Escape to the country at Florence Court

Come to Florence Court for a guided tour of the historic house, stay for the natural beauty and a few surprising extras. The sublime Georgian mansion is, of course, the main draw. The original building dates back to 1720 and was constructed by Sir John Cole and named after his wife Florence. The structure you see today was then built by the couple’s son in the 1750s. The house holds a fantastic collection of period Irish furniture, as well as some of the finest Rococo plasterwork on the island. Several walking trails on the parkland and woodland that surrounds the house showcase the best of County Fermanagh’s landscapes, including mountains, the famous lakes and the legendary 250-year-old Florence Court yew tree, which is the mother plant of every Irish yew tree around the world!

But there’s more. Garden lovers can amble around a pretty walled garden and a kitchen garden that’s currently being restored to its former 1930s heyday. Don’t miss the two original glasshouses that would’ve produced fruit and vegetables for the estate a century ago. Other notable sights are the sawmill and water wheel, the old forge where blacksmiths once plied their trade, and the native Irish apple orchard. Like the sound of this? You can make the most of your visit by staying the night as two accommodation options are available at Florence Court. Choose from a cosy 18th-century butler’s apartment with period furnishings and a postcard-perfect red-bricked rose cottage that was once the head gardener’s abode.