6 Day Ride and Sightseeing Adventure

On arrival Mr. McKinley, members of the Bespoke Equestrian Ireland (BEI) team and “Sheeba” the  farm collie 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 will 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. 

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.

 With riding over for the day you will be taken for lunch by our tour guide to a local restaurant before setting out for our first sightseeing experience along the world famous Causeway Coast. Today we will be taking in Northern Ireland’s number 1 visitor attraction The Titanic Centre in Belfast.

Explore the shipyard, walk the decks, travel to the depths of the ocean and uncover the true legend of Titanic in the city where it all began.

The immersive and interactive experience, along with state-of-the-art technology and attention to detail, helped the centre become the winner of the World’s Leading Visitor Attractions (World Travel Awards 2016).

Overnight: County Antrim Coast

We will begin riding today at Ballintoy on the coast, where after tacking up we will follow an old off- road track with splendid views of the wild Atlantic Ocean, 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, exploring 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 your tour guide will collect you, take you for lunch to a local eaterie, before another interesting afternoon of sightseeing taking in the Giants Causeway and Dunluce Castle, Dark Hedges and many off the beaten track sites, some of which were Game of Thrones filming locations.

Overnight: County Antrim Coast

Your day begins at Watertop Farm, which was once a bustling ceili house.  Trot and canter your way through this unique landscape on the edge of the Glens of Antrim, before we head onwards towards the coast.

 You will soon be exploring the meandering trails through the beautiful countryside, bordering the remarkable Glens of Antrim. We will ride close to the resplendent Ballypatrick forest, a woodland renowned for being home to a wide variety of local wildlife. If we are lucky, we might spot some of the elusive Red Deer which make the forest their home. They, and their fawns, are known to venture out of the safety of the treelines and we may catch a glimpse of these cautious creatures as they wander the area. We are likely to see some birds of prey circling above us, as they patrol the skies looking for their next meal. Our own meal is not far away, as we will soon be making our way to a traditional Irish Pub where we can enjoy some of the traditional, hearty fare that you will have come to know intimately.

After lunch, you will take a boat trip to the peaceful Rathlin Island. 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: County Antrim Coast

Today our ride begins close to the beautiful Fairhead. Fairhead is the imposing basalt headland that can be seen from Ballycastle town. Surrounded by myth and legend and made famous in more recent years due to it becoming a Game of Throne filming location. The McBride family who own land on Fairhead have been there for generations and have very kindly opened up this stunning location to us.

Fair Head is considered one of the best traditional climbing and bouldering locations in the British Isles, and is one of the biggest expanse of climbable rock in Northwest Europe.  The views out to Rathlin, Western Isles of Scotland, Ballycastle, Knocklayde, Kinbane castle and beyond are incredible and possibly some of the most epic you will see on your travels. Take in Lough Dhu which has a classic example of a crannog in the centre. These features were built on natural or man-made islands in lakes or boglands, they were created as defensive homesteads, some were still being built in Ireland up to the 1700s. Trot and canter your way out towards the top of the cliff where we will transverse through the rugged wilderness and stop at some of the exceptional viewpoints along the way. The cliff top was also used as a filming location in Game of Thrones. For those avid fans, it appears onscreen as the cliffs of Dragonstone in Season 7 where John Snow negotiates with Tyrion Lannister over dragon glass and also in season 7, where John meets Drogon and Daenerys reunites with Jorah Mormont.

Savour every moment as you make your way back to the start of the Fairhead ride where our drivers will pick you up. Today you will be whisked away for lunch in Ballycastle. After this, you will enjoy a tour around the beautiful area of Castlerock. Starting of with Mussendun Temple where you can explore the regally perched structure and the stately home ruins of Downhill Demesne before travelling on to some off the beaten track locations such as St Aidan’s Church nestling at the foot of the mountains overlooking Lough Foyle. St Aidan’s is the site of a Holy well and is also the burial site of St Colombus, soil from his grave is well recognised as having healing properties for skin complaints. Then on to Gortmore viewing point with superb 360%  views over the North west of Ireland before taking in further viewing points as you follow the coast line back to your accommodation for the night. 

Overnight: County Antrim Coast

Our final day’s riding begins at the ruins of the iconic Redbay Castle. The castle was once a McDonnell stronghold in the Glens and acted as a strategic lookout point for invaders coming from the North. The beauty of the area you’re riding in today will soon become clear; however, with stunning scenery on every angle, it is hard to know what way to look. You will find yourself in one of the famous Nine Glens of Antrim, a range of narrow picturesque valleys running down to the sea. Our Glen today is Glenarriffe known as the Queen of the Glens for its beauty with the Waterfalls at the top of the glen cascading down the gully between the leafy trees being a major visitor attraction in Northern Ireland.

Our rides started off on the beach today at the village of Waterfoot at the foot of Glenarriffe Glen. As you make your way onto the beach, you will be treated to views of the Western Isles and Highlands of Scotland. Look out for the dome shaped isle of Ailsa Craig and the oddly shaped Sanda Island known to locals as spoon island for obvious reasons. As you make your way onto the golden sands of Glenariffe beach, you will begin to get a first proper glimpse of the Queen of the Glens. The massive U-shaped valley, carved out by a glacier 20 thousand years ago is a sight to behold. The rugged cliff tops sloping down to green pasture and tree lined edges make for a stunningly beautiful vista as it sweeps down to the sea of Moyle. 

Walk, trot, canter and gallop  your way across the bay while enjoying stunning views of the area whose beauty inspired the iconic song ‘Danny Boy’. After an invigorating time spent on the beach and surrounding area we ride the quiet windy road to the waterfalls. Meet some locals along the way and allow your guide to fill you in on some of the rich culture and folklore of the area. The story of ‘Tir na nóg’ or, in English the ‘Land of the Youth’ is a particular favourite.  

As we meander up the Glen and through this oasis of tranquillity you will become enchanted by its beauty and strengthen the bond you have with this land. We will ride this spectacular trail to the summit, soaking in views over the wild Irish Sea, stretching all the way to Scotland. As we ride closer to the top of the Glen, we will come to the quaint Lara Lodge where we will tie up our horses. It’s time to enjoy some local food and have a drink after an exhilarating morning in the saddle. Chill out, relax and enjoy the company of your guides and the locals in the heart of the Glens. Once fed and watered, take a short walk to view the beautiful waterfalls behind the lodge. The astounding beauty of the boardwalk to the waterfalls provides visitors with an abundance of panoramic landscapes, peaceful riverside walks and three spectacular waterfalls.

After our refreshments we will ride down the glen and be able to take in the vista from a whole different perspective. Enjoy another ride across the beach and a splash in the water before returning to our starting point at the imposing ruins of Redbay Castle.

After finishing our ride, it’s time to enjoy a sightseeing tour of what the rest of the Glens has to offer. Take a trip to the harbour village of Glenarm. Nestled in the natural beauty of Glenarm, you’ll find the ancestral home of the McDonnell family, Earls of Antrim, and one of Northern Ireland’s most historic family houses. You may also want to take the opportunity to call into Steensons jewellers whose beautifully handcrafted pieces where worn by actors in the TV hit series, Game of Thrones. Make your way round the coast road, which is known as one of the top 5 road journeys in the world. Take in the coastal villages of Cushendall and Cushendun before journeying onto Torr head which is the closest point in Ireland to Scotland. Explore the incredible Murlough bay enroute and allow the beauty of the area to enchant you one more time.

Onward journey: We can book another nights accommodation for you (contact our team) or we can help you plan your onward journey