5 Day Iconic Coastal Horse Riding Tour to Dunluce Castle and Giants Causeway, Ireland

A night of accommodation is included prior to your first riding day.

• Day 1 – Ride in the North Antrim Hills and enjoy lunch in a hillside cabin with panoramic views over five counties.
• Day 2 – Ride along Benone Strand, through Downhill Forest, and visit St Mary’s Church. Lunch on the coast, followed by an afternoon of sightseeing.
• Day 3 – Ride on Whitepark Bay, enjoy a pub lunch, and finish the day riding in the hills above Ballintoy.
• Day 4 – Ride on Whiterocks Beach, continue to Dunluce Castle for a tour, then ride along Portballintrae Beach to the Giants Causeway. Lunch at the Causeway Hotel, followed by a tour of the Giants Causeway.

Arrival Day

Welcome to Ireland! After arriving in Dublin (Belfast or other cities are also viable arrival destinations), you can spend the afternoon and evening at your leisure – relax at the hotel or head out and explore this vibrant city. Take in sites such as Trinity College or St. Patrick’s Cathedral, take a tour of the Guinness Storehouse, or treat yourself to a Dublin institution: a sumptuous afternoon tea in one of Dublin’s fine hotels.

Afterwards, retire to your room for a relaxing evening or head out and experience one of Dublin’s many wonderful restaurants or the nightlife in the vibrant Temple Bar area. Consider taking in an Irish Cabaret – complete with a ballad band, champion Irish dancers, and a three-course traditional Irish dinner.

Bespoke Equestrian Ireland can help you plan your itinerary, secure bookings, and give recommendations on how best to enjoy your time in the capital.

• Overnight: Dublin City

Tour Day 1

After breakfast, you will say goodbye to Dublin City and be whisked off to North Antrim, where your equestrian adventure awaits. You may opt to travel independently or use public transport, both of which will incur a discount.

At the farm, you will be met with a genuine Irish welcome by Mr. McKinley and members of the Bespoke Equestrian Ireland team. Before meeting the horses, you will make your way to the loft above the stables for introductions, homemade scones, and to hear exciting details of the week’s adventure.

After selecting a horse and completing a riding assessment, you will spend four to five hours riding out into the wilderness of the North Antrim Hills, with its heather-clad slopes overlooking green pastures below, and panoramic views over the North Coast and five 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. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch while absorbing magnificent views of the Northern Irish countryside.

You will ride past the old peat banks that were once the traditional source of fuel in Ireland for generations. You can stop and try some peat cutting with the traditional peat spades and take photographs before making your way back to the stables.

After your initial day’s introduction and riding, you will be collected and taken to your accommodation near where you will begin your ride tomorrow morning. Bespoke Equestrian Ireland hosts will help to organise dinner options for you in the local town. After that, it is time to get a good night’s sleep and be ready for what tomorrow has in store.

• Overnight: County Antrim

Tour Day 2: Downhill - Mussenden Temple - St Aidan’s Church - Gortmore

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 offers panoramic views of the ocean and landscape, with miles of open sand, waterfalls, and iconic scenery awaiting. En route, you will pass the ancient trees of Mussenden before continuing past the ruins of Downhill House, the 18th-century home of Frederick Augustus Hervey, Bishop of Derry and Earl of Bristol.

Marvel at the architecture and expanse of the flamboyant Georgian ruins before turning your gaze to the lonely Mussenden Temple, regally perched 120 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Inspired by the Roman Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, Rome, Mussenden Temple was used as a summer library for Frederick Augustus Hervey.

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

As you pull up at the end of the beach, you can stretch your legs, stop at the washrooms, and give the horses a rest before riding back across the golden sands, through sand dunes, stopping to view the waterfalls cascading off the majestic cliffs of Bennevanagh Mountain, and enjoying some time in the spray of the Atlantic.

On leaving Downhill Beach, you will ride through Downhill Forest to the site of St Mary’s Church, with its legend of the magical cow that could produce unlimited milk as long as it was kept by the right person. Learn about the complexities of Irish history and why this Catholic church was destroyed after the Siege of Derry by retreating forces loyal to King James II. The ride finishes back at Downhill, where you will load the horses and enjoy a relaxing lunch after an exhilarating ride.

