Erne Tours
Erne Tours
4.5
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Full view
About
Erne Tours run guided public and private tours from March to October of the Historic Island Town of Enniskillen and Devenish Island Monastic Site. Relax and enjoy the panoramic view as your Boat Master delivers a live and entertaining commentary. Your cruise will take you along beautiful unspoilt waterways passing alongside historic landmarks such as Enniskillen Castle, Portora Royal School and Boat Club, Old Portora Castle, Waterways Ireland Headquarters, Cole’s Monument. Check out the abundance of waterside wildlife and see if you can spot the fast and colourful Kingfisher as it flies low to the water near the nesting site. Admire the skill of the crew as they safely navigate you through the lock gates at Portora and on towards Devenish Island Monastic Site on Lower Lough Erne. Once moored at Devenish Island you can disembark and learn about its history dating back to the 6th Century, including the best preserved Round Tower in Ireland, Augustinian Abbey and more!
Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
245 reviews
Excellent
206
Very good
22
Average
4
Poor
7
Terrible
6
Brian B
Chester, UK26 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
We took the first trip of the day (12:15) which was apparently the boats 3rd outing after an extensive refurb & it was immaculate. There were only 4 of us on the trip and it was almost like a private tour. The crew were extremely friendly and very knowledgeable about everything on the trip and the local area. We all spent most of the time sat outside at the rear of the boat as the weather was so nice & got a personal commentary both ways which really added to the journey. Before you head to the island the trip takes a quick tour on the waters around the town. Once on the island we had about 40 minutes to explore which I would say is just about the right amount of time.
On the island you have the various buildings to explore and there are information signs all around yelling the history. There is also the small cemetery, sadly the tower is not accessible at the moment for obvious reasons. There is also a small toilet block on the island which was open.
All in all a great trip and well worth doing if you are in Enniskillen, the crew could not have been more helpful & friendly.
On the island you have the various buildings to explore and there are information signs all around yelling the history. There is also the small cemetery, sadly the tower is not accessible at the moment for obvious reasons. There is also a small toilet block on the island which was open.
All in all a great trip and well worth doing if you are in Enniskillen, the crew could not have been more helpful & friendly.
Written September 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Craigo3
Bangor, UK75 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Great trip, went as a Family including our dog and really enjoyed it. The boat has a drinks service which includes alcohol and the prices were very reasonable. The three guys who run it were very knowledgeable and welcoming too and the boat was very clean and well maintained. Includes about 40 minutes of tour guided cruising on the lough followed by 30 minutes self exploring on Devenish Island. Definitely worth booking if you are in the area.
Written August 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David M
Kilkeel, UK9 contributions
Sep 2022
Guys were very informative and quite funny on the boat. The trip was really nice out to the island. Only issue we had is my other half is quite a keen photographer. But she found it hard to take good photos through the glass and there was no room to sit outside on the boat. I know the weather does not always allow it which is why they have the glass but if they could do something to accommodate more people outside on the boat when the weather is good. Also slightly disappointing was the museum on Devinish island was closed and it was only September. But that was not in their control. But all in all the boat trip was well organised and professionally done.
Written September 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
B_in_Derbyshire
London8 contributions
Jul 2022 • Family
We booked for 13 people, arrived 15mins before departure and ended up at the back of the queue to get on, which we weren’t worried about, we had booked tickets. However, if fully booked, the last on get what seats are left. It was raining and this meant most of our party ended up sat outside on broken plastic chairs, in the rain, with no cover where there is a speaker but no hope of hearing any commentary over the engine noise. Basically overflow seats, that they charge full price for. So, arrive early if you want a comfortable seat indoors. On asking the staff why we were not allocated normal seats on the boat we were told ‘Well there is nothing we can do about the weather’. My issue wasn’t about the weather, or about what seats we got or didn’t get. It’s about them selling substandard, broken seats at full price in an area of the boat with no commentary. This is not what we expected from booking online and complaints fell of deaf ears - on board and via messenger afterward - where the response consistently tried to say it was first come, first served. Which was never the point.
The seats on the boat and the experience is otherwise nice but if they’re fully booked, eight of you will be outside in any weather and you won’t be able to hear the commentary at all.
They should probably make this clear when people are booking, that you *might* get a seat that doesn’t look like it’s come from the back of a shed and commentary, but some of you won’t.
