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Nestled between Knocknarea
mountain and Union forest, on the Atlantic coast of
Ireland, sits Carrowmore, site of one of the oldest
collections of Megalithic tombs and burial chambers,
some dating to 3500 B.C. This area is said to be the
first site settled by man in Ireland. This beautiful
corner of Ireland is not only home to prehistoric
tombs but also to Irelands foremost equestrian
facility. It’s success is due to it’s excellent
facilities, friendly and professional guides, safe
and well trained horses, friendly staff, but mainly
to it’s beautiful and diverse riding terrain. From
the endless Atlantic beaches for galloping to the
mountains and pine forests for gentle hacking, this
truly is the horseman's paradise.
Explore the unspoilt coastline, sandy beaches,
deserted islands, mountains and forests of this most
beautiful area of Western Ireland. The climate is
ever-changing with a general mild climate due to the
Gulf Stream. The riding is suitable for riders with
good intermediate riding level. You will stay at the
four-star Clarion Hotel for 3 nights and 4 nights at
the Markree Castle. Markee Castle is in the center of a large estate, with
lovely gardens leading down to the river Unsin, and views over a
countryside almost unchanged for 100 years.
 IT-IRSR01
Rates include 2 nights accommodations at
the Clarion Hotel and 4 nights at the Markree
Castle, all meals incl. farewell dinner on last
night. 5 riding days, one sightseeing day.
8 days/ 7 nights $2,745
Single: + $
350
--based on
€ 1,925 / € 245
non rider $
1,650
(€
770)
2008 Dates: SU-SU
03/30-04/06
04/06-04/13 04/13-04/20
04/20-04/27 04/27-05/04
05/04-05/11
05/11-05/18 05/18-05/25
05/25-06/01
06/01-06/08 06/08-06/15
06/15-06/22
06/22-06/29 07/27-08/03
08/03-08/10
08/10-08/17 08/17-08/24
08/24-08/31
08/31-09/07 09/07-09/14
09/14-09/21
09/21-09/28 09/28-10/05
10/05-10/12
10/12-10/19
Option B:
IT-IRSR01-BB
6 nights in Guesthouse accommodations
and 1 night Markree Castle,
all meals
8 days/ 7 nights
$1,795 Single: + $110
-- based on
€ 1,250 / € 77
-- non rider $ 1,010 (€ 695)
- meals and overnights at the guesthouse and one
night at Markree Castle
Meeting: Sligo
Level:
Good
Intermediate
Transfer: Included. from Sligo;
from Dublin $170
(€
120)
at 12 noon or
6 PM
Pace: moderate with fast canters
4-6
hrs/ day
Tack:
English
Horses:
Irish
Hunters
Min/Max Riders: 4-15
Note: The trip includes a sightseeing day to the
local historic sights and places of interest as well
as trips to local pubs for traditional Irish music.
Itinerary
Day 1 : Guests arrive in Sligo at the Clarion
Hotel and are
allocated their rooms for their stay. Dinner is at
the hotel.
Day 2: Riders are driven to the riding centre in Carrowmore. Here in a large indoor ring riders are
introduced to their mount for the week. Declan and
Michael, the trail guide, spend the next hour or so
evaluating the horses and riders and their
compatibility. Then the group is taken out to the
nearby pastures to test the control of the riders
outside on a short trail ride. After a light lunch we go for a 2
1/2 hour trail ride. This ride takes us through Rathcarrick
woods and onto Gibaralter strand for our first
canters on the Atlantic shores. Horses overnight at
the riding centre and riders return to their hotel
for some well earned relaxation and sleep.
Dinner in taken in the hotel. After dinner we go to
Strandhill to soak away the days effort in the
famous Celtic Seaweed baths.
Day 3:
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. We have lunch in
Strandhill, a seaside surfing village and our
afternoon’s ride is an exilarating beach ride to
Coney Island, a small island in Sligo Bay (pop7).
The horses stay tonight in Carrowmore. Guests are
given the option going to Sligo to have a Guinness
in one of our oldest traditional pubs where one is
free to sing or join in the sing song. After riding
we go to Markree Castle, our home for the next 4
nights. Dinner is taken at the Castle.
Day 4:
Before riding we take an escorted tour through
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetary,circa 4000 b.c.
Have a large breakfast this morning because we don’t
stop for lunch today. We ride from Carrowmore
through Union forest (a large pine forest) and along
old forest paths into Markree estate. We ride
through the castle grounds and to the stables where
the horses will spend the night. Riders spend the
night and take dinner in Markree Castle.
Day 5: Today is the chance to relax
after 3 days riding and recharge the batteries for
the next 2 days. Riders are tourists today and
visit 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. There is also time to shop
and see the beautiful town of Sligo.In the afternoon
we go to the famous Celtic seaweed baths, this is an
experience not to be missed. After dinner we visit a
local Irish pub for some more of that Guinness.
Day 6:
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. A picnic lunch is taken here where one
feels totally isolated from the real world with all
it’s stresses and problems. After lunch our ride
takes us through Ballygawley forest and to
Carrowmore where the horses spend the night.
Accommodation and dinner are in Markree Castle.
Day 7: 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 fantastic day's ride - very exhilarating and
physically challenging. Accomodation is at Sligo
Clarion Hotel. Dinner tonight is taken in a popular
Sligo restaurant.For those with the energy left,
after dinner there is an option to go to the pub for
some music.
Day 8 (Sunday):
Departure after breakfast
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Guesthouse
option:
Six nights at guesthouse accommodations
in Strandhill Peninsula -- with one night at Markree
Castle - add $175 to the guesthouse rate
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