Dunluce Castle and Giant’s Causeway Ride

After breakfast, your driver will collect you and bring you to the stables, where you are welcomed by the Bespoke Equestrian Ireland team. Following a stable tour and introduction to the horses, you are matched with your horse and complete a riding assessment before setting out.

Today’s ride lasts around four to five hours and explores the wild beauty of the North Antrim Hills. The route winds through heather-covered slopes and open countryside, with magnificent views over the North Coast and up to five counties of Ireland visible in the distance.

A highlight of the day is a stop at a glass-sided mountainside cabin, perched high in the hills. Here you enjoy a quality picnic or traditional afternoon tea while taking in the expansive views of the Northern Irish countryside. As the ride continues, you pass old peat banks, once an important traditional fuel source for local communities, and may have the opportunity to pause and learn more about peat cutting with traditional tools.

After the ride, return to the stables and transfer to accommodation near tomorrow’s starting point. The evening is free to enjoy dinner in the local town and prepare for the coastal days ahead.

Overnight: County Antrim Coast

After a full Irish breakfast, your driver brings you to Downhill Beach, where the day begins with panoramic views of open sand, cliffs, waterfalls, and the sea. On the approach, you pass the ancient trees of Mussenden and the ruins of Downhill House, once home to Frederick Augustus Hervey, Bishop of Derry and Earl of Bristol.

Above the cliffs stands the remarkable Mussenden Temple, dramatically positioned 120 feet above the Atlantic and inspired by the Roman Temple of Vesta. Once mounted, you ride onto Downhill Beach, where there is time to stop beneath Mussenden Temple for photographs before continuing at a good pace across the broad sands.

The trail continues onto Benone Strand, offering long stretches of open beach perfect for enjoying the freedom of coastal riding. After a short pause to let the horses rest and stretch your legs, the route returns across the sands and through the dunes, with opportunities to admire waterfalls spilling from the cliffs of Binevenagh Mountain and to feel the spray of the Atlantic.

Leaving the beach behind, the ride continues through Downhill Forest to the site of St Mary’s Church. Here your guide shares stories of local folklore, including the legend of the magical cow, along with the more complex history of the church and its destruction after the Siege of Derry.

After the ride, lunch is served on the coast. In the afternoon, the experience continues with a guided sightseeing drive around the area. This may include Mussenden Temple, St Aidan’s Church, local holy sites, and Gortmore viewpoint, where sweeping views open over the north-west of Ireland.

Overnight: County Antrim Coast

Today’s ride begins at Whiterocks Beach, named for its striking white chalk cliffs and sea caves. This beautiful strand lies beside the seaside town of Portrush and overlooks the Skerries, Dunluce Castle, and on clear days even distant parts of Scotland and Donegal.

The setting is exceptional for riding, with opportunities to enjoy trots, canters, and time in the sea in one of the most scenic coastal landscapes in Ireland. There is also the chance to ride near the edge of the famous Royal Portrush Golf Club, one of the world’s top links courses.

From Whiterocks, the trail follows the dramatic coastline toward Dunluce Castle, one of the most iconic medieval ruins in Ireland. Here you stop to visit the castle and hear stories from its remarkable history, including the famous tale of part of the kitchen and staff plunging into the sea during a storm in 1639.

After snacks, continue on horseback toward the small harbour village of Portballintrae. As you ride through the village, the rugged headlands surrounding the Giant’s Causeway begin to appear. The route crosses the River Bush, famous for its connection to Old Bushmills whiskey, before reaching another beautiful stretch of beach. Here you can once again enjoy riding along the sand and through the gentle sea swell.

The trail then follows the old Causeway tram track through dunes and past Runkerry House to the Giant’s Causeway, Northern Ireland’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage Site. After loading the horses, enjoy lunch at the Causeway Hotel, then take time to visit the extraordinary hexagonal rock formations and walk the surrounding paths.

This is one of the most memorable days of the entire tour, blending beach riding, history, and one of Ireland’s most celebrated natural landmarks.

Overnight: County Antrim Coast

Your final riding day begins in the charming coastal village of Ballintoy. From here, an old off-road track leads with beautiful sea views toward Whitepark Bay, one of the most stunning white sand beaches on the Causeway Coast.

Whitepark Bay stretches for around three miles, framed by dunes and rugged cliff faces, and provides an outstanding setting for a final beach ride. You may enjoy walks, trots, canters, and gallops across the sand, and if you are lucky, spot the famous sunbathing cattle resting on the beach. The surrounding cliffs are rich in history and are believed to have sheltered some of the earliest human settlers in Ireland.

After time on the beach and in the ocean, the route continues across sandy dunes and farmland toward Ballintoy village for lunch. Here you can enjoy simple, well-prepared local dishes such as seafood chowder or Irish stew in a welcoming pub atmosphere.

In the afternoon, the ride climbs into the hills above Ballintoy, with superb views over Ballintoy Harbour, once a busy salmon fishing centre. Film enthusiasts may recognize the harbour as a location used in Game of Thrones. The hills also offer beautiful views toward Ballintoy Parish Church, a striking white church overlooking the Atlantic, with Rathlin Island beyond.

As the day continues, the trail heads toward the cliffs above the famous Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, one of Northern Ireland’s most visited natural attractions. This final section offers a spectacular farewell to the coast, with wide views over the sea toward Rathlin Island, the Mull of Kintyre, and the Western Isles of Scotland.

At the end of the ride, it is time to say goodbye to the horses, your guides, and the remarkable landscapes that have defined the past few days. Additional nights can be arranged on request, or onward travel can be organized after the tour.