Price
Ashford Castle is a flexible riding holiday. We can make up individual tailored packages on request for any number of nights, hours and riding ability. Please contact us for a tailor made quote.
2026
3 Night Package Example from €2,930 per person, sharing
Includes breakfast, 3 x 45 minute private lessons and 2 x 2 hour trail rides.
2027
3 Night Package Example from €3,050 on sharing basis
Includes breakfast, 3 x 45 minute private lessons and 2 x 2 hour trail rides.
Dates & Prices
IRELAND
Ashford Castle
Overview
We absolutely love this fairy tale 800-year-old Irish Castle voted best hotel by Virtuoso and the only 5-star Forbes hotel in Ireland. In fact Zara celebrated her 50th birthday here with her family and Jill is planning a visit with hers too. Once home to the Guinness family and a millionaire’s playground in the last century you can ride straight into the 3000-acre forest, as well as explore castle ruins, ringforts and abbeys on horseback. Completely steeped in history each of the 83 rooms have been lovingly restored and are uniquely individual and the stables are within walking distance of the hotel.
Ashford is all about the experience and we love that it is pet friendly. Enjoy greeting the two resident wolfhounds Cronan and Garvan in the morning, you may even join them and their carer for their daily morning walk. The staff at Ashford Castle have a unique way of making you feel like their very special guest from the moment you arrive.
As well as beautiful hacking and riding round the estate, it is also great fun to watch hawks soar at Ireland’s first School of Falconry, or maybe you or your non riding partner will enjoy a round of golf on a course designed by Eddie Hackett. With loads more to do such as fishing in the lough, clay pigeon shooting, archery, paddle boarding, kayaking, cycling, tennis, zip wiring or how about climbing Ireland’s tallest tree? Of course, there is also the fabulous spa which we recommend you take advantage of or how about a less taxing activity such as sipping Ashford Castle’s very own Irish Whisky?
For those of you who are close enough and able and can’t bear to leave your furry friends at home why not treat your dog and horse to a holiday too? They are both welcome at Ashford Castle!
Ashford Castle is very special with a variety of sumptuous rooms and luxurious suites to choose from, a selection of 6 restaurants, 3 bars as well as a private cinema, Spa and Health Club, a 9-hole complimentary golf course, plus a huge variety of country pursuits to keep you entertained and busy while you are out of the saddle.
Ashford Castle is an ideal treat venue to bring non riding partners with you, family and friends. While you ride others are going to be kept busy on the 9-hole golf course, in the pool or on a bike ride round the estate!
Location
Cong, Ireland
Airport
Knock, Shannon or Dublin, Ireland
Duration
Flexible
When to go
All year
Riding level
All levels
Weight
95 kg / 15 stone / 209 lbs
Group size
6 max per lesson or hack
Accommodation
5-star luxury
Included
Accommodation including breakfast plus full use 9 hole golf course including green fees, tennis courts, bicycles, billiards rooms, cinema, steam room and pool (please note you do need to pre-book slots prior to arrival for these activities).
Extras
Please contact us regarding single supplements.
Private Lessons
€200 per single adult for a 45-minute private coaching session.
Trail riding
€200 per single adult for one hour, some riding experience required.
€360 per single adult for two hours, must be confident and proficient in riding.
€610 per single adult for three hours, must be confident and proficient in riding.
€110 per single child for a 30-minute pony ride (under 12)
Full day horse rides are available for advanced riders where you ride into the foothills of the Connemara mountains before coming back through the forest planted by the Guinness family passing the shores of Lough Mask and Lough Corrib. There is an option for a pub or picnic lunch. Please enquire for costs.
Excluded
Flights, transfers, other meals, drinks (note food and beverage are also subject to a 15% service charge) and tips.
Price guarantee
All our riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book with us and will refund the difference should you find the same riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
Exchange rate
Rates are subject to daily exchange rate fluctuations, please refer to our Terms and Conditions for full details.
Transfers
By car
Ashford Castle is an easy drive from most places in Ireland, taking about 3 hours from Dublin, 1.5 hours from Shannon and less than an hour from Galway.
By train
It is possible to take a train to Galway and from there we can organise a chauffeur service.
By plane
Knock, Shannon and Dublin are the best airports, with Knock being the closest. Arrangements can also be made to land helicopters at the hotel.
Chauffeur
Car hire is ideal for international visitors but we can also arrange a chauffeur pick up. Ashford Castle have their own in-house chauffeurs who are on hand day and night to drive guests to and from the Castle and to other destinations during your stay. We can arrange for one of the chauffeurs to pick you up from Knock, Shannon or Dublin airport or anywhere else, prices on request.
Departure dates
Open all year. Please enquire availability.
Riding & Itinerary
We have a selection of suggested packages, and we will build a personalised itinerary to match your requirements.
The equestrian centre is well set up to take guests who have never ridden before but equally if you ride very well, you’ll enjoy a well-schooled horse to ride around this beautiful estate and some lovely cantering on beautiful trails. The Equestrian Centre itself is located a short walk from the hotel and includes:
17 stables
Indoor and outdoor arenas for assessments and lessons
26 miles of hacking trails in 3,000 acres of beautiful forests
Carriage Drive around the estate and beautiful countryside
Catering for all levels from 4 years upwards
Other activities include
Air Rifle Shooting
Archery
Carriage Driving
Clay Shooting
Cycling
E-rider Adventure
Falconry
Fishing
Kayaking
Lawn Games
Paddle Boarding
Tennis
Tree Climbing
Wildlife Photography
Zip Wiring
Horses
A good mix of solid cobs, connemaras and draught horses.
