A four-day horse riding adventure through County Antrim provides a remarkable itinerary combining three days in the saddle with the landscapes of the North Antrim Hills and Causeway Coast. The experience takes riders through countryside, forests, heather-covered hills, coastal villages and white sand beaches, with accommodation and selected meals included throughout the trip.
The riding is aimed at intermediate and advanced riders and uses English tack. The horses include Irish Cobs, Irish Drafts, Sport Horses and Connemaras, with a maximum rider weight of 217 lb or 100 kg. With a minimum of two participants required, the experience can be arranged for individuals joining an existing booking or for groups travelling together.
Arriving In Dublin
The adventure begins with arrival in Dublin before travelling towards North Antrim. The first afternoon and evening are available for exploring or relaxing, with options including Trinity College, St Patrick's Cathedral, the Guinness Storehouse and the Temple Bar area.
There is also the option of enjoying afternoon tea, dining in a restaurant or attending an Irish cabaret featuring a ballad band, Irish dancers and a traditional three-course dinner. The itinerary can be arranged with assistance from the team, including bookings and recommendations for time in Dublin.
The first night is spent in Dublin City before continuing towards the riding location.
Day One Riding The North Antrim Hills
The first riding day takes us into the North Antrim Hills. On arrival at the farm, we are welcomed by Mr McKinley and the Bespoke Equestrian Ireland team before being introduced to the adventure ahead over homemade scones in the loft above the stables.
After selecting a horse and completing a riding assessment, the ride lasts approximately four to five hours. The route takes us through the North Antrim Hills, with heather-covered slopes, green pasture and panoramic views across the North Coast and five counties of Ireland.
One of the day's highlights is a glass-sided mountainside cabin high in the hills, where a picnic or traditional afternoon tea is served. The location provides views across the Northern Irish countryside and a chance to pause during the ride.
The route also takes us past old peat banks, where there is an opportunity to learn about traditional peat cutting and try using a peat spade. After the ride, we are taken to accommodation near the starting point for the following day's adventure, with local dinner options available.
Day Two Whitepark Bay And Ballintoy
The second day begins in Ballintoy, a seaside village on the Causeway Coast. From there, the route follows an old off-road track towards Whitepark Bay, a three-mile-long white sand beach.
This section provides the opportunity to trot, canter or gallop across the smooth sand in selected areas. The ride then continues around the dunes and through the countryside beneath rugged cliffs before crossing farmland towards Ballintoy.
Lunch is served at the Fullerton Arms, with traditional dishes including locally sourced seafood chowder and Irish stew. The afternoon ride then heads into the hills above Ballintoy, overlooking Ballintoy Harbour and the Atlantic.
The route continues towards the cliffs around the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. From the coastline there are views towards Rathlin Island, the Mull of Kintyre and the Western Isles of Scotland before the day's riding comes to an end.
Day Three The Vanishing Lake And Old Coach Road
The final riding day takes us into the rugged hills above Ballycastle. The route heads towards Loughareema, also known as the Vanishing Lake, which is surrounded by peatlands and associated with local myths and legends.
The lake is known for its ability to disappear overnight, leaving the normally full lake without water. The guide shares the local stories connected with the area, including the tale of a coachman and horses who were lost during a storm while attempting to cross the lake.
The route then follows a winding lane towards the McBride Family farm before continuing along the Old Coach Road. The road once provided an important connection between the coast and the Glens and now offers views across the surrounding landscape, including the Glens and the Sea of Moyle.
The ride continues towards the Glen of Glendun, one of the nine Glens of Antrim. There is time for the horses to graze and for photographs before continuing through the varied terrain, with opportunities to trot and canter.
A picnic lunch is served during the day before the afternoon ride follows the Carey River through green fields. The river eventually becomes a stronger torrent as it travels towards the Atlantic Ocean, providing the setting for the final trots and canters of the adventure.
The Horses And Riding
The horses used during the experience include Irish Cobs, Irish Drafts, Sport Horses and Connemaras. The riding programme combines trail riding and point-to-point trails, with three days in the saddle lasting approximately four to seven hours each day.
The itinerary offers a mixture of terrain, from hills and countryside to beaches, dunes and coastal trails. Riders are accompanied by a knowledgeable trekking guide, while tack and equipment are provided as part of the experience.
Accommodation And Food
The accommodation consists of local bed and breakfast establishments in Dublin and around North Antrim and the County Antrim Coast. Three nights' accommodation with breakfast are included.
Food provided during the experience includes tea and freshly baked scones on arrival, two lunches at local establishments and picnic lunches. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, organic, regular and pescatarian dietary requirements can be catered for when communicated at the time of reservation.
Dinner is not included, although the local hosts can assist with organising dinner options during the stay.
What The Experience Includes
The package includes three nights' accommodation with breakfast, three days of coastal and countryside riding, picnic lunches, lunch at a local establishment, tea and freshly baked scones on arrival, tack and equipment and a knowledgeable trekking guide.
Airport transfers, dinners, personal expenses, accommodation upgrades, photographer hire and itinerary planning for non-riding partners are not included.
Exploring Beyond The Saddle
There are also numerous optional activities available during non-riding periods. The itinerary can include visits to locations such as the Causeway Coast Discovery Centre, Dunluce Castle, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and the Giant's Causeway.
Other activities include coastal sightseeing, sailing, golf, garden tours, spa visits, guided coastal walks, kayaking, cycling, coasteering, historical tours, food tours and cookery classes. There are also options involving Game of Thrones locations, the Old Bushmills Distillery, Belfast, the Titanic experience, the Ulster American Folk Park, the Gobbins and a livestock market and Irish farm tour.
Getting There And Booking
The recommended airports are Belfast International Airport, George Best Belfast City Airport and Dublin Airport. Transfers are not included, so arrangements and travel logistics need to be discussed with Bespoke Equestrian Ireland.
The experience requires at least two participants. Pricing is based on four riders, although those riders do not necessarily need to be travelling together. Single riders can join an existing booking, subject to availability, while a supplement may apply when fewer than four riders participate.
A 40 per cent deposit is required to secure a reservation. The deposit is non-refundable if the booking is cancelled, with the remaining balance due 30 days before arrival.
My Overall Review Of The Adventure
What stands out about this County Antrim horse riding adventure is the variety built into the four-day itinerary. The experience moves from the North Antrim Hills to Whitepark Bay and Ballintoy, before continuing towards Loughareema, the Old Coach Road and the Glens of Antrim.
The combination of long days in the saddle, coastal riding, countryside trails, beaches, local food and bed and breakfast accommodation creates a clearly structured riding holiday. The itinerary also provides opportunities to experience the Causeway Coast and surrounding locations beyond the riding itself.
For an intermediate or advanced rider looking for a four-day County Antrim horse riding adventure incorporating hills, beaches and coastal trails, this itinerary offers a comprehensive riding programme across some of the locations described in the experience.
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