A NEW cycling event around Lough Erne is set to promote Fermanagh and the border counties as a cycling holiday destination.

The Kingfisher Cycle Trail is a long established part of the Fermanagh Landscape.

The fully signed route was the first long distance cycle trail in Ireland.

This September 7 the Upper Lough Erne Tourism Development Association (ULETDA) are hosting a new cycling event aimed at the leisure cyclist, based on the Southern Loop of the Kingfisher Cycle Trail and takes in parts of Fermanagh, Monaghan and Cavan. There are three routes organized, a 75km route, a 40km route and a guided 3km Children’s route within Crom Estate.

The event will start and finish at the National Trust’s Crom Estate and includes a very unique section of the Kingfisher Cycle Trail which is a trip on the 100 year old cot boat from Derryvore Slipway back to Crom Estate to finish.

The aim of the event is to get people out to enjoy the natural surroundings and help promote the trail to future visitors who want to experience a cycling holiday in Fermanagh and the border counties.

This year has seen an increased number of inquiries for cycling breaks and for the Kingfisher Trail itself.

One of the event organisers said: “Cycling has become a very popular activity break, by hosting an event on the Kingfisher Cycle Trail we hope to show that Fermanagh is a great place to get out and enjoy the outdoors on your bike.” The project was part funded by South West Action for Rural Development (SWARD), local delivery agent for Axis 3 of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 by the European Union and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

For more information on the event and registration details go to www.UpperLoughErneRegion.com or call 028 6772 3590.