Ultimate Ireland Riding and Discovery Journey

After breakfast, your driver will bring you to the stables where you will meet the Bespoke Equestrian Ireland team and be introduced to the horses. Following a stable visit and riding assessment, you set out on your first major ride of the tour.

Today’s ride lasts around four to five hours and takes you into the wild beauty of the North Antrim Hills. The trail climbs through heather-covered slopes and open mountain country, with sweeping views across the green farmland below and as many as five counties of Ireland visible in the distance on a clear day.

One of the highlights is a stop at a glass-sided cabin high in the hills, where a beautiful picnic or traditional afternoon tea awaits. While enjoying lunch, you can take in uninterrupted views across the countryside. Along the route, you will also pass old peat banks, once an essential traditional source of fuel in Ireland, and may even have the chance to see or try old-style peat cutting with traditional tools.

After returning to the stables, your driver takes you back to your accommodation. The evening is free for dinner and rest.

Overnight: County Antrim Coast

Today begins with a hearty Irish breakfast before your driver brings you to Downhill Beach, one of the most visually striking coastal riding locations in Northern Ireland. The scenery here is spectacular, with open sand, cliff-backed shorelines, waterfalls, and views stretching toward Donegal.

As you approach the ride start, 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 magnificent Mussenden Temple, perched dramatically above the Atlantic and inspired by the Roman Temple of Vesta.

Once mounted, you ride across the broad sands of Downhill Beach, with the chance to stop beneath Mussenden Temple for photographs before continuing at faster paces across the beach. The ride continues onto Benone Strand, offering mile after mile of open sand, ocean air, and unforgettable sea views. Along the way, there are opportunities to enjoy canters or gallops, depending on conditions.

After stretching your legs and allowing the horses to rest, you continue back through dunes and along the coast, pausing to admire waterfalls tumbling from the cliffs of Binevenagh Mountain. The route then leads through Downhill Forest to the site of St Mary’s Church, a place filled with local legends and stories, including the tale of a magical cow and the church’s role in Irish history.

After the ride, lunch is served, followed by an afternoon sightseeing tour of the surrounding area. Highlights may include Mussenden Temple, St Aidan’s Church, local holy wells, and Gortmore viewpoint, where superb panoramic views open over the north-west of Ireland.

Overnight: County Antrim Coast

Today’s ride begins at Whiterocks Beach, famous for its pale cliffs, caves, and beautiful views toward Dunluce Castle, Donegal, and even the Western Isles of Scotland on a clear day. The beach also lies beside Royal Portrush Golf Club, one of the most famous links courses in the world.

The ride here offers a wonderful combination of scenic beach riding, moments to enjoy the sea, and stretches suitable for trots and canters. From Whiterocks, the trail continues along the coast toward Dunluce Castle, one of the most dramatic medieval ruins in Ireland. Here you stop to explore the castle and hear stories from its turbulent history, including the famous tale of part of its kitchen plunging into the sea during a storm in 1639.

After snacks, you continue on horseback toward the charming harbour village of Portballintrae, crossing the River Bush on its way to the Atlantic after flowing past the Bushmills distillery. The route then reaches another beautiful stretch of sand before following the old Causeway tram track through dunes and past Runkerry House to the Giant’s Causeway.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of Ireland’s most iconic places, deeply linked to myth and legend. After the ride, enjoy a meal at the Causeway Hotel and take time to visit the famous hexagonal stone formations before departing for Derry.

In the evening, explore the historic walled city of Derry, known for its rich past, its murals, its culture, and its lively music and arts scene.

Overnight: Derry

Today is a break from riding and a day devoted to the landscapes of Ireland’s west coast. With your private driver and guide, you leave Derry and travel south-west through the dramatic scenery of Donegal, Sligo, and Mayo, making your way toward Westport.

This day is intentionally flexible and can be adapted to your interests. Possible experiences include a walk in Glenveagh National Park, a visit to important literary sites linked to W. B. Yeats, or a pilgrimage route toward Croagh Patrick, one of Ireland’s most sacred mountains. Along the way, your guide brings the route to life with stories of history, literature, religion, and Irish culture.

The scenery throughout the day is classic Wild Atlantic Way: cliff edges, mountain glens, empty beaches, quiet villages, lakes, and open countryside that have inspired generations of poets and musicians.

By evening, you arrive in the attractive town of Westport, known for its charm, color, and lively atmosphere.

Overnight: Westport

After yesterday’s scenic road journey, you return to the saddle this morning for a ride on the beautiful Silver Strand, also known by its ancient name Thallabawn. This beach sits below the mighty Croagh Patrick and offers a spectacular setting for a coastal ride.

The golden sands and Atlantic backdrop make this one of the memorable beach experiences of the trip. The ride is exhilarating, with the sound of the waves, sea spray in the air, and broad coastal space all around.