The seats on the boat and the experience is otherwise nice but if they’re fully booked, eight of you will be outside in any weather and you won’t be able to hear the commentary at all.
They should probably make this clear when people are booking, that you *might* get a seat that doesn’t look like it’s come from the back of a shed and commentary, but some of you won’t.
Written July 25, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi B_in_Derbyshire,
We are sorry to hear the tour did not meet your expectations and would like to thank you for raising those issues which we will certainly look into and rectify.
Written July 28, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Florence R
Belfast, UK154 contributions
Jul 2024 • Friends
Decided to go on the boat trip to Devenish Island on Lough Erne. Easy to book and good directions. Got a beautiful sunny day (rare) which was perfect. Crew very friendly, helpful and had great knowledge of the area, pointing out different landmarks and even spotting a Kingfisher, which disappeared after a few short seconds.
Devenish Island was so interesting and our guide supplied plenty of details. We stopped for about 45 minutes to walk around the ruins before heading back.
Snacks are available onboard and very reasonably priced.
Would definitely go again and thoroughly recommend.
Devenish Island was so interesting and our guide supplied plenty of details. We stopped for about 45 minutes to walk around the ruins before heading back.
Snacks are available onboard and very reasonably priced.
Would definitely go again and thoroughly recommend.
Written July 26, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen J
Bangor,Co.Down,Northern Ireland13 contributions
May 2022
My wife and I had a lovely boat trip from Enniskillen to Devenish Island on board the MV Kestrel, a water taxi with lots of indoor seating and also some outside seating.So easy to book online and plenty of car parking close to the departure jetty just outside the town. It was a very informative trip, plenty of information about the surrounding area, the Castle, the different types of birds etc. Our Skipper and his staff were great, very helpful and polite. The tour lasted for 1 hour 45 minutes and the total cost of £24 was excellent value. Also it was a beautiful dry and warm day which was the icing on the cake. I would thoroughly recommend this trip.
Written May 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shugo3
33 contributions
Apr 2022
Comfortable waterbus, takes you on a short trip up to Castle Island and then down for a stop at Devenish island. Interesting if factually a bit lacking commentary, down right wrong at times! For example, the Fisheries Division built the fishing stands, not WI, and the Shannon enters the sea at Limerick, not Galway. Vikings couldn't have brought their boats in by water, there were waterfalls totalling 150 feet between Belleek and Ballyshannon, and there are two power stations, not one. WI building may well have been overbudget, but it's a leased building.
Written April 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melvin M
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Couples
It was so easy to book online and great value for a one hour 45 minute trip. The vessel is modern, very well maintained and comfortable with a glass roof for our rare wet days! The crew are very friendly and professional and the commentary is most informative with fun facts and observations. Devenish is worth a visit as a holy site with literally centuries of history. I would highly recommend this trip as an essential activity if you are in Enniskillen or close by on holiday.
Written August 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennifer K
2 contributions
Sep 2022
A delightful afternoon on board the Kestrel. My husband and two grandchildren enjoyed the experience . It was informative and fun. The guide was brilliant and crew were attentive - we had our two dogs with us and they were supplied with fresh drinking water! lovely way to spend an afternoon!
Written September 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria Gough
Belfast, UK20 contributions
May 2022 • Friends
This is a very professional set up. My group were treated with kindness and respect for their advanced years. Both of the skippers were knowledgeable and entertaining in their delivery of information on the area.They made the trip so enjoyable. How nice to be able to have a hot cuppa or a beer on board after touring Devenish Island. I highly recommend this activity for any age group. Its a lovely way to spend an afternoon.
Written May 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have a party of 8 adults and 4 children. Would we need to pre book for Saturday 26th April afternoon?
Written April 19, 2019
Hello, can you purchase tickets for this boat ride on the day of travel? If so how long before launch should our party arrive ?
Thanks in advance
Written July 26, 2018
You pay on board the boat. The company advise to arrive 30 minutes before departure. we actually boarded about 15 mins ahead of departure.
Written July 29, 2018
How do I buy a ticket? How much? And, are you able to accommodate wheelchairs?
Written June 12, 2017
I called & gave my name & reserved a time...you need to contact Erne tours in regards to your wheelchair inquiry.
Written June 13, 2017
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.