The owner of one of Fermanagh’s most popular water activity businesses has welcomed the increased staycation tourism this summer.
Johnathan Bradshaw runs Castle Archdale Boat Hire and Watersports which has been a popular spot for tourists and locals alike for the past 20 years.
Known for their paddleboard experiences and newest hyrdobikes, Johnathan described how it is great to see people enjoying Lough Erne again after a difficult year.
Speaking to MyFermanagh, he said: “Here at Castle Archdale Boat Hire, we do a load of different activities including boat day rentals and kayaking.
“Last year we introduced the hyrdobikes to Lough Erne and we have opened up a new centre in Enniskillen called Erne Adventures offers a lap around the town on the bikes and is a lovely way to see Enniskillen in way they wouldn’t normally be able to experience.”
Situated in the scenic grounds of Castle Archdale, Johnathan’s father originally started the business as just a boat hire point which has continually grown into the successful activity hotspot it is today.
“We took a risk before the pandemic hit last year in buying the hydrobikes and they arrived when we had to close and we were left wondering how we were going to operate it.
“However, once we opened it people really took to it and with the help of Tourism NI, we expanded it this year to Enniskillen,” he explained.
Commenting on the large numbers of people flocking to the county to enjoy the beauty of Fermanagh this summer, Johnathan expressed how there is no shortage of activities to entertain the family.
He continued: “There are lots of things do in Fermanagh - our boat hire is great for people to head out for four hours and experience the Lough in a new way.
“There’s also Stairway to Heaven, Enniskillen Castle, the National Trust properties and Belleek Pottery giving people lots to see and do.”
Looking towards the future, Castle Archdale Boat Hire and Watersports hopes to continue to provide a safe and fun environment for people looking to enjoy what Fermanagh has to offer.
“We have been opened seven days a week since April and our plan is to keep doing that right until October.
“In Enniskillen, we are going to be introducing a new nighttime hyrdobike experience where we will light up the hydrobikes so people can go round the island at night and see the lights around Enniskillen.
“We hope that we can try and keep that going throughout the winter months too.”
