6 Day Classic- Twice Monthly

On arrival Mr. McKinley, members of the Bespoke Equestrian Ireland (BEI) team and “Sheba” the resident farm dog, will greet you with a warm, genuine welcome before heading to the barn for a stable tour and to meet the team of horses (if you wish, you can assist with grooming and tacking)

After selecting a horse and a riding assessment, you can spend 3/4  hours riding out into the wilderness of the North Antrim Hills with its heather clad slopes, looking down on to green pasture away below with panoramic views over the North Coast and 5 counties of Ireland.

You will stop at the glass sided mountain side cabin, high in the hills where a sumptuous picnic awaits you. Enjoy your picnic while absorbing magnificent views of the Northern Irish countryside and a toast to the experience of a lifetime!

We will be riding past the old peat banks that were once the traditional source of fuel in Ireland for generations and can stop and do some peat cutting with the old traditional peat spades and get a few photographs before making our way back to the stables. Our driver will return you to you accommodation. After a great day spent becoming aquainted with your horse and the BEI team, you can enjoy the evening before your second day of riding begins. 

Overnight: County Antrim Coast

We will begin the day in the idyllic seaside village of Ballintoy on the coast! Follow an old off- road track with splendid views of the coast, to the breath-taking white sand beach of Whitepark Bay, a 3-mile long beach on the famous Causeway Coastal Route. Whitepark Bay is a beautiful stretch of pristine beach located on Co. Antrim’s North Coast near the picturesque village of Ballintoy. With a beach so pure it shines for miles (on even the cloudiest of days) it’s the perfect backdrop for a refreshing trot, canter or gallop!

We’ll take our time playing on the beach & in the ocean before cantering over the smooth sands! If we’re lucky the famous “Sunbathing Cattle” will be on the beach basking in the sun’s warmth.

You will spend your time romping and capering along the 3 mile stretch of pristine, resplendent white sand and explore the rolling sand dunes of the area below the backdrop of the rugged surrounding cliff faces which were once home to some of the earliest human settlers in Ireland. Savour the taste of the tantalising sea air, feel the blustering and energising wind on your face and the radiant rays of the Irish sunshine on your back on this invigorating ride.

Afterwards, we’ll make our way over sandy dunes and across lush farmlands for lunch at the village of Ballintoy. Expect good, straightforward locally sourced main dishes such as seafood chowder or Irish stew, 

After lunch we will ride in the hills above Ballintoy, overlooking Ballintoy Harbour which was mainly associated with salmon fishing. In its heyday, cartloads of salmon made their way round hilly roads to catch the train at Ballycastle and onwards to Belfast. Game of Thrones fans will recognize Ballintoy Harbour as the setting for the Iron Islands and Lordsport in the Isle of Pyke. Like most places along the North Coast, the views from these hills are spectacular and offer some amazing photo opportunities. We look down on Ballintoy’s most distinctive site, the white Ballintoy Parish Church, perched on a hill overlooking the vast Atlantic.

Ballintoy Parish Church was built in 1813, in replacement of the original church built in the early 17th century. It is one of the most scenic churches in the country and is often pictured with the stunning view of Rathlin Island in the background. Many notable landed families are buried in the church’s cemetery including The Stewarts of Ballintoy, Downing Fullerton and members of the Stewart-Moore family.

We will now make our way towards the final destination of our journey and as we ride, we will be looking down on to the cliffs surrounding one of Northern Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope bridge, before finally stopping and saying farewell to the horses and team after a full day of off-road riding.

Overnight: County Antrim Coast

Today we will transport the horses and saddle-up in the rugged hills above Ballycastle. We will be venturing to Loughareema, known locally as the Vanishing Lake, an area surrounded by Irish myths and legends. This ethereal lake, on the outskirts of a beautiful series of wild, expansive peatlands is often enshrouded by swirling mists. The true mystery of the lake is derived from its propensity to mysteriously vanish overnight, with the usually brimming body of water being no more.

The ’Vanishing Lake’ is an area surrounded by Irish myths and legends. Allow your guide to regal you with these tales, as you hear of the coachman and horses lost in a terrible storm! The group had tried to cross the lake when it was full of water, which they did not notice in the dead of night in this misty, desolate area. Rumours abound that, when the lake is at its fullest, the ghosts of this unfortunate party haunt the lake.

We will pass a winding laneway and be transported far away from the hustle and bustle of civilisation, where we will have the opportunity to explore a hidden gem which has historically been known only to locals. The McBride Family farm has a massive underground spring which leads to the Carey River, whose gentle, flowing waters will accompany you throughout your travels.

We will continue our ride on the Old Coach road to the edge of the famed Glen of Glendun, one of the 9 Glens of Antrim. This road was the main thoroughfare from the Coast to the Glens in bygone times, and whilst it has long been abandoned, in favour of more expedient routes, this route is well worth traversing. The Coach Road provides a fantastic vista from which to soak in the surrounding beauty of the Glens and the sea of Moyle, in all its glory.

After exploring the historic route, we will head towards the sheltered harbour town at the mouth of Glendun, another of Antrim’s famed 9 Glens. We will ride along this short, but beautiful section of beach, trotting and cantering with the ocean spray on our faces, to finish off this day on an exhilarating high.

Overnight: County Antrim

Today we are going to take the opportunity to rest our legs and instead make a sea voyage to visit a tranquil, idyllic Irish Island of Rathlin. Hosting one of Ireland’s greatest bird sanctuaries, the chance to spot killer whales or dolphins off the coast, beautiful idyllic walking trails, shipwreck diving, iconic lighthouses, a vibrant history and colourful arts scene, Rathlin is a haven for those with all manner of interests. Enjoy a day in this unique location, meeting the locals in its quaint Irish village with a single pub and shop. With a regular ferry service, boats leave and return to the town of Ballycastle several times a day. Rathlin is a great place to spend a day or more with one of our local guides!

Overnight: North Antrim Coast

Today we will start our ride at the White Rocks beach so named because of the white chalk cliffs and caverns set back from the water’s edge. The west end of the strand is adjacent to the sea side town of Portrush and backs on to one of the top grass links golf courses in the world, the famous Royal Portrush host to the British Open which is part of the 2019 Masters Competition. The White Rocks beach also looks out over the Skerries (a small group of islands off the coast of Portrush) and the iconic Dunluce Castle, Donegal and the Western Isles of Scotland. While riding here there is the opportunity to ride along the edge of this famous golf course for photographs or to get photographed with your partners if they happen to be playing on this fabulous course.

We’ll ride on to Dunluce Castle and take a tour of the castle learning some of its intriguing history (especially the bit about the kitchen & staff plunging into the sea during a storm in 1639).

While here, we will have some refreshments at the Dunluce Castle Cottage before riding on to the tiny harbour town of Portballintrae on route to the Giants Causeway.
As we ride through Portballintrae and on to the Giants Causeway we will cross the River Bush and follow an old tram trail across sand dunes and past the stately Runkerry House before arriving at this world heritage site.

This unique world heritage site is the final destination for today, here we will loaden up the horses and have a meal in the Causeway Hotel beside the centre.  After you bid farewell to the horses and guides after a fantastic week, we will take in the vista of this spectacular coastline hugging the wild Atlantic Ocean. To finish off your week you can check out the new world class visitor’s centre and you must explore this unique heritage site and take in this natural wonder before you return to your accommodation.

Onward Journey: If you would like an additional night of accommodation tonight then this can be arranged upon request or we can help you with your onward journey