There’s a reason Ireland is known as the Land of the Horse - horses are intrinsically tied to Ireland’s history, culture, and people, and many Irish children grow up on horseback the way American children grow up riding bicycles. The gentle nature, brave demeanor, and steady resilience of the Irish horse is a testament to the spirit of the Irish people, and there is no better way to explore this lush landscape than from the back of a steady Irish steed. 

Travel to Northern Ireland to discover the Causeway Coast, known for its spectacular scenery - white sand beaches, enchanting forests, rugged coastlines, historic castles and villages, and of course, genuine Irish hospitality.  Visit iconic locations such as Giants Causeway, Dunlace Castle, Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, and Mussendun Temple. This spectacular itinerary combines riding with sightseeing, maximizing your experience in this enthralling location.

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. On the North Coast and at Castle Leslie, the guides make sure to match each guest carefully to an equine partner that is suitable for his or her skill and confidence. 

Intermediate-Advanced

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

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

Helmets are required, and can be provided if you do not bring your own. 

During the North Coast ride, riders will be housed at a hotel in the town of Ballycastle (specific hotel will be determined and sent to you prior to your trip).

On the North Coast, your accommodation will include a full daily Irish breakfast, and lunch will be provided daily on your ride.  Riders are responsible for their own dinners - there are quite a few dining options in Ballycastle, and we will send you a list of recommended restaurants prior to your trip. We are happy to make dinner reservations on your behalf.

Céad míle fáilte (one hundred thousand welcomes)

Welcome to Ireland! You can arrive in either Belfast or Dublin. We can arrange for our driver to collect you from either location and whisk you off on the beginning of your Irish adventure. You will journey northwards and, if it tickles your fancy, you can opt to travel along the renowned Causeway Coastal Route, lauded as one of the top 5 road journeys in the world. This beautiful drive will give you a taste of the rugged coastlines and sweeping sea views that you will experience over the course of your holiday.

The coastal route is dotted with historic castles and a changing canvas of natural landscapes–incredible fishing villages, quiet beaches, rolling green hills with lush hedges, mountain streams and rugged coastlines with majestic cliffs—all overlooking the magnificent sea.

You can spend the day at your leisure in your accommodation or by exploring the beautiful North Coast. Enjoy some food at a local pub or restaurant, sample a pint of Guinness with the locals or dance the evening away to some traditional Irish music. Be sure to get a good night’s rest to be ready for what the coming days have in store!

Meet the team and to the barn for a stable tour and to meet the team of horses.

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).

Enjoy a hearty full Irish breakfast before setting off to begin your adventures. Your driver will transport you to the iconic Downhill beach where your first glimpse of Downhill beach offers panoramic views of the ocean and landscape where miles of open sand, waterfalls and iconic views await. Enroute, we will pass the ancient trees of Mussendun before the journey continues past the ruins of Downhill House which was Frederick Augustus Hervey, Bishop of Derry and Earl of Bristol’s, 18th century home.

It is time to meet your trusty stead again at the entrance to the beach. Downhill beach is best known for its magnificent mountain backdrop, cliff scenery and views across to Donegal. As we enter the beach, we can stop at the foot of the cliff where Mussendun Temple is located for an ideal picture opportunity before taking a swift canter or gallop across miles of flat, open beach crossing the river on to Benone Strand, with miles of more sand beach to enjoy.

Afterwards your driver will collect you, take you for lunch to a local eatery, following which you will be visiting our second city of Derry known for its walls and history. Enjoy a tour of the Walled City, one of Ireland’s oldest, and most beautiful cities. The character, vibrant culture and rich history of the city are best experienced through a tour of its iconic walls, allowing you to step back in time to gain an insight into the 400-year-old history of the walls including the plantation of Ulster, the siege of Derry, the 24 fully restored canons, the Troubles, the iconic gates and the famous Saints of the city.

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. Rumors 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 civilization, 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 you’ve dismounted for the day, 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 colorful 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!

Today we are exploring the beautiful coastal town of Ballycastle. In Irish, Ballycastle translates to ‘Baile an Chaistil’  meaning town of the castle. It derives from the 2 famous castles which once guarded its rugged shoreline from enemy attacks. We will be starting our ride at the edge of this quaint little seaside town stepped in folklore, myths and legends and close to the 14th century ruins of the old Franciscan monastery at Bonamargy Abbey.

We will unload our horses at the sight where the Ould Lammus Fair began. The Fair dates back to the 1700s and still draws large crowds today to enjoy street stalls, horse sales, fairground rides and the finest local produce around.

As we make our way along an old path towards the sea, we will get our first glimpse of Ballycastle bay, Rathlin Island and to the Western Isles and Highlands of Scotland. We will make our way down onto the beach where the Margy river, known locally for its Salmon fishing, flows into Ballycastle bay and meets the blue waters of the Atlantic.

We will take our time playing on the beach and in the ocean before walking trotting or cantering (depending on rider’s abilities) across the white sand.

We will continue to ride towards the imposing basalt rock headland known as Fairhead, given its name from the folklore and story of Deidre the beautiful golden-haired maiden who, at her wedding banquet, was danced over the cliff edge to her death by a rival lover’s faithful servant.

We will then leave the beach and follow a quiet, paved road with its sea wall defence, mainly used by walkers, to where it ends at Marconi’s cottage. Here in 1898, Guglielmo Marconi sent the world’s first ever radio signal across the sea to Rathlin Island.

As we make our way back, watching out for seals and marine life, we take in views of the rugged cliffs of Fairhead, which were used as a Game of Thrones filming location, and along the beautiful Causeway Coast and towards Donegal on the Wild Atlantic way. We will return to the beach and ride to the other end, crossing the Margy to view the sculpture of the Silver Swans, representing the myth of the Children of Lir who were turned into swans and fated to swim the sea below Fairhead for 999 years.

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.

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.

Our last day of riding has come around all too quickly. What better way to finish the riding section of our trip that cantering along another one of our beaches.

Today we will start our ride at the Whiterocks 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 which was used for the 148th Open Championship in 2019. Stop for photographs or to get photographed with your partners if they happen to be playing on this fabulous course.

Enjoy some beautiful trots, canters and time in the sea in the most beautiful of surroundings. Afterwards your tour guide will collect you, take you for lunch to a local eatery, before another interesting afternoon of sightseeing taking in the Giants Causeway and Dunluce Castle and many off the beaten track sites, some of which were Game of Thrones filming locations. You also have the option to visit Carrick-a-rede rope bridge today. Suspended 30 meters above the rocky waters below, this 20-meter-long rope bridge connects the mainland to the tiny island of Carrick-a-rede. Originally built by salmon fishermen over 350 years ago, it has evolved into a thrilling tourist experience.

Departure in the evening