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6 Day Irish Castle and Monastic Ruin Horse Riding Holiday in Whitegate, County Clare
An Sibin Riding Centre, Derryoran East, Whitegate, County Clare, Munster, Ireland V94T6N1
Ireland Horse Riding Holiday
This listing has one of the 10 most popular offers available in in Ireland
Enjoy a combination of visiting the ancient Irish castles and monastic ruins with a lovely guided trail ride through Irish bogs, fields, and local farmland. You will visit the impressive Portumna Castle which was the seat of the Earl of Clanricarde and Pallas castle - one of the best-preserved tower houses and castle grounds of the 14th century. You will also take a boat ride to Holy Island on the river Shannon to explore the ruins of one of Ireland’s most important monastic settlements, and you will ride to a 5000-year-old Celtic tomb.
Key information
- Rider Weight Limit: 185 pounds / 85 kilograms
- Horse Height Range: 14 to 17 hands
- Tack Type: English tack
- Horse Breed: Connemara, Irish Cob, Gipsy Vanner / Tinker, or Irish Sport Horse
Meet the instructors
Bertie & Nicola
Read more
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Highlights
- 4 days guided trail riding
- Approximate daily riding time: 2 to 4 hours
- Ride through Irish bogs, forests, and local farmland
- Visit the ancient Irish castles and monastic ruins
- 5 nights' accommodation
- Full board meals
Skill level
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
4 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: German, Spanish
Group size: Maximum of 8 participants
Airport transfer available:
Dublin Airport (US$ 336 per person)
Dublin Airport (US$ 336 per person)
Airport transfer available:
Shannon Airport (US$ 58 per person)
Shannon Airport (US$ 58 per person)
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
12:00
Check-out Time:
10:00
Facilities
- Bar
- Concierge desk
- Dining area
- Environmentally friendly
- Fireplace
- Garden
- Lobby
- Lounge
- Luggage room / storage
- Meditation garden
- Multilingual staff
- Picnic area
- Restaurant
- Special menu request
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Internet access
- Laundry
- Library
- Meeting room
- Parking lot
- Tour assistance
- Wireless internet
The tastefully restored 300-year-old farmhouse is in the heart of the riding center. The ambiance of old times gone by is carefully maintained and yet all modern facilities for the riding guests are provided. The guests can relax in individually decorated ensuite rooms.
Program
Day 1 - Saturday
Arrival in Shannon Airport and transfer (if booked) to An Sibin Riding Centre. Transfer from Shannon to Whitegate approximately. two hours. You will be staying here for five nights. On the arrival day, you can just relax and recover from your journey, or take a stroll on the well sign-posted nearby walking trails. In the evening, you will get to know all your fellow riders for this week. You will have dinner in the tastefully restored 300-year-old farmhouse in the An Sibin Riding Centre by candlelight and open turf fire.
Day 2 - Sunday
After breakfast, you will go out to the horses and every rider can then get used to their own horse for the next days by brushing and tacking up themselves - don’t worry there are always lots of helping hands around you! Your first ride (2 hours) takes you along forest tracks and country lanes passed abandoned farms of the 18th century famine times.
After lunch, you will be driven to nearby Mountshannon harbor, from where you will visit Holy Island by boat. Pilgrims traveled to this island until the mid-19th century. You will see the ruins of five churches, early monastic cells, a pre-12th-century cemetery, and a round tower. After this visit, you will have time for a stroll through the village and drop into the pub for a glass of porter.
Back to the riding center for a delicious dinner.
Day 3 - Monday
On today’s ride (2 and a half hours) you will ride into the hills of the Slieve Aughty Mountains and enjoy fascinating views over the majestic River Shannon. In the afternoon, you will get to visit the Portumna workhouse museum, where the poor and destitute took shelter many years ago during the famine times.
You will also visit the impressive Portumna Castle of the 17th century with it’s beautifully restored walled garden. The 4th Earl of Clanricade built this Renaissance castle and lived a lavish life here.
Relax by the peat fire and traditional home-cooked dinner back at the riding center.
Day 4 - Tuesday
This morning’s ride (2 and a half hours) will take you on quiet tracks through Ireland’s beautiful rural countryside. This afternoon’s visit will bring you to the secluded ruins of Pallas castle, one of the best-preserved tower-houses and walled castle grounds of the Irish gentry in the 14th century.
In the evening, you will enjoy your dinner again at the riding center.
Day 5 - Wednesday
Today is a full day ride. The two hour morning ride brings you across the magical landscape of bog and heather. You will have your lunch picnic out on the trail, where you meet your minibus with all the supplies for horses and riders. During the 1,5-hour afternoon ride you will pass by a typical Celtic dolmen, which is believed to be 5000 years old! The ride will finish on a field where the horses are happily turned out.
Tonight is the final dinner in the comfy atmosphere of the riding center.
Day 6 - Thursday
After breakfast, it is time to say“slan abhaile” and to get ready for the transfer (if booked) back to Shannon.
The itinerary might change due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control without prior notice…
Included excursions
Enjoy excursions to the ancient Irish castles and monastic ruins, which include the impressive Portumna Castle and a boat ride to Holy Island on the river Shannon to explore the ruins of one of Ireland’s most important monastic settlements, and you will ride to a 5000-year-old Celtic tomb.
Instructors
Bertie Cummins
Bertie will be your host / guide for this tour.
Nicola Hobucher
Nicola will be your host / guide for this tour.
Location
This horse riding holiday will take place at An Sibin, in Ireland. An Sibin is nestled in the rolling hills of the Slieve Aughty Mountains with miles and miles of riding tracks all donkey around it. Heather covered bog land and extensive woods invite you to discover the beautiful nature on the horses.
Over and over again the rider can enjoy the fascinating views over the majestic river Shannon and the juicy green fields enclosed by miles of storytelling stonewalls.
There are lots of beautiful and ancient places to be discovered on horseback day after day: from the remnants of the poteen makers cottage to the estately manor houses with their fine walled gardens. The early Killeens and the perfect example of an Oratory in Clonrush graveyard.
Food
Irish Horse Riding will serve you all meals from arrival day evening meal to departure day breakfast.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Gluten Free
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Lactose Free
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- 5 nights accommodation at An Sibin
- All meals
- 4 days guided horse riding and all sight-seeing trips
- Entry fees
What's not included
- Airport transfers
How to get there
Recommended Airports
DUB
Dublin Airport
150 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 336 per person
SNN
Shannon Airport
46 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 58 per person
Arrival by bus
From Dublin Airport (DUB), you can ride a bus to Loughrea.
Transfer from Loughrea (route 763) to riding centre for EUR 45 per person in the group transfer at 16:50h.
Meanwhile, a transfer from Whitegate/Co. Clare bus stop is available for free. You can get to Whitegate with Local Link bus Ireland.
GPS
- N 52.98031 W 8.40423
Airport: Dublin Airport
Airport transfer available:
Dublin Airport (US$ 336 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Airport: Shannon Airport
Airport transfer available:
Shannon Airport (US$ 58 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 14% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
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