The Stables Choice (6 Days, 5 nights)

On arrival Mr. McKinley, members of the Bespoke Equestrian Ireland (BEI) team and “Sheba” the Border collie 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 will spend 4/5 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 picture-perfect picnic  awaits you. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch, while absorbing magnificent views of the Northern Irish countryside. 

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.

After your initial days introduction and riding you will be collected and taken to your accommodation in the nearby coastal town. It has been a good day where you have met the team, connected with your horse and enjoyed your first day of riding in Ireland. It is time to get freshened up before heading into town for some food, drink and to experience a bit of craic with the locals. Enjoy a good night’s sleep and be ready for what tomorrow has in store.

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

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.

 We will load up and travel 5 miles down the glen to the scenic village of Cushendun. Cushendun was designed in 1912 by Clough William Ellis at the request of Ronald John McNeill, 1st Baron Cushendun. The village’s Cornish appearance was deliberate–designed to please the Baron’s wife, Maud, who was born in Cornwall, England. After Maud’s death in 1925, he erected a row of whitewashed, quaint cottages in her memory—affectionately known as Maud’s Cottages.

Riding on Cushendun Strand we will pass the ruins of Carra Castle before making our way to the famous Cushendun Caves—an impressive system of caves formed over 400-million years ago. More recently, the caves doubled as the caves of ‘Storm’s End’ in the HBO hit series, Game of Thrones.

An unusual character of Cushendun is “Johann the Goat”, a bronze sculpture situated close to the mouth of the River Dun. Johann lived in the harbour area for many years, grazing the riverbanks and welcoming visitors bearing apples or carrots. In 2001, he was the last animal to be culled during the foot and mouth outbreak. His statue remains a memorial to the farmers in the district who lost their livestock. Today, another goat carries on Johann’s tradition and can be seen resting beneath the feet of Johann’s sculpture or grazing along the banks.

Savour every minute as you walk, trot and canter along the strand at Cushendun with your trusted horse and the guides whom you have spent the week with. Enjoy your last time in the waters of the Atlantic before journeying through the ancient beech trees surrounding Cushendun’s old Church and manor house on your way back. As you dismount with a smile on your face, the sense of accomplishment, the memories, the bond with your horse and the bond with the people of the area you have made will never leave you as you once more, take in the beauty of the wild and rugged landscape.

Overnight: County Antrim Coast

Today we are going to take the opportunity to rest our legs and instead allow our drivers to open up the Causeway Coastal route to you by car. Today you will enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of the spectacularly scenic Causeway Coastal Route taking in some of Northern Ireland’s key visitor attractions along with many of the dramatic Game of Thrones film locations.  Our tour guide will collect you after an early breakfast and visit many of the key attractions plus a lot of off the beaten track locations.

Take in the beautiful Dark Hedges, better known as a Game of Thrones filming location (the Kings Road) but its beauty and character make it a must see even if you have never watched the show. Continue around the coast to the impressive Dunluce Castle. Enjoy a tour of the 13th Century Castle ruins and learn some of its intriguing history (especially the bit about the kitchen & staff plunging into the sea during a storm in 1639). Next up is Northern Ireland’s most famous UNESCO world heritage site. Allow the visitors centre to open the site up to you before taking the short scenic walk to the famous hexagonal rock formation for the perfect photo opportunity. Enjoy a hearty lunch and a well deserved pint of Guinness with your group before continuing on the Coast road to Ballintoy Harbour, Murlough Bay and Torr Head.

Overnight: North 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.

Our 5 days together has come to an end. Take the time to say goodbye to your most trusted steed, your guide and the people you have met along the way. Allow the sense of accomplishment wash over you as the memories of the week come flooding back. As the Irish say ‘Slán go foil’ or in English ‘bye for now’.

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