Geaglum Cottage

Nestled at the end of a secluded lane, deep in county Fermanagh and not far from the border, lies the picture perfect Geaglum Cottage – our home for a few short days last week while we took some much needed time off work.

Believed to have been built around 1914 and constructed of wood with a cement ‘skirt’ around the base, this small thatched cottage was, incredibly, once home to a family of ten. Electricity was only installed in 2001 and an inside toilet added in 2005 ! The present owners purchased the property in 2007 and restored the cottage to what it is today, complete with its cute, shabby chic Cath Kidston inspired interior.

The interior of Geaglum Cottage

Full of character and charm and with sloping floors that make you feel like you are walking uphill into the living room, we soon settled into our cottage with a plan to do as little as possible. As the ceilings are low and my husband is 6ft tall, meals were prepared by me in the tiny kitchen (even I could reach the ceiling !). In 2010, the Guardian described the kitchen as ‘ a triumph of ingenuity over dimension’ and it’s true – everything you need including the fridge, oven, dishwasher and the kitchen sink has been squeezed into a tiny space. For me it only added to the experience (not sure about my husband though who bumped his head on several occasions !).

Boris…in full chill out mode !

In 2008 a gypsy caravan was added which was transported all the way to Fermanagh from Glastonbury in England. Ever since reading Enid Blyton’s ‘Five Go Off in a Caravan’,  I’ve always wanted to see inside one of these beautiful caravans and it didn’t disappoint – snug and cosy and full of quirky little touches, I sat and read in here before climbing on to the bed for an indulgent midday nap, dreaming of adventures on the open road.

The gypsy caravan and interior

On previous holidays we’ve tried to pack too much in. This time round we decided we were staying put and would just enjoy the beauty and tranquility of our surroundings. With no TV or WiFi, we spent our time listening to the radio, reading and going for short walks in the surrounding countryside or down to the nearby Geaglum Quay at the edge of Upper Lough Erne.  There was hardly a sound to be heard, save for the birds, the cows and the odd tractor.

Walks around the cottage and Geaglum Quay…with a hint of autumn in the air

All in all, we had a lovely relaxing time here and if you are looking for somewhere to really get away from it all, I can’t think of a better spot.

Geaglum Cottage is located about 5 miles from the small town of Derrylin which has everything you need to stock up on provisions.  There is so much to see and do in the beautiful county of Fermanagh but we would recommend a visit to Crom Estate which is managed by the National Trust. We stopped here on our drive down from Belfast. Geaglum Cottage is about a 25 minute drive from Crom Estate.

For more information, you may find these links useful:-

Geaglum Cottage and Romany Gypsy Caravan

Crom Estate

Discover Fermanagh

Have a lovely Sunday and happy September x