Ride Overview
See the ancient castles and ruins of Ireland this spring and summer.
Enjoy a combination of visiting the ancient Irish castles and monastic ruins with lovely guided trail rides through Irish bogs, fields and local farmland. On this 4 day ride 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. The trails each day are made up of rolling sheep dotted Irish hillsides, ancient grass lined lanes and wooded areas filled with aromatic heather and pine scents wafting through the air.
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 the horses, a combination of Gypsy Vanners, Irish Draught, Irish Sport Horses and Connemaras on a lunch trail to Williamstad House – a beautiful landlords residence of the 18th century.
2024 Dates: Sept. 21-26, Sept. 28-Oct. 3, Oct. 5-10, Oct. 12-17, Oct. 19-24
Rates: $1,830.00 USD per person in a shared room (Single Supplement: $190.00 USD)
Non Rider: $1,220.00 USD
2025 Dates: April 5-10, April 12-17, April 19-24, May 3-8, May 17-22, May 31-June 5, June 21-26, July 5-10, July 19-24, Aug. 2-7, Aug. 16-21, Aug. 20-Sept. 4, Sept. 6-11, Sept. 13-18, Sept. 20-25, Sept. 27-Oct. 2, Oct. 11-16
Rates: $1,875.00 USD per person in a shared room (Single Supplement: $190.00 USD)
Non Rider: $1,235.00 USD
Included
- 5 nights accommodation
- 4 days of riding/tours
- All meals
- Horse and all tack
- Guiding services
- Tours and entry fees as outlined in the itinerary
- All local taxes
Not Included
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
- Travel Insurance
- Drinks with meals
- Gratuities for the team at the end of the stay
Day 1: Saturday
Arrival in Shannon Airport and transfer (if booked) to An Sibin Riding Centre. Transfer from Shannon to Whitegate approx. two hours.
You will be staying here for 5 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 we 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!
Our first ride (2 hours) takes us along forest tracks and country lanes, passed abandoned farms of the 18th century famine times. After lunch you will be driven to nearby Mountshannon harbour, from where you will visit Holy Island by boat. Pilgrims travelled 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 before returning back to the riding centre for a delicious dinner.
Day 3: Monday
On today’s ride (2 and 1⁄2 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.
You will also have time for shopping in the town or enjoy another Irish pub. Relax by the peat fire and a traditional home cooked dinner back at the riding centre.
Day 4: Tuesday
This morning’s ride (2 and 1⁄2 hours) will take you on quiet tracks through Ireland’s beautiful rural countryside. This afternoon’s visit will bring you to the 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 centre.
Day 5: Wednesday
Today is a full day ride. The 2 hour morning ride brings us across the magical landscape of bog and heather. We will have our lunch picnic out on the trail, where we meet our minibus with all the supplies for horses & riders.
On the 2 hour afternoon ride we 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 centre.
Day 6: Thursday
After breakfast it is time to say “slan abhaile” and to get ready for the transfer (if booked) back to Shannon.
This itinerary might change due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond the control of the guides without prior notice.
This package includes 5 nights accommodation at the riding centre, all meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), entry fees and guided horse riding for 4 days and all local taxes.
Andy L.
The scenery was wonderful both on and off horseback. We enjoyed the tours immensely. The riding center was fantastic, the buildings reminded me of my idea of what a hobbit house would be like. Nicola & Bertie were great hosts! Their horses were fun to ride and rides also fun. Basically we enjoyed everything about the trip and would happily recommend them and you to anyone.
Christina W.
Hi, I’m back from Ireland. I didn’t take any electronics with me to Ireland. No cell phone, no lap top, nothing! It’s a whole new way to relax. I did take a new camera, but didn’t take any pictures. One of the ladies on the trip is a semi professional photographer and blogger. So I asked if she could send me a set of the photos and she agreed to do it. I just got back today so haven’t seen them yet but they’ve got to be better than anything I could do.
The trip was awesome!! I had so much fun! So proud of myself. I rode an Irish Draft Mare, named Colleen. She was a piebald and huge! I rode a total of 12 hours and since I haven’t done anything like it before I was very sore. But made it through. I also had trouble keeping up with all the younger riders, but everyone was so kind and understanding that I wasn’t worried. The food? Fabulous! Who said Irish cooking was inferior? We had salmon twice, Irish stew, fresh daily baked Irish soda bread and Guinness stout any time we wanted it or wine from around the world. Did I mention the bread pudding from the soda bread? Wow!
We had great tours of the Holy Island and two Castles in the area (both owned by the same family over an 800 year period.) And even a Lady’s Well reputed to aid those with eye disease. All balanced by a full tour of a Workhouse for the Poor. It was a shocking example of the horrors some will inflect on others for no criminal reason. We all left that place with great sadness and sympathy for the families torn apart and dying from hunger for no reason except hard times. So very sad. Don’t worry, Karma caught up with Ogle, the first manager of the Work House in the end. He got what he had coming to him. Very satisfying.
And the countryside was so peaceful and green! The roads were scary and GPS no help. Fortunately, our drivers’ had no trouble finding things. I enjoyed myself and had a wonderful time. The only thing we didn’t get to do was shop and that was because we didn’t have the time. The trip could have been longer, but it was a wonderful first time adventure that I will treasure forever.
Thank you so much!
Sandy M.
What a lovely country! Warm friendly people, beautiful scenery! Our host was fantastic, well organized, caring and so very knowledgeable, both about the horses and the history of Ireland.
It was so enjoyable to learn so much while riding the trails in such beautiful countryside. The horses were well cared for and fun to ride. The accommodations were comfortable and cozy and the food was great!
Gloria D.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time on this ride! Nicola was a gracious and knowledgeable hostess, the accommodations were comfortable, the rides and outings were well organized , the food was good and the riding staff were helpful and friendly.
Ireland is a beautiful land and this was a great way to see part of it. We are so glad we did it.
Thank you for your help in making it possible.
We have already started talking about where our next ride will be.
Cynthia F.
This trip was great! We had a wonderful time. The horses were fun to ride. The trail was a little bit rocky, but there were areas where we could trot and canter. The trips to the historical sites were very interesting. The food at the riding centre was delicious.
We can’t wait for our next riding trip! Thanks for arranging this.