Exploring the estate at Crom

The old castle

The old castle at Crom was built in the early 17th century by a Scottish planter, Michael Balfour. The castle survived two sieges by the Jacobites in 1689, but accidentally burnt down in 1764.

According to tradition, the fire took place when the owner Abraham Crichton was returning in his boat from a housewarming party at Florence Court. Crichton saw a glow in the sky, and returned home to find his castle gutted.

In the 19th century additional walls and towers were added to the ruins of the old castle for romantic effect. Today, the ruins are a secluded monument.

Ancient woodland

Close to the castle ruins are Crom’s famous Yew Trees. They are a conjoined pair of a male and female yew, with a combined circumference of 377 feet (115m) and a diameter of 115 feet (35m). The larger, older female yew is of a considerable age, although how old exactly has been the subject of debate for many years. They have been named among Britain's 50 greatest trees.

The earliest known reference to the tree is from 1739, when it was described as an already venerable tree. The male tree is much younger, and was most likely planted in the 19th century.

Ireland has very little native broadleaved woodland remaining but Crom is home to a large portion of it. The woodland is dominated by oak trees, which are known to support the greatest diversity of life in terms of lichens, mosses, invertebrates and even birds and mammals.

Grasslands

Crom is also home to large areas of species-rich grassland teeming with life, from wildflowers to a whole host of invertebrates. Flowers like ragged robin, meadowsweet and purple loosestrife love the soggy ground and support a variety of bee, butterfly and moth species who in turn support the dragonfly and damselfly species who prey on them.

The grassland takes careful management as without grazing or regular cutting the grasslands would swallow up the diverse flora, decimating the array of invertebrates that depend on them.

Freshwater lough

Another important habitat at Crom is Lough Erne itself, celebrated for its peace, tranquillity, beauty and above all its wildlife. The area is well known for its lichens and fungi, while rare and endangered plants can be found here, including blue-eyed grass, which is unique to Fermanagh.

Take a look in the bird hide

In bird hide has been erected on the shores of Derrymacrow Lough. This provides visitors with the opportunity to enjoy some of the rich and varied wildlife in a corner of Crom which is not usually visited.

The hide is on a raised platform, giving good views over the loughside vegetation and is accessible to all, with an access ramp and viewing slot for wheelchair users. Binoculars are available, providing close-up views of the various species on the lough, while the hide is also equipped with identification guides and notebooks for visitors to record what they see during their visits.