4 Day Bespoke Classic Horse Riding Adventure on Causeway Coast, Ireland

Day 1: Arrival

Céad míle fáilte (one hundred thousand welcomes)!

Welcome to Ireland! You can arrive in either Belfast or Dublin. Bespoke Equestrian Ireland can arrange for their driver to collect you from either location and whisk you away at 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!

The Bespoke Equestrian Ireland team can’t wait to meet you.

Overnight: Antrim’s North Coast

Day 2

The driver will pick you up at your accommodation and take you to Bespoke Equestrian Ireland's stables. 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 4-5 hours riding out into the wilderness of the North Antrim Hills with its heather-clad slopes, looking down on green pasture away below with panoramic views over the North Coast and 5 counties of Ireland.

You will stop at the glass-sided mountainside cabin, high in the hills, where a picture-perfect picnic or traditional afternoon tea awaits you. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch while absorbing magnificent views of the Northern Irish countryside.

You 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 your way back to the stables.

After your initial days' introduction and riding, you will be collected and taken to your accommodation. 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 and 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

Day 3

You will begin the day at Ballintoy on the coast, where after tacking up you will follow an old off-road track with splendid views of the coast to the breathtaking 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!

You’ll take your time playing on the beach & in the ocean before cantering over the smooth sands! If you’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.

Savor the taste of the tantalizing sea air, feel the blustering and energizing wind on your face, and feel the radiant rays of the Irish sunshine on your back on this invigorating ride.

Afterwards, you’ll make your way over sandy dunes and across lush farmlands for lunch at the Fullerton Arms Pub, known for its Game of Thrones connections. Enjoy a pint, glass of wine, or cup of tea on the outdoor patio or head inside to dine. Expect good, straightforward, locally sourced main dishes such as seafood chowder or Irish stew, terrific sandwiches, and delicious desserts. This is the perfect place to rest and recharge before continuing your ride of exploration on private farmland in the hills above the picturesque village of Ballintoy.

You will look out over 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 on the Isle of Pyke. Like most places along the north coast, the views from these hills are spectacular and offer some amazing photo opportunities.

You look down on Ballintoy’s most distinctive site, the white Ballintoy Parish Church, perched on a hill overlooking the vast Atlantic Ocean.

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.

You will now make your way towards the final destination of your journey, and as you ride, you will be looking down onto the cliffs surrounding one of Northern Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. From here, you will take in the vista of this spectacular coastline hugging the wild Atlantic Ocean, looking out over the sea to Rathlin Island, the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland, and the Western Isles of Scotland before finally stopping and saying farewell to the horses and team after a full day of off-road riding.

Overnight: County Antrim

Day 4

Today we will start our ride at 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 seaside 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); 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.

After conquering the beach, it is time to storm the 13th-century castle ruins at Dunluce. Ride along the epic coastline leading us to Dunluce Castle before taking a tour of the castle, learning some of its intriguing history (especially the bit about the kitchen and staff plunging into the sea during a storm in 1639).

While here, you will have some snacks before riding on to the tiny harbor town of Portballintrae en route to the Giant's Causeway.

As you ride through the quaint coastal village of Portballintrae, you will begin to see the rugged headlands surrounding the Giant's Causeway. You will cross the River Bush on its way to meet the Atlantic after being used to create the world-famous Old Bushmills Whiskey. It’s time to enjoy our second beach of the day! Breathe in the fresh sea air as you trot and canter across the sand and in the gentle swell of the sea.

The ride continues as you follow an old tram trail across sand dunes and past the stately Runkerry House before arriving at Northern Ireland’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage site. This unique world heritage site is your destination for today’s ride. Here you will load up the horses and finish off our adventure with a relaxing meal at the Causeway Hotel.

Afterwards, you must explore this unique heritage site and take in this natural wonder. Standing on the rocks and feeling the wind, spray, and sun on your face is a truly unforgettable experience. Take advantage of this priceless photo opportunity as you begin to let the memories of the last 3 days of riding in Ireland sink in. The horses, the people, the experiences, and the connections made will stay with you forever as you take in this absolutely stunning and unique piece of coastline in a very special part of the world. Slán go foil (bye for now)!

Onward Journey: If you would like an additional night of accommodation tonight, then this can be arranged upon request, or the BEI team can help you with your onward journey.

Riding level

Intermediate+ (confident cantering in an English saddle)