Crom Estate facts for kids
The Crom Estate (pronounced K-ROM) is a special nature reserve found in the south of County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It sits right on the edge of Upper Lough Erne. This beautiful estate is looked after by the National Trust, an organisation that cares for historic places and natural spaces. Crom Estate covers a huge area of about 1,350 acres (5.5 square kilometres). Most of this land is covered by forests that grow along the water. Some of the trees here are incredibly old!
What You Can See and Do at Crom Estate
Crom Estate has a great visitor centre that has won awards. There's even a special hide where you might be lucky enough to spot rare pine martens. These are small, shy animals that look a bit like a ferret or a weasel.
You can also enjoy many activities at Crom. These include fishing, hiring a boat to explore the lough, and camping. You can visit the old castle ruins, which are still standing. There are also parts of a formal garden and a bowling green from the late 1600s to explore.
Crom is also home to some of the oldest yew trees in Ireland, and possibly even in Europe. These ancient trees are found near the entrance to the Old Castle Garden. People believe they are more than 800 years old! In 2002, they were even chosen as one of the 50 Greatest British Trees for the Queen's Jubilee.
A Look at Crom Estate's History
Like many large estates in Ulster, the first house at Crom was built a long time ago. It was constructed by a Scottish settler in the early 1600s. This was part of a time called the Plantation of Ulster. During this period, many people from Scotland and England moved to Ulster to settle there.
In 1611, a man named Michael Balfour built a house on the shore of the lough, facing Inishfendra Island. This house was like a small castle, made of stone and surrounded by a protective wall called a bawn. This old castle survived two attacks, but sadly, it was destroyed by a fire in 1764. The ruins of this original castle can still be seen today.
Later, in 1840, a brand new Crom Castle was built. It was designed by a Scottish architect named Edward Blore. This newer castle is still owned by the family of the Earl of Erne and is not open to the public.
The Crom Estate was given to the National Trust in 1987. This gift came from The 6th Earl of Erne, who was often known as Harry Erne.
In August 2010, Crom Estate was the setting for a fantastic event. A big regatta (a series of boat races) took place in Trial Bay. Old-fashioned yachts and steamboats recreated races from the 1890s. The boats raced on Upper Lough Erne, with the castle in the background. Each evening, the boats would moor near the boathouse in Crom Bay.