After lunch, you will be taken for a guided tour of the area, starting with Mussenden Temple, then travelling to off-the-beaten-track locations such as St Aidan’s Church, nestling at the foot of the mountains overlooking Lough Foyle. St Aidan’s is the site of a Holy Well and the burial site of St Columba, soil from his grave being well-known for healing properties for skin complaints. Continue to the Gortmore viewing point with superb 360-degree views over Northwest Ireland before following the coastline back to your accommodation for the night.

• Overnight: County Antrim Coast

Tour Day 3: Whiterocks Beach - Dunluce - Portballintrae - Giants Causeway

Today, you will start your ride at Whiterocks Beach, named for 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 onto one of the top grass-links golf courses in the world, the famous Royal Portrush, host to the British Open as part of the 2019 Masters Competition. Whiterocks 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, there is an opportunity to ride along the edge of the famous golf course, used for the 148th Open Championship in 2019. Stop for photographs or to be photographed with partners if they happen to be playing on this fabulous course. Enjoy beautiful trots, canters, and time in the sea in this stunning setting.

After the beach ride, it is time to explore the 13th-century castle ruins at Dunluce. Ride along the epic coastline leading to Dunluce Castle before taking a tour of the castle, learning its intriguing history, particularly the story of the kitchen and staff plunging into the sea during a storm in 1639. Have snacks before riding to the tiny harbour town of Portballintrae en route to the Giants Causeway.

As you ride through Portballintrae, you will see the rugged headlands surrounding the Giants Causeway. Cross the River Bush on its way to the Atlantic, historically used to create the world-famous Old Bushmills Whiskey. Enjoy the second beach of the day, breathing in fresh sea air as you trot and canter across the sand and gentle sea swell. Follow an old tram trail across sand dunes past the stately Runkerry House before arriving at Northern Ireland’s most famous UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This unique World Heritage Site is the destination for today’s ride. Load the horses and finish the adventure with a relaxing meal at the Causeway Hotel. After the meal, visit the famous hexagonal rock formations and allow the memories of three unforgettable days of riding, your trusted steed, and the people you met along the way to permeate through your thoughts.

Day 5: Ballintoy - Whitepark Bay - Ballintoy Hills - Cliff over Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Begin the day in the idyllic seaside village of Ballintoy on the coast. Follow an old off-road track with splendid coastal views to the breathtaking white sand beach of Whitepark Bay, a three-mile-long beach on the famous Causeway Coastal Route. Whitepark Bay is a beautiful stretch of pristine beach on Co. Antrim’s North Coast near Ballintoy. With sand so pure it shines for miles, it provides the perfect backdrop for a refreshing trot, canter, or gallop.

Take your time playing on the beach and in the ocean before cantering over the smooth sands. If lucky, the famous “Sunbathing Cattle” will be on the beach basking in the sun’s warmth. Spend time romping along the three-mile stretch of pristine white sand and explore the rolling sand dunes below the rugged cliffs, once home to some of the earliest human settlers in Ireland. Savor the invigorating sea air, wind on your face, and the radiant rays of the Irish sunshine.

Afterwards, ride over sandy dunes and across lush farmlands for lunch in Ballintoy. Expect good, straightforward, locally sourced dishes such as seafood chowder or Irish stew. After lunch, ride in the hills above Ballintoy, overlooking Ballintoy Harbour, historically associated with salmon fishing. In its heyday, cartloads of salmon made their way around 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 in the Isle of Pyke. The views from the hills are spectacular, offering amazing photo opportunities. Look down on Ballintoy’s most distinctive site, the white Ballintoy Parish Church, perched on a hill overlooking the Atlantic.

Ballintoy Parish Church was built in 1813, replacing the original 17th-century church. It is one of the most scenic churches in the country, often pictured with Rathlin Island in the background. Many notable landed families are buried in the cemetery, including The Stewarts of Ballintoy, Downing Fullerton, and members of the Stewart-Moore family.

Ride toward the final destination of your journey. As you ride, enjoy views of the cliffs surrounding the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, one of Northern Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions, before finally stopping and saying farewell to the horses and team after a full day of off-road riding.

As you bid farewell to the horses, take in the vista of the spectacular coastline hugging the wild Atlantic Ocean, looking out to Rathlin Island, the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland, and the Western Isles of Scotland.

Onward journey: If you would like an additional night of accommodation, this can be arranged upon request, or Bespoke Equestrian Ireland can assist with your onward journey.