6 Day Ride and Sightseeing Adventure

On arrival Mr. McKinley and members of the Bespoke Equestrian Ireland (BEI) team will greet you with a warm, genuine welcome before heading 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).

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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