Riding level
All levels
Type of riding
Arena lessons or hacks on the estate
Tack
English style
Weight limit
95 kg / 15 stone / 209 lbs
Group size
6 max per lesson or hack
Accommodation & Meals
All the rooms and suites are 5-star luxury and include Voya bath products, Egyptian cotton linen, plush robes and slippers, WIFI, TV and blue tooth speaker, Hair Dyer, Kettle, fresh flowers, bottled mineral water and Air Con.
Restaurants & Bars
From bar snacks and brasserie classics to family fare and fine dining, Ashford Castle has a wonderful select dining experience to choose from.
6 Restaurants
George V Dining Room
The graceful setting, with rich, panelled walls and twinkling Waterford Crystal chandeliers bestows a grand sense of occasion. Relax and enjoy exceptional dishes from the kitchen of acclaimed Chef Philippe Farineau, recently awarded two rosettes by the AA Hospitality Awards, combined with much loved recipes of Beatrice Tollman and complemented by a fine selection of wines from Head Sommelier Paul Fogerty.
The Dungeon
As its name would suggest, the unique setting located on the lower ground floor of the castle invites diners to enjoy a range of dishes from the bistro-style menu with a focus on traditional Irish cuisine beneath the historic curved stone ceiling. Together with a relaxed ambience, it makes for a wonderful and memorable dining experience.
Cullen’s at the Cottage
Thatched cottage on site only open March-October. Offers you a relaxed dining experience. With a casual dress code, enjoy international and local dishes inspired by our owner Beatrice Tollman, including our delicious signature dish ‘Chicken Peri Peri’. It is slow cooked in our rotisserie oven in the main dining area, so mouth-watering aromas greet you as soon as you enter the restaurant.
The Drawing Room
Perfect for morning coffee or a light lunch. The drawing room has huge windows overlooking the lough and guests love to pop in spontaneously here during their stay.
Stanley’s Diner
Ashford style diner! With only nine leather-and-copper stools, Stanley’s is intimate and fun, with diner classics given an Ashford Castle twist. The original orange freeze drink is infused with Irish tea, while omelettes and bagels are made all the more luxurious with Ashford caviar and Alba truffle.
The Connaught Room
With panelled oak walls, Donegal crystal chandelier and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the estate and lough, it is easy enough to imagine Lords and Ladys in the past taking afternoon tea here and setting the world right… You can do the same! As well as where afternoon teas are hosted, it is also a good spot to organise a wine dinner.
3 Bars
The Prince of Wales Bar
Built in the late 1800s, the bar is to this day reminiscent of its captivating past, with its opulent fabrics, fine wood panelling, traditional furnishings and original fireplace creating a warm and welcoming ambience – the perfect place to enjoy your favourite tipple or a pint of Guinness. Private Whisky and Gin tasting on offer too.
The Billiards Room & Cigar Terrace
The traditional elegance of the Billiards Room, with its grand assortment of antique furniture and furnishings is a most welcome addition to the castle. Definitely the spot for a Cuban cigar overlooking the river Cong whilst indulging in Irish tapas and one of finest single pot still whiskey, which is regarded as the real Irish whiskey and is a whiskey style unique to Ireland.
Wine Tasting
Wine Cellars at Ashford Castle offer private wine tastings and wonderful wine dinners in the secret passageways of the castle, which were unearthed during the renovations. The old servants’ entrance was originally a coal bunker and walkway underneath the castle, where the servants used to come in and get their coal buckets to take up to the rooms. It has now been transformed and the 16th-century tunnels provide three unique private spaces with a cosy ambience and soft lighting.
Spa & Wellness
The Spa at Ashford Castle was awarded ‘Ireland’s Best Hotel Spa’ in 2020 for the 5th year in a row by World Spa Awards and we were also voted ‘Best in Sustainability’ in the 2019 Irish Tatler Awards. Their commitment to wellbeing focuses on essential ancient wisdom with modern expertise. So, head here if you want to leave feeling nurtured, purified, pampered and relaxed.
Treatment Rooms
With 5 treatment rooms, a hammam & essence infused steam room and lifestyle showers, the small but discrete spa offers some beautiful treatments.
Relaxation Pool
Within the striking bronze conservatory and overlooking Lough Corrib, the relaxation pool provides an area of calm and tranquillity, with seated jets, unique seashell chandeliers and the ‘Tree of Life’ mural, stretching the length of the pool and symbolising Irish Celtic Mythology.
The fitness suite
With breath-taking, elevated views over Lough Corrib, the fitness suite is far from an average workout space. Floor to ceiling windows draw the spectacular scenery inside, where you’ll find the latest life fitness equipment. A personal trainer will be on hand to create bespoke sessions according to your specific goals.
Accommodation
5-star luxury
Single Supplement
Please enquire various package prices
Meals
Inform us about food allergies and intolerances
Drinks
Drinks payable (note food and beverage are also subject to a 15% service charge)
The Destination
Only an hour’s drive from Westport, Cong is a small village in south Mayo famous for its 12th century abbey, the lavish gold and silver processional Cross of Cong from 1123, the magnificent Ashford Castle, the village’s links with Oscar Wilde and, most popularly, its association with the John Wayne classic movie, The Quiet Man. For any Quiet Man enthusiasts, The Quiet Man Museum is a must.
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