After the ride, you continue south into Connemara, one of Ireland’s most striking and culturally rich regions. This is one of the country’s important Gaeltacht areas, where the Irish language is still actively spoken and traditional culture remains deeply rooted. The landscape is equally remarkable, with peatlands, forests, mountains, lakes, and wide open wilderness.

A highlight of the day is a visit to Kylemore Abbey, one of Ireland’s best-known heritage sites, beautifully set against Connemara’s dramatic scenery. By evening, you arrive in Galway City, famous for its colorful streets, lively pubs, arts scene, and warm atmosphere.

Overnight: Galway

This morning, leave Galway City and head inland to Slieve Aughty, where today’s ride takes place. The riding centre here is surrounded by 2,000 acres of peaceful forest and countryside, making it a very different but equally rewarding contrast to the coastal rides earlier in the trip.

The route passes through wooded trails, open countryside, and areas dotted with old stone walls and ruins, creating a strong sense of old rural Ireland. The riding here is scenic, quiet, and deeply atmospheric.

After the ride, you continue to one of Ireland’s greatest natural landmarks, the Cliffs of Moher. Rising dramatically above the Atlantic, these cliffs stretch for miles and are home to vast colonies of seabirds. From the edge, you may glimpse the Aran Islands in the distance while watching the force of the ocean below.

In some versions of the program, there may also be the possibility of visiting the Aran Islands instead of or alongside the Cliffs of Moher experience, depending on conditions and final arrangements.

Return to Galway City for another evening in this energetic and sociable city.

Overnight: Galway City

Today you leave Galway and travel south toward Killarney, often considered one of the jewels of south-west Ireland. Surrounded by lakes, mountains, and the beauty of Killarney National Park, the town is known for its scenery, lively atmosphere, music, and long association with horses.

This is a sightseeing-focused day, giving you time to enjoy the town itself and take in its distinctive character. You may wish to explore shops, walk through the center, or even enjoy a traditional jaunting car ride, a horse-drawn vehicle long associated with Killarney.

The scenery of the south-west begins to reveal itself fully here, setting the stage for the riding days to come.

Overnight: Killarney

Today’s ride takes you into the magnificent Killarney National Park, a vast protected area of around 24,000 acres filled with lakes, islands, woodland, and mountain scenery. Riding here offers a wonderful combination of natural beauty and a strong sense of Ireland’s historic landscape.

The park’s mix of water, forest, and mountain backdrops makes this a memorable contrast to the Atlantic beaches and northern coastlines already experienced earlier in the trip.

After the ride, the afternoon allows time for more sightseeing in the area, whether along parts of the Ring of Kerry or back in Killarney itself. Later, you continue to the village of Glenbeigh, a peaceful place long associated with Irish legend and often described as the Jewel of the Ring of Kerry.

Overnight: Glenbeigh

Your final major riding day is spent on Rossbeigh Beach, one of the great coastal riding locations in Ireland. This magnificent stretch of sand extends for over four miles and lies between Glenbeigh and the Dingle Peninsula, framed by sea, mountain, and sky.

This ride is designed as a fitting climax to your time in the saddle. Cantering along Rossbeigh, with the Atlantic beside you and the landscapes of Kerry all around, is one of the signature equestrian experiences of the whole journey.

After the ride, you continue south following part of the Ring of Kerry toward Ballylickey, a quiet and picturesque village well suited for a restful evening after many active days.

Overnight: Ballylickey

Today you exchange the saddle for a day of discovery in southern Ireland. The journey first takes you through County Cork, often described as Ireland’s most spirited county and celebrated for its strong identity, history, and food culture.

There may be an opportunity to visit Blarney Castle and the famous Blarney Stone, one of Ireland’s best-known cultural symbols. Cork is also renowned for gastronomy, making this a rewarding day for travelers who enjoy food as much as scenery and history.

Later, continue to Waterford, home of world-famous Waterford Crystal and one of Ireland’s oldest cities. With its Viking heritage, museums, seafront atmosphere, and historic streets, Waterford offers a fascinating final overnight stop.

Overnight: Waterford

The final day brings one last equestrian experience before returning to Dublin.

There are two possible options:

Option 1 – Kinnity Castle and Slieve Bloom Mountains
For those who prefer a scenic and more relaxed finish, ride from the beautiful setting of Kinnity Castle into the Slieve Bloom Mountains, enjoying countryside views, hidden glens, and peaceful trails.

Option 2 – Cross Country Experience
For riders seeking something more thrilling, enjoy a cross-country riding experience, with the chance to finish the tour on a more dynamic and adventurous note.

After the final ride, return to Dublin, bringing this extraordinary journey across Ireland to a close.