Connemara is the kind of place photographers love to shoot and where publishers make a steady business by publishing cocktail table books of its wild beauty and breath-taking scenery.
It is a beautiful untouched area dotted with quaint villages that seem like they haven't changed since the Nineteenth Century. The colors change all day long as the sun and the clouds compete for primacy. Fog rolls in frequently from the nearby Atlantic Ocean, Galway Bay or one of the other small bays giving the scenery a mysterious feel.
You will stay in guesthouses along the way and enjoy true Irish hospitality. Just be prepared to be surprised with how much the Irish know about the United States. Everyone seems to have a relative living “in America” or has lived in the States themselves. But most of all, be prepared to fall in love with the wonderful Irish people.
If you have never ridden an Irish horse, you owe it to yourself to try it at least once. Their steady, kind disposition and strong frame makes for what many people consider the perfect modern sport horse. Ride all day through beautiful scenery and picturesque villages, have a good meal in a warm, friendly pub and then off to a comfortable bed to end the day content, exhausted and delighted. It is said that the Irish love three things in life, a pint in the pub, a good laugh and a good horse. On this horseback riding vacation, you can have all three.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Transfer from Shannon Airport to Doolin where first you will meet the horses and afterwards check in to your accommodation. Dinner that evening will be in McGann’s Pub, and after dinner you can enjoy a night of Irish music which starts around 9:30 pm.
Day 2: Saddle up in Fisherstreet then its away you go up by Donagore Castle and across the Cliffs of Moher road to the fishing village of Liscannor. You’ll stop for lunch at Moher Hill petting farm. After lunch you’ll continue riding back to Doolin via Ballycotton, with a chance to get off your saddle in Doolin to stretch your legs and relax for awhile with a beer or coffee. After your break you’ll head to your accommodation to freshen up for dinner.
Day 3: Pack your bags before breakfast, then start today’s ride. From Doolin you will ride out in the direction of Fanore, passing Ballinalacken Castle. Then you head through the Green Roads, also known as the Great Famine Roads, and into the Burren. Today you will stop at John’s house (your host for the first half of the week) for lunch. After lunch it is on through the Burren, a unique area that was part of the ocean’s floor millions of years ago. You can stop and look at the fossils etched in the stones. From the Burren head down Caher Valley to Fanore Village – your ride today ends at the stables. Now it is time to say goodbye to the horses after which you will be transferred to your accommodation in the village of Ballyvaughan, where you will have a wonderful view of Galway Bay.
Day: 4 You’ll be picked up after breakfast for a transfer to Doolin to take the ferry boat to the Aran Islands. Once there you can explore the island and enjoy its peace and tranquility for the day before boarding the ferry boat to Rosaveel in Connemara. From there you will be transferred by car to Cleggan to continue the rest of your vacation.
Day 5: Today you will ride around the northeast headland of Cleggan Bay passing through the scenic town lands of Cloon, Sheeauns and Ballinakill. Each is rich with historical interests and breathtaking views of the bay and surrounding islands. You will ride to the Bundouglas Cliffs, one of Connemaras’ most scenic and beautiful spots where you may stop for a picnic lunch (weather permitting). Afterwards you will venture home through Ballynew and finish you day with a nice canter on Cleggan Beach (tide permitting).
Day 6: This morning you will follow on from Cleggan and ride the southwest headland of Cleggan Bay. You will cross over the moor lands and bogs of Moorneen hill and go down to Selerna, a pretty beach where you can ride through the surf and enjoy the beautiful view of the island, Inisboffin. You will carry on to Rossadillisk Beach and spend some time there before stopping in Claddaghduff at a seaside pub for lunch. Your ride home will return via Aughris Beg, the most westerly point on Galway’s mainland, where you will experience Connemara’s wild rugged beauty.
Day 7: Considered by many to be the jewel in Connemara’s crown and an experience not to be missed, Omey Island is a tidal island southwest of Cleggan Village. At low tide you will cross the biggest beach in Connemara to explore the island of Omey. This small island is steeped in history and archeological gems. Visit the sunken church and the holy well where your guide will fill you in on all the historical details and legends of the area. After leaving the island you will stop at the pub for lunch and if you like, enjoy a pint before returning home.
Day 8: Breakfast and transfer to the airport. Flights should be scheduled for the afternoon.
Note: Some of the riding includes riding on beaches so the treks are timed depending on the tide so you may be riding at different times to suit the tide.
Meeting Point: Shannon Airport. Transfers are not included.
Other Activities: Hiking, sight-seeing, biking. Saddles: English.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
$2,495 per person, shared; $310 single supplement.
Price Includes:
- 7 nights B&B accommodation
- 5 days of guided trail riding
- All meals
- Horse
- Tack
- Guide
- Tax.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Ireland
Horse Riding
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