TravelGetaway 1k get away for Fiona Cunningham of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board tells ROSS MCDONAGH where she would holiday for a grand This week: Co Fermanagh Tuesday, August 4, 2009 metrolifeextra 19 Where would you go? On a cruise on the Fermanagh Lakelands, stopping off for lunch along the way and taking in all the local sites Why would you go there? What do you like about it? To get away from it all, theres nothing like the tranquillity and peacefulness of Lough Erne to take time out from our hectic lifestyles to relax. Its a perfect family outing. Whats there to do and see? Fermanagh is a stunningly beautiful county with a wealth of cultural and historical heritage. There is Enniskillen Castle built almost 600 years ago by the Gaelic Maguires, which today houses two museums with award-winning displays. No visit to Fermanagh is complete without a trip to Devenish Island, a monastic site founded in the 6th century by St Molaise or to Marble Arch Caves, the Unesco Global Geopark as its known, one of Europes finest show caves with a natural underworld of rivers, waterfalls, passages and chambers. There is also the world famous Belleek Pottery, established in 1857. A host of bars and top class restaurants ensures the hungry traveller gets fed, watered and entertained. Is it a tourist trap? As well as top attractions, the county has various festivals and events on all year round and the capital town Enniskillen is famous for its craft and culture ensuring a constant flow of vistors, including the Buttermarket with 16 arts and craft shops under one roof. Because theres so much to see and do all year, you can pick and choose when to visit. Who would the holiday suit (age group, families etc)? All the family, from young and old to couples and honeymooners. How to get there? Enniskillen is a two-and-a-half hour drive from Dublin, or buses go frequently from most major towns and cities. How much would it cost? The average price for a 2+2 berth is 500 (586) for one week, if you wish to combine cruising with staying on land, costs differ from the 5-star luxurious Lough Erne Hotel & Golf Resort to self- catering and B&Bs, depending on what you go for. What made your visit memorable? It was the first holiday my husband Keith and I had taken with our baby daughter Elise who was just five months old at the time. The people and value for money made the trip extra special. Anything else you want to add. With the current exchange rate, there has never been a better time to travel North. Figures for 2008 show an increase of 26 per cent in ROI visitors staying overnight in Northern Ireland as visitors get better value for money and many hotels are offering fantastic deals. Figures also show that between January and March 2009 there were 52,000 holiday trips from the Republic of Ireland up by 100 per cent on the same period last year. Check out www.discovernorthernireland.com or call 1850 230 230 for further info. OutofO ceTravel Getaway index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html