The price includes 7 nights bed and breakfast accommodation in Sligo Glasshouse Hotel, riding (5 days, 4-5 hours daily), 2 days light lunch and one day organized and escorted tour of the local historic sights and places of interest ,including a restored castle,and,a megalithic cemetery.There is also an optional visit to the famous celtic seaweed baths in Strandhill.Also included are trips to local pubs to hear some traditional Irish music.

THE RIDING;

We ride for 4-5 hours each day,.On the trail the riders have a hugely diverse riding terrain,forests,mountains and Atlantic shores.Our trail ride is described as an intermediate ride,ie. we do not simply walk and trot all day,nor do we gallop all day. it is a mix of walk,trot and canter .Riders need to be of intermediate ability,able to control a horse in canter in an open area.Some days are quite strenuous while others are more relaxing. Riders need to ride a few times per week prior to coming on a trail ride to build up their condition. Riders should be over 18 years old (unless accompanied by an adult)and there is a weight restriction of 100 kilo.

Please note that the times and itinerary are subject to change due to weather and tidal conditions.

THE HORSES;

Our horses are Irish hunters,of varying sizes, are easily ridden,and they are used to the terrain and to having different riders each week.

THE BARN.

Our barn / equestrian centre is situated 3 km from Sligo town,pop 25000.It has accommodation for 50 horses. There is a saddlery/equestrian clothing shop and a comfortable club house overlooking the indoor hall.

THE ACCOMODATION;

Our accommodation is at the Glasshouse Hotel in Sligo town centre, www.theglasshouse.ie. .It is a 4 star hotel built directly on the Garavogue river..Our accommodation is in twin rooms,please state if you are will ing to share a room as many of our riders travel alone and would like to share accomodation .Riders can also choose to stay a night in Markree Castle,a restored castle,with a fine restaurant,for info on the castle accomodation check www.markreecastle.ie

DINING;

Full breakfast is provided in the hotel each morning..A light snack is also provided on Monday and Wednesday,on the other days we stop at local pubs,where one can can get lunch or a snack. In the evening one can explore the restaurants and pubs in Sligo town,they are all within a 5 minute walk of the hotel.There are many restaurants there to suit all budgets and tastes.We provide a list of our recommended restaurants and pubs to guests..On selected evenings we propose trips to local Irish pubs with live music .

ITINERARY

Day 1 SUNDAY;

Guests arrive in Sligo and are welcomed by Declan Mc Garry,the trail manager..After a short discussion reafirming the riding abilities and requirments of the riders,guests are shown to their guest rooms at the Sligo Glasshouse Hotel.

Day 2 MONDAY 10.30;

Riders are mounted in a large indoor ring, and are introduced to their mount for the week. Declan and Eugene, the trail guide, spend the next hour or so evaluating the horses and riders and their compatability. The group are then taken out to the nearby pastures to test the control of the riders outside.After a light lunch we go for a 2 hour ride outside. This ride takes us through Rathcarrick woods and onto Gibaralter strand for our first canters on the Atlantic shores. .After dinner guests are taken to a local Irish pub to hear some traditional Irish music and sample that famous Irish craic.

Day 3 TUESDAY 10.30;

Today we ride to Knocknarea mountain and we climb to the summit to the grave of one of Ireland’s greatest warriors, Queen Maeve (circa 3500 b.c.). From this vantage point one can really appreciate the beauty of this corner of the Emerald Isle. Lunch is taken in the famous Strand Bar in Strandhill village,a surfing village.Our afternoon’s ride is an exilarating beach ride to Coney Island, a small island in Sligo Bay.

Day 4 WED 10.30;

Have a large breakfast this morning because we don’t stop for lunch today.Before riding we take an escorted tour through the megalithic cemetary,circa 4000 b.c.

.Our ride is today is from Carrowmore through Union forest (a large pine forest) and along old forest paths into Markree Castle estate. We ride through the castle grounds and to the castle stables where the horses will spend the night.

After dinner we visit a local Irish pub for some more music and Guinness.

Day 5 THURS.10.30

Our ride takes us up Ballygawley mountain traversing old bog roads once used to bring turf down from the mountain. We pass Lough Lumman, a bottomless lake where one can often see deer grazing. . After a light lunch our ride takes us through Ballygawley forest and to Carrowmore where the horses spend the night.

DAY 6 FRIDAY

Today is the chance to relax after 4 days riding and recharge the batteries for the final day. Riders are tourists today and our organized escorted tour visits all the places of interest and historical significance of this ancient corner of Ireland, including a visit to Parkes castle(a fourteenth century castle restored by the Irish government)and Yeat,s grave in Drumcliff. For those who wish,we can organize a trip to the famous Celtic Seaweed baths.

Day 7 Sat. 10.30;

As today,s ride is on the beaches our start time will vary.

Our last day’s ride is spent all on the beaches,we ride all around the Knocknarea peninsula from Kelly’stown to Culleenamore beach along the strand at Strandhill onto Cumeen Strand across to Carty’s strand. This is a truly fantistic day’s Ride, very exilarating and physically challanging.

As its our last night we will all meet after dinner for a final Guinness and a chance to reflect on our weeks adventure.

PRICES

PRICE € 1000 . Single Supp € 90

HIGH SEASON € 1100

Non rider € 655 High season € 755

Supp for the night in Markree Castle,inc dinner € 120

Trail dates First trail Mar 28,Last trail Oct 3.
All weeks except July 4 - 31.
High season August 1 - 31.

PRICE INCLUDES;

Accomodation B&B at Sligo Glasshouse Hotel.

Light lunch on 2 days,riders pay for other lunchs and beverages.

Riding 5 days and the organized tour.

Celtic Seaweed baths are an optional extra.

Transfer from Sligo Train/Bus station,Sligo airport to Hotel.

All transfers from hotel to the Equestrian centre.