Location: Westport, County Mayo, Ireland
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Accommodation: Westport Woods Hotel & Spa
Dates: Flexible dates year-round
Riding Level: Intermediate+
Group Size: Up to 8 people
Accompanying non-riders welcome 

Spend 7 nights exploring the coastal and mountain areas around Westport in the west of Ireland along the Atlantic coast. Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holiest mountain, serves as a backdrop to this picturesque riding adventure.  

Westport is situated on the shores of Clew Bay, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean and one of the most spectacular bays in Ireland, full of islands - one for every day of the year. 

This itinerary is classic Ireland at its finest - coastal and mountain views, charming villages, culture and cuisine, and more!

Ireland is known as the “Land of the Horse” for its horses’ reputation for bravery, agility, stamina, intelligence, and gentleness. Guests’ mounts will be Irish Sport Horses, Connemara Ponies, Irish Cobs, and Irish Draughts. 

Intermediate-Advanced

Riders should be able to ride comfortably at all paces, and spend several hours in the saddle daily.

Accompanying non-riders are welcome!

Riders will ride English, and should be prepared for several hours in the saddle daily at all paces.

The Westport Woods Hotel & Spa is a cozy local hotel in Westport town, and spa services are the perfect end to a long day in the saddle.  Located in Westport town, it's the perfect base for this exciting Ireland riding vacation. 

This 4* family-owned hotel offers spacious rooms with en-suite bathrooms, comfy beds, crisp linens, and cozy duvets. Enjoy free Wi-Fi and a fitness center with pool and sauna.

Ireland’s vibrant and progressive food scene is exemplified by this itinerary, and riders will experience creative and classically-inspired dishes created with locally sourced ingredients and fresh-caught seafood. Dietary requirements may be catered to with advance notice. Plan on full Irish breakfasts, freshly smoked Wild Atlantic Salmon, lunches at local pubs along the way, and divine homemade dinners.  

Upon arrival, meet your riding host or a member of the Westport trekking team. Spend the day relaxing at the hotel or head out and explore the charming town of Westport. 

The Westport restaurant and pub scene is second to none. The streets are filled with colorful shopfronts where you'll find local shopkeepers, bakers, artists, and craftspeople, offering everything from stylish clothes and beautiful jewelry to traditional crafts and contemporary art.

Today's scenic trek includes quiet roads, woodland paths, and a paddle through shallow river beds. This landscape is a little slice of Ireland straight from the past where you'll see sods turf stacked neatly beside the bog ready for use as winter fuel. You will be able to trot and canter. These small, quiet local roads are known as boreens which means "little road" in Gaelic.

After breakfast, meet up with your guides and horses at the ruins of Murrisk Abbey, a 1456 abbey founded by the Augustine Friers. Mount up and head down to Murrisk Beach, the start of the days ride. There will be plenty of walking, trotting and splashing as the tide goes out. Enjoy some canters before crossing the estuary towards Berta Beach. This long beach is protected with a bay on one side and open ocean on the other! You'll ride past Dornish Island, also known as "Beetle Island" or "Hippie Island" as it was once owned by John Lennon. Finish back on Murrisk Beach galloping between high tide markers which guide the boats away from the oyster beds that lay on this flat, quiet beach. End the day with a cold pint a Cambells Pub, a local's favorite at the foot of Croagh Patrick. 

Today's ride begins at 'The Skelp', an off road path close to Croagh Patrick, Ireland' holiest mountain. Enjoy panoramic views across Clew Bay, of the most magnificent bays in Ireland. Todays trek offers lots of exciting opportunities to canter. The horses enjoy stretching their legs on the traffic free hillside tracks. 

Ride out with a local hunt. Details  This beach and Island trek is truly spectacular! The trail meanders around deserted islands that are accessible only at low tide. Cattle roam freely from one grassy patch to another. Ride past Rossturk Castle with its lookout tower which might have been used to watch out for a marauding bunch of pirates whom many invaded this part of Ireland. Continue onto the Mulranny Beach beneath the Park Hotel and traverse the outskirts of the golf course. Finish off the day in Nevins Pub for a review of photos taken and some refreshments. closer to the hunt date. 

Today's ride is on the two best beaches in the West of Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way. Pristine sands and secluded from the public --they are perfect for big gallops! Silver Strand is arguably one of the best beaches in Ireland -- with views of Inishturk, Inisbofin, the Caher Islands, and Clare Island. There are many heritage and cultural sites on todays trek, from Spanish Armada Sea Wrecks to famine graves. Enjoy bigs views and big gallops on this fun beach day 

In contrast to beach riding, this is a completely inland route, meandering along tiny roads and green lanes. It can be used as a post to post ride, starting at the stables and finishing near Louisburgh. You will ride through beautiful rural countryside, in the foothills of Croagh Patrick and beyond. Along the way are countless deserted stone cottages and churches, dating back to pre-famine times - reminders of a time when this area was more heavily populated. Your guide will point out the undulations of lazy beds where potatoes were grown before the catastrophic blight hit in the 1840s. 

Breakfast and departure