North Coast and Hills Horseback Adventure

After breakfast, your driver will collect you and bring you to the stables, where you meet the team and are introduced to the horses. Following a stable visit and riding assessment, you begin your first full day in the saddle.

Today’s ride lasts around four to five hours and takes you deep into the North Antrim Hills, a landscape of heather-covered slopes, open moorland, and far-reaching views across the coast and countryside. From higher points, you can look out over the North Coast and as many as five counties of Ireland.

A special highlight of the day is lunch at a glass-sided mountainside cabin, perched high in the hills. Here, you enjoy either a beautiful picnic or a traditional afternoon tea while taking in the panoramic views of the Northern Irish countryside.

As the ride continues, you pass old peat banks that once supplied fuel for local families for generations. There may also be an opportunity to pause, hear more about this tradition, and even see how peat was cut using old-style tools. After a memorable first day of riding, return to the stables and transfer to your accommodation near tomorrow’s riding area.

Overnight: County Antrim Coast

Today begins in the beautiful seaside village of Ballintoy, one of the most atmospheric corners of the Causeway Coast. From here, you follow an old off-road track with magnificent sea views toward the dazzling sands of Whitepark Bay.

This beach is one of the jewels of County Antrim, a long and unspoiled stretch of white sand framed by rugged cliffs and dunes. It is the ideal setting for a refreshing ride, with opportunities to enjoy walks, trots, canters, and gallops across the beach depending on conditions. You may also spot the famous sunbathing cattle, known for occasionally relaxing on the sand.

The setting here is exceptional. As you ride along the three-mile beach, you are surrounded by sea air, rolling dunes, and cliff faces that were once home to some of Ireland’s earliest settlers. It is an exhilarating and scenic experience, full of energy and freedom.

After time on the beach, the route continues across dunes and farmland toward Ballintoy village for lunch. Here you can enjoy hearty local dishes such as seafood chowder or Irish stew in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

In the afternoon, the ride continues into the hills above Ballintoy, where the views stretch over Ballintoy Harbour, once an important centre for salmon fishing. Fans of film and television may also recognize the harbour as a location used for the Iron Islands in Game of Thrones. From the surrounding hills, there are superb photo opportunities, including views of the striking white Ballintoy Parish Church, beautifully positioned above the Atlantic with Rathlin Island beyond.

As the day continues, you ride toward the cliffs above one of Northern Ireland’s most famous landmarks, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, before ending a full and rewarding day of off-road riding.

Overnight: County Antrim Coast

This morning the horses are transported and the ride begins in the rugged hills above Ballycastle. Today’s destination is Loughareema, better known as the Vanishing Lake, one of the most mysterious and legendary places in the region.

The lake is surrounded by open peatlands and is often covered in mist, adding to its eerie and magical atmosphere. Its nickname comes from the strange way it can seem to disappear overnight, leaving behind what looks like dry land where water had been. Local folklore tells stories of a coachman and horses lost here during a terrible storm, and your guide will bring these old tales and legends to life during the ride.

From here, the trail follows winding lanes and remote countryside far from busy roads and modern life. You pass through landscapes long known mainly to local people, including areas around McBride family farm, where a large underground spring feeds the Carey River. The river accompanies much of the day’s route, sometimes gentle and quiet, sometimes fast and powerful on its way toward the Atlantic.

The ride continues along the Old Coach Road, an old route once used to travel between the coast and the glens. Though no longer a main road, it remains one of the most scenic trails in the area, with outstanding views over the famous Glens of Antrim and the Sea of Moyle. There is time to pause, let the horses graze, and enjoy the exceptional photo opportunities.

A picnic lunch is enjoyed in the middle of this remarkable landscape, followed by an afternoon ride through varied terrain, green fields, and woodland edges. As you follow the Carey River and make your way back through the glen, there may be chances for good trots and canters while keeping an eye out for deer hidden among the trees and vegetation.

At the end of the day, your driver returns you to your accommodation for a well-earned rest and a final evening on the coast.

Overnight: County Antrim Coast

Your final riding day begins at the ruins of Redbay Castle, once a McDonnell stronghold and an important lookout point against northern invaders. From the start, today’s route offers some of the most beautiful scenery of the entire journey.

You are now in one of the legendary Nine Glens of Antrim, specifically Glenariffe, often called the Queen of the Glens because of its outstanding natural beauty. This dramatic valley, shaped by glaciers thousands of years ago, descends from its famous waterfalls down toward the sea.

The day begins on Glenariffe Beach near the village of Waterfoot, where views open across the water to the Western Isles and Highlands of Scotland. You may spot Ailsa Craig and Sanda Island offshore as you ride onto the sands. The huge U-shaped valley of Glenariffe creates an unforgettable backdrop of cliffs, pastures, and tree-lined slopes falling toward the coast.

Here you have time to enjoy the beach fully, with opportunities to walk, trot, canter, and gallop across the bay. The beauty of the area is said to have inspired the famous song Danny Boy, and it is easy to understand why when riding through such a dramatic setting.

From the beach, the trail follows the winding road up through the glen toward the waterfalls. As you climb, your guide shares more of the area’s history, culture, and legends, including tales of Tír na nÓg, the mythical Land of Eternal Youth. The route passes through peaceful woodland and along scenic heights, with ever-expanding views over the Irish Sea.

Near the top of the glen, you arrive at Lara Lodge, where the horses are tied up and you can enjoy local food and a drink after the morning’s ride. Afterwards, there is time for a short walk to admire the famous Glenariffe Waterfalls, reached by a beautiful boardwalk through woodland and riverside scenery.

The final part of the ride takes you back down the glen, offering a completely different perspective of the landscape. Before finishing, you may have one last ride along the beach and a splash in the sea before returning to Redbay Castle. Here, it is time to say goodbye to your horse, your guides, and the unforgettable scenery of the North Coast.

Additional nights can be arranged on request, or onward travel can be organized after the tour.