Horseback Riding in Ireland
COASTAL TRAIL |
Connemara horses, the jewel of the Emerald Isle
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The Coastal Trail ride takes you into the emerald of Ireland, one of the last and best unspoiled areas of the country. Of this region, Oscar Wilde wrote, "Connemara is a savage beauty."
With three mild seasons, the coastal climate is one of the best in the world for riding. Abundant rainfall (bring your raingear) keeps the countryside green and lush.
The terrain includes rolling hills, black and white sand beaches, shallow valleys, low mountains, numerous lakes and bogs. The Coastal Trail Ride winds through the country where the mountains meet the sea.
The wonderful Connemara horses are known for their mannerly dispositions and extreme surefootedness. Though not a large horse, the Connemara is muscular and strong for its size, and a comfortable riding horse.
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Monday: Meet at 10:00AM in Galway at the Meyrick Hotel. Transfer to Willie’s Mountain, Shanndonnell, where you meet the horses. After a picnic lunch head straight into the mountains for a long ride that finishes at Carna. Enjoy the fantastic views of the Connemara coastline while traversing the mountainous trail, over bogs and rocky outcrops. You finish close to the village of Carna where the horses stay in a nearby field and you transfer to your accommodations for dinner and overnight.
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| Day 2: | Tuesday: An exhilarating day awaits you, riding on the beaches surrounding the peaceful island of Mweenish. Keep an eye out for the seals that are usually found in these sheltered waters. Mweenish and Mannin Bays are regular hauling out and breeding sites for common seals. They can be seen with some difficulty, lying almost motionless as they wait for the tide to lift them away. Break for lunch after swimming the horses in the sea, before riding along the beach on the other side of the island enjoying the fabulous view of the Aran Islands. |
| Day 3: | Wednesday: Tide permitting, today’s trek starts with a ride out to Finish Island which has many old ruined houses and remains of the stone walls and roads once used. After a long canter along the beach the horses wade back through the sea and return to the mainland for lunch before heading up into the mountains for a relaxing afternoon ride in the rocky hills above the village of Kilkerrin with stunning views of the coastline. Ride through mountain land, past turf stacks and through areas where turf is still cut, bypassing an abandoned quarry to follow the coastline along to Derryrush. |
| Day 4: | Thursday: From Derryrush ride past Screebe Lodge trek to Letter Moir where lunch is eaten at the foot of the mountain range. Continue through a mountain village before riding to a mountain top with an incredible view that stretches over rolling bogs, valleys with tiny lakes and the shredded coastline below. In the early evening reach Shanafeistin where the horses graze. Transfer to the Oughterard for the night. |
| Day 5: | Friday: Head into the forest at Shanaphestin and enjoy a long canter on soft forest roads before lunch. This is a completely different landscape from the rest of the week. Have a picnic lunch in the forest before continuing along the forest tracks and emerging above Oughterard.
This is a fun ride through forestry along gravel tracks with plenty of opportunity for long canters. |
| Day 6: | Saturday: Spend the day at Willie's Dartfield Horse museum. Riders can trail ride around the museum or test their skill on the cross country course. The event course has fences to suit all levels, from beginner to the advanced riders so everyone can have fun and the chance to improve their riding and jumping skills. The museum is dedicated to the Irish horse and pony breeds and is the only one of its kind in the world. Afterwards return to Galway for your last night. |
| Day 7: | Sunday: Depart after breakfast. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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Riding along the Atlantic
Jumping an old rock wall (optional)
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Galway |
| Length of Ride | 7 days, 6 nights and 6 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-2 Maximum-20 |
| Riding Per Day | 4-6 hours |
| Pace | moderate |
| Tack | English |
| Horses | Irish Hunters, Connemara |
| Weight Limit | 250 lbs |
| 2010 Dates | May 3-9, May 17-23, May 31-June 6, June 14-20, June 28-July 4, July 12-18, July 26-Aug 1, Aug 9-15, Aug 23-29, Sept 6-12, Sept 20-26 |
| 2010 Price | Hotel price: $2,365 (April, May, June, September); $2,445 (July, August)
B&B price: $2,155 (April, May, June, September); $2,235 (July,August)
NEW DISCOUNTED PRICE
Hotel price: $2,090 (April, May, June, September); $2,160 (July, August)
B&B price: $1,905 (April, May, June, September); $1,975 (July,August) |
| Single Supplement | Hotel: $390, B&B: $295 NEW PRICE Hotel: $345, B&B: $260 |
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