Cavan Burren ParkLimestone upland under Cuilcagh with tombs, old walls and glacial boulders on it, laid out on four trails from the visitor centre.
An Cabhán
Cavan
Lakes, drumlins and old stone between the Erne and the Shannon.
- Ulster
- 20 places
- 3 events in the next 30 days
- 8 more listings
The list
Top 10 things to do in Cavan
Cavan is drumlins and small lakes, and the Shannon starts in it. The Shannon Pot on the side of Cuilcagh is where the longest river in Ireland comes out of the ground. The Cavan Burren above Blacklion is limestone country with tombs and glacial boulders sitting on it. Ten more places sit under the top ten.
Cavan Burren ParkLimestone upland under Cuilcagh with tombs, old walls and glacial boulders on it, laid out on four trails from the visitor centre.
The Shannon PotA pool on the side of Cuilcagh is taken as the source of the Shannon, with a short marked trail around it.
Clogh Oughter CastleThe round 13th century tower stands on its own on a small island in Lough Oughter. You see it from the shore or you go by boat.
Dun a Ri Forest ParkForest · KingscourtMixed woodland along the Cabra river outside Kingscourt, with waterfalls, a wishing well and marked trails.
Killykeen Forest ParkForest · KilleshandraForest across the wooded islands and inlets of Lough Oughter, with a nature trail and paths along the water.
Cavan County MuseumMuseum · BallyjamesduffA former convent in Ballyjamesduff holds the county museum, with a full scale First World War trench out in the grounds.
Lough OughterLake · KilleshandraSmall lakes and drumlin islands run into each other on this stretch of the Erne, fished and boated all summer.
Moneygashel CashelFort · BlacklionThe drystone wall of this early medieval ringfort stands up to three metres, with stone steps built into its thickness, on high ground above Blacklion.
Drumlane Abbey and Round TowerMonastic site · BelturbetThe round tower stump is about ten metres high and the ruined church stands beside it, on the lakeshore at Milltown south of Belturbet.
Cathedral of St Patrick and St FelimCathedral · CavanFinished in 1942 on Farnham Street, laid out like a basilica with a marble lined interior.
Show 10 more
Kilmore CathedralCathedral · CavanThe Church of Ireland cathedral west of the town, completed in 1860, with a 12th century Romanesque doorway reset into it.
Cohaw Court TombMegalithic tomb · CootehillA neolithic double court tomb with five chambers in a row, in a field on the R181 southeast of Cootehill.
Tullydermot FallsWaterfall · SwanlinbarFalls on the Claddagh river about six kilometres southwest of Swanlinbar, inside the UNESCO geopark.- Belturbet Heritage Railway MuseumMuseum · BelturbetThe cut stone station of the old narrow gauge line on Railway Road, kept as a museum.
Castle Saunderson DemesnePark · BelturbetThe old Saunderson estate at Cloverhill, now a scout centre, with a short signed trail through the grounds.
Castle LakeLake · BailieboroughThe lake sits on the edge of Bailieborough, with a three kilometre and a seven kilometre forest loop around the shore.
Killeshandra Lake and Forest WalkWalk · KilleshandraSix kilometres of forest circuit, starting on Main Street in Killeshandra.
Gowlan Loop at Garvagh LoughWalk · BlacklionA looped walk right around Garvagh Lough at Moneygashel, a lake sitting on limestone bedrock.
Cavan townTown · CavanCavan town has the cathedral on Farnham Street, the Johnston Central Library and a ruined Franciscan friary.
BallyconnellVillage · BallyconnellBallyconnell is a small town on the Shannon to Erne waterway, with a lock and moorings at the edge of it.
Where they are
Tap a pin to open the place.
15 of the 20 places are on the map. The rest are listed above.
- Cavan Burren Park
- The Shannon Pot
- Clogh Oughter Castle
- Dun a Ri Forest Park
- Killykeen Forest Park
- Cavan County Museum
- Lough Oughter
- Moneygashel Cashel
- Drumlane Abbey and Round Tower
- Cohaw Court Tomb
- Tullydermot Falls
- Belturbet Heritage Railway Museum
- Killeshandra Lake and Forest Walk
- Gowlan Loop at Garvagh Lough
- Cavan town
What’s on in Cavan
Coming up, soonest first.
Saturday 26th September
Monday 5th October
Thursday 15th October
Thursday 12th November
Towns
Towns with enough in and around them for a page of their own.
More to see in Cavan
8 more places from Fáilte Ireland’s own listings, each linked to its official site.
- World War 1 Trench ExperienceMuseum · BallyjamesduffWorld War 1 Trench Experience at the rear of Cavan County Museum is home to the largest outdoor replica trench open to the public in Ireland and the UK.
- St. Fethlimidh’s CathedralAbbey or church · KilmoreThe design of the St. Fethlimidh’s Cathedral is in middle-pointed Gothic style.
- St Kilian's Heritage CentreMuseum · MullaghSt Kilian's Heritage Centre is a unique heritage centre in Mullagh, County Cavan.
- Cuilcagh Lakelands GeoparkForest park · TuamWaterfalls, old abbeys, tombs, forests, landscapes and amazing show caves are among some of the attractions at the Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark.
- Bréifne Gael Brewing - Brew SchoolMuseum · CavanBréifne Gael Brewing - Brew School takes place on selected Friday evenings throughout the year and follows a live brew day, from start to finish, using the Grainfather G30 pilot brewing system.
- Corravahan House & GardensCastle or historic house · CavanCorravahan House & Gardens is a listed 1840's Georgian style house and gardens, occupied by the Leslie Family for nearly 130 years.
- The Cathedral of Saint Patrick and Saint FelimAbbey or church · CavanWith its 68m spire and flanking domes, the Roman Catholic cathedral of Saints Patrick and Felim is one of the most impressive and eye-catching buildings in the town.
- The Moth StudiosGallery · CavanIt's conveniently located in Cavan Town, just a five-minute walk from the bus station (which runs regular hourly buses to Dublin and elsewhere).
Getting to Cavan
- By air
- Dublin Airport, Belfast International Airport
- By rail
- Longford and Mullingar are the nearest stations
- By road
- The N3 and N55.
Questions
What are the best things to do in Cavan?
Our top three are Cavan Burren Park, The Shannon Pot and Clogh Oughter Castle. The full list of twenty is at the top of this page, and every place on it has a page of its own.
What can you do in Cavan for free?
Walks, beaches and open ground cost nothing to visit. On our list that includes <a href="/things-to-do/cavan/cavan-burren-park/">Cavan Burren Park</a>, <a href="/things-to-do/cavan/dun-a-ri-forest-park/">Dun a Ri Forest Park</a>, <a href="/things-to-do/cavan/killykeen-forest-park/">Killykeen Forest Park</a> and <a href="/things-to-do/cavan/cohaw-court-tomb/">Cohaw Court Tomb</a>. Check parking and access with the place before you go.
What is on in Cavan?
4 events are listed in Cavan over the coming weeks, from festivals to markets and gigs. See them all.
