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from £1,745 or €1,995
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Non-rider rates
Included 6 nights bed and breakfast guest house accommodation + 5 days trail riding (4+ hours per day), horse, tack and guide + 5 picnic lunches and all transfers during the trail
Excluded Getting there, evening meals
Getting there International visitors can fly to Dublin, Shannon or local airport Knock. For Irish visitors it’s an easy drive wherever you are coming from.
Transfer For international visitors we recommend renting a car. We can also organise transfers in an 8-person vehicle, approx. one-way cost €800 Shannon: €595 Knock: €175. There are bus transfers to Westport from all airport and train services from Dublin to Westport.
Dates 2023
16-22 April, 23-29 April, April 30 – May 6
6-13 May, 14-20 May, 21-27 May, May 28 – June 3
4-10 June, 11-17 June, 18-24 June, June 25 – July 1
2-8 July, 9-15 July, 16-22 July, 23-29 July, July 30 – August 5
6-12 August, 13-19 August, 20-26 August, August 27 – September 2
3-9 September, 10-16 September, 17-23 September, 24-30 September
1-7 October
Based out of the scenic and beautiful town of Westport in Co. Mayo this is a wonderful rural and wild part of Ireland to visit. The trail is a fixed based ride, you are based in a local B&B and daily enjoy looped rides around this stunning area. The base for the Clew Bay Trail Ride is at Drummindoo Stud. It is a family-based business originally, they only bred and some of the stallions that have resided here include the famous Connemara ”Carna Dun”, the Thoroughbred ”Fast Frigate” and the Irish Draught ”Shuttlecock to name but a few. Initially horses were bred, produced and sold worldwide. In 1979 they started to offer horse riding. The farm has been developed over time from a small stud to a modern equestrian facility which includes American barn stabling, an indoor arena, outdoor menage and a gallop track (all with a sand and rubber surface).
Run by Padraic and Ailise Foy alongside their father you’ll enjoy great hospitality here from a proper horsey family. Padraic has been involved in working with showjumpers, showing and racing in the past and since setting up trail rides has enjoyed travelling, learning and adopting some of Monty Roberts methods, a unique aspect to the training of their horses.
As well as great hospitality and a buzzing atmosphere for most of the year in the town of Westport, alongside some amazing restaurants, the riding here is stunning. You’ll enjoy a variety of terrain including a good beach ride, lovely country lanes, some road work on quiet roads and great tracks.
Horses –A mix of Connemara Ponies, Irish Sport Horses, Irish Draughts or Irish Cobs ranging from 13.2 – 16.2H. These horses are all suitable for trail riding and ridden in a contact and well-schooled.
Level of Riding & Pace – Good Novice plus. The riding includes gallops, and the horses are well behaved and forward going.
Tack – English Style.
Weight Restriction – 14 stones / 200lbs / 90kgs
Group Size – Maximum 10 riders
Typical breakfast: Eggs (scrambled, fried, poached), Bacon, Sausages, White pudding, Hashbrowns, Tomatoes, Toast & Butter, Jams, Marmalade. There is also typically a selection of cereals, often fruit, juices and tea or coffee.
Picnic lunches on the trail consist of sandwiches, fruit, snacks, drinks etc. and can be tailored to individual needs.
Please Ask About
There is an abundance of things to do in and around West Port which we can give ideas for including:
Clew Bay Trail – Itinerary by Day
Sunday
On arrival to Westport, check in to your accommodation which is where you will be staying for the trail.
Monday
Transfer to Drummindoo Stud to meet your host Padraic Foy, your horse and the other riders. After an assessment ride in the indoor arena, riders and horses are transferred to the village of Aughagower for the Aughagower Ride. This takes us through the villages of Curvey, Lankill and Knappagh Beg where we picnic on the shores of Knappagh Lake, then on to Drumhill before returning to Aughagower via Peggy’s Boreen. After riding there is a chance for riders to visit the round tower and monastic site which dates back to the 7th century.
Tuesday
Transfer to Cloona just outside of Westport. Today we take the Skelp Ride towards the east side of Croagh Patrick (Ireland’s Holy Mountain which has been a site of worship for over 3,000 years.). This mountain path gives us a great view of Clew Bay. We ride through Prospect and picnic near the ruins of a homestead which dates back to pre-famine times. Then on to Teevnacroagha where we ride in the footsteps of St. Patrick (Ireland’s patron saint) and Brackloon before finishing the day at Cloona.
Wednesday
Transfer to the village of Culeen for the Culeen Ride. This ride takes us to the west of Croagh Patrick, through quiet country lanes at Kilsallagh and Kinnock and then to bog roads at Dereen where we will have some long canters. We picnic on the bog and get to see the harvesting of the bog peat at close hand. We then return via a river crossing at Bellakip to finish the day at Culeen.
Thursday
We pick up the trail again at Formoyle (our base for the next two days) for the Feenone Ride. This takes us over a mountain pass, close to a megalithic burial site (one of many in the area), through the Carrowniskey River and on to the bog roads at Feenone. Clare Island (Grainne Uaile, Ireland’s famous Pirate Queen resided there in the 1500, s and controlled all the waters of Clew Bay) and Inishturk Island can clearly be seen. We then head for Carrowniskey beach where we can canter and gallop before returning to base.
Friday
Today we make our way to Doughmakeon and to ride the beach at Carrowniskey before crossing the Carrowniskey river and on to Cross Strand. There are ample opportunities to gallop today. We picnic next to Clapper Bridge (the bridge with the eyes). We can see the coastline of Connemara in the distance. There are many standing stones in the area dating back to megalithic times. We ride along Cross Strand and Carrowniskey beach again before returning to our base where you will say goodbye to your equine companion.
Saturday
Depart after breakfast with fond memories of your equestrian adventure.
Zara’s Planet Horse Riding Holidays Guarantee:
All our horse riding holidays are price guaranteed. We will refund the difference should you find the same horse riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
If you are having trouble finding exactly the right horse riding holiday for you from our horse riding holiday collection, please contact us directly using the form below and tell us in your own words what you would like to do and we will use our extensive knowledge to make sure we find that perfect horse riding holiday.
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