The Cuilcagh Legnabrocky Trail: Walking The Stairway to Heaven, Ireland

You’ll often hear the mighty Cuilcagh Boardwalk / Cuilcagh Legnabrocky Trail referred to as the ‘Stairway to Heaven Ireland’.

The name was coined after a photo taken from the top of the Cuilcagh boardwalk went viral four or five years ago.

Since then, it’s become one of the most popular walks in Ireland and it’s hands-down one of the best things to do in Fermanagh.

In the guide below, you’ll discover everything you need to know if you’re planning on hiking Ireland’s ‘Stairway to Heaven’, or the Cuilcagh Boardwalk / Cuilcagh Legnabrocky Trail, as it’s officially known.

Some quick need-to-knows about the Cuilcagh Legnabrocky Trail (AKA the Stairway to Heaven Ireland)

Although a visit to Cuilcagh is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

Pay particular attention to the point about parking – there’s two places to park, and one spot has just launched an online booking system to manage footfall.

1. Location

You’ll find the Cuilcagh Boardwalk in County Fermanagh, a stone’s throw from Enniskillen Town and the incredible Marble Arch Caves.

The Cuilcagh Boardwalk trail / the Stairway to Heaven Ireland is one of several walks that you can take on the long-distance Cuilcagh Waymarked Way – a 33km walking route that encapsulates Cuilcagh Mountain and the surrounding area.

2. Difficulty level

The Cuilcagh Legnagbrocky Trail is a pretty straightforward route which will appeal to walkers of medium to high fitness levels. I’ve done this walk twice now.

The first was on a very mild summers morning with little to no wind. I found the walk handy, aside from the short, steep little hills that you have to walk up before you reach the steps.

I’ve also done this walk on a wet and windy day, and it was tough! The wind feels like its battering you from every angle, and it makes the walk much more strenuous.

3. Parking

There are two car parks. There’s the parking at the Killykeegan Nature Reserve (around 1km past the entrance to the Cuilcagh Boradwalk trail) and the parking right at the beginning of the trail, which you can now book online in advance (info below).

4. Stairway to Heaven walk time

On our last visit, we walked from the second car park at Cuilcagh (info on parking below!), strolled along the boardwalk and then climbed the stairs to the top.

We then turned around and headed back down to the car. This took 2 hours and 45 minutes. This included a 20 minutes stop at the top admiring the view.

5. How many steps

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.

6. Toilet facilities

There was limited toilet facilities in the first car park at Cuilcagh (the private car park). Whether these are still open given the current state of the world, I’m not sure.

There are also toilets at the nearby Killykeegan Nature Reserve (please note: this is 1km from the start of the trail).

Parking at the Stairway to Heaven

Parking at Cuilcagh has been a bit of a pain since its popularity exploded a few years ago. The photo above shows a Saturday morning a few years back.

It used to get insanely busy here. However, the family that own the car park have made some great efforts to manage numbers here with a new system that allows you to book a car park space in advance.

Cuilcagh Boardwalk car park 1 (you can book this online)

The handiest car park for the Stairway to Heaven walk is the one that’s located right at the beginning of the Cuilcagh Boardwalk trail.

This car park is privately owned and spaces can now be booked online here. To find it, pop ‘Cuilcagh Boardwalk car park’ into Google Maps and it’ll take you straight there.

Spaces are charged at £6 per car and this entitles you to a 3 hour stay.

Cuilcagh Mountain car park 2 (the free option)

The second option is to use the nearby Killykeegan Nature Reserve car park. It’s free to park here but it’s 1km past the main entrance to the Cuilcagh Stairway to Heaven trail.

This is a handy option if the main, private car park is full. However, your best bet is to get there early and grab a spot in the car park at the start of the trail

The Cuilcagh Boardwalk trail

The Cuilcagh Legnagbrocky Trail is a pretty straightforward route (it’s straight there and back, so it’s impossible to get lost) which will appeal to walkers of medium to high fitness levels.

This isolated walking route showcases the scenic wilderness of Cuilcagh Mountain over the course of a moderate walk.

The start of the trail

Leave your car in whichever car park you can get parking in and head off in the direction of the trail (you literally can’t miss it). 

The trail meanders along a quiet (unless you arrive on a sunny Saturday morning as we did) farmland track for a while and the path rises and falls a number of times.

Getting into the belly of it

After some time, you’ll spot the Cuilcagh Boardwalk off in the distance. This is your path to the now iconic Stairway to Heaven.

Keep sauntering along the boardwalk and you’ll see the start of the 450 steps come into view in no time. 

Climbing the steps

The steps are a bit of a slog, but there’s decent grip and you can use the rails to pull yourself up if you need to.

There are also little spaces on the stairway where you can pull in for a moment and grab a breather if you need to. 

When you reach the top

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.

Getting to Cuilcagh Mountain

Regardless of where you’re leaving from, the starting point for the Cuilcagh walk is easy to get to if you’re driving. 

Simply pop ‘Cuilcagh Boardwalk car park’ into Google Maps and you’ll be taken there without any major hassle.

Dublin to Cuilcagh tour

So, there were several tours from Dublin to Cuilcagh up until early 2020. Since March, however, it appears that each of them has stopped running. I’ll update this section when I hear of new tours taking place.

Cuilcagh Mountain Weather

Like all mountains, weather conditions can change quickly. It’s recommended that you check weather conditions in advance of your visit.

Keep in mind that if you visit on a misty day, you won’t be treated to any of the views that you can see in the photos above. Here are two websites you can use for checking the weather for your Cuilcagh hike:

• Mountain Forecast
• Yr.No

Frequently Asked Questions

I published this guide several years ago now. Since then, I’ve been getting weekly emails from those planning a visit.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the Cuilcagh Legnabrocky Trail (if there’s a question that we haven’t tackled, ask away in the comments):

How long does it take to climb the Stairway to Heaven?

We did the walk from the second car park at Cuilcagh to the top of the boardwalk and back. If you plan on following the route outlined above, it’ll take between 2.5 and 3 hours.

Is it hard to get parking at the Cuilcagh Boardwalk trail?

It used to be, but now you can book parking at Cuilcagh in advance, which removes the hassle (see link to parking above).

How many steps are there on the Cuilcagh walk?

You’ll have to climb 450 steps to reach the top of Cuilcagh. This may sound like a lot, but if you have moderate fitness levels you should be fine.

Where is the Stairway to Heaven Ireland?

You’ll find the Stairway to Heaven Ireland on Cuilcagh Mountain in County Fermanagh. You’ll find a link to the location on Google Maps above.