Concern raised that Cuilcagh Mountain has become too popular

by Gráinne Connolly

A Fermanagh beauty spot, known as the 'Stairway to Heaven' has become extremely popular over the past couple of years.

Thanks to social media, Cuilcagh Mountain has been put on the map.

However, concern has been raised that the tourist attraction has become too popular. 

Only 3,000 people were expected to visit the attraction, but last year the mountain saw almost 25 thousand. 

It also attracted over 1,200 people on Easter Monday alone. 

The issues being raised is that the increased popularity is causing possible erosion to the mountain and that the car park is too small. 

The area is managed by both Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and Cavan County Council. 

In 2015, they both decided to construct a boardwalk, which would replace a section of the the pathway in the bog to preserve it. 

The wooden staircase is a 4km walk from the car park which accommodates only 30 vehicles at a time. 

The manager of the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, Richard Watson told the BBC that there were traffic-control issues: 

"It's only a small narrow little country lane really leading through here. 

The car park there is small and we have been having some problems with people abandoning cars on the side of the road and in farm gateways. 

While we don't want to put people off going there, we want them to respect the place."

There has also been a few issues with littering in the car park and on the trail to the top of the mountain.