wednesday 15th of September 2021
Hi we were hoping to book for this Sat 18/9/21 for 2 motorhomes just for the walk would this be ok we are not overnighting
Keith O'Hara
Thursday 16th of September 2021
Hey Kate, you'd need to get in touch with the company running the car park. I'd love to help you out, but I'm not familiar with the rules around campers.
Enjoy the Cuilcagh hike!
ken
Monday 6th of September 2021
any recommendations for a place to stay overnight around here.
Ash
Friday 2nd of October 2020
Update 1st October 2020 - car parks have had a huge upgrade over the summer so you will most likely be able to drive up to 2nd carpark with no trouble as it now takes at least 40 cars and the road between them has improved. Entrance fee for car park now €6 or £5. No toilets but Marble Arch caves interpretative centre is only a 2 minute drive with bathrooms and lots of parking.
Keith O'Hara
Saturday 3rd of October 2020
You're a star! Thanks for taking the time to comment. I'll get this updated on Monday! Cheers Ash!