cuilagh mountains

The blanket bog plateau is a rich depository of acid loving plants such as butterworth, sundews and bladderworth as well as a wide variety of heathers and grasses. You can see out some myrtle and a variety of delicate orchids.

The peregrine falcon can be found on the plateau while other species which find an ideal habitat in Cavan include the blackbird, merlin, red grouse, golden plover, stonechat, whinchat, wheatear, skylark, swan and dipper.

Nesting snipe, great crested grebe, curlew and redshank occupy the shores of Upper Lough Erne and up to 5% of the world's whooper swan population winter here. Undisturbed marshland, which covers much of the lake shores of Cavan attracts birds such as snipe, curlew, lapwing, redshank and water rail. A colourful hunter along the reed beds is the hen harrier. The old oak wood near Teemore on the Shannon Erne Waterway harbours sparrowhawk and Kestrel while Inishfendra Island near Crom Castle on Upper Lough Erne contains Ireland's largest heronry. The water soldier offers a graceful display when it rises to the surface of the water to flower in July.