‘An amazing luxury week in beautiful Irish countryside, surrounded by lovely people. The castle and estate is beautiful and well set up. Everything you need is right there, with wonderful staff. The close proximity of the equestrian centre and the lodge, and the integration of the two, made for an incredible experience full of luxury and convenience!
The horses are all lovely and safe to ride. I rode Summer, Bumble, Squire, Arnie, Traveller, Blueberry and Wilson. My favourites were Bumble and Arnie, especially out on cross country. The last day of cross country riding was the highlight of the week, especially jumping a few of the bigger cross country jumps on the course.
Overall, the week was absolutely worth every cent. The scenery was lovely, the lodge and estate provided a luxury week away, the horses were well cared for. All the riding instructors were lovely, helpful and fun. The staff at the lodge were also great, going out of their way to help with anything, including ringing the chocolate shop to open up for us!’

‘A fantastic experience with the atmosphere of a stately home complete with lots of memorabilia, and enjoyable riding in beautiful, colourful countryside having great fun over cross country fences. It didn’t matter if it rained, it was an awesome time catching up with wonderful friends, and meeting new ones who were riding in Ireland for a myriad of reasons. Unbelievable Irish fun with delicious breakfasts and meals. Feeling so very lucky. Must be the shamrock!’

‘We had a wonderful time on the Castle & Estate Ride and made some great friends. Every day was different but wonderful! I especially enjoyed our lovely night up in Snaffles Restaurant with a few of the other girls on the ride – the staff treated us like royalty. A big thank you to all staff at the lodge and equestrian centre, especially Tina, Emma, Chris, Orla and Briggetta. Wonderful, experienced staff and a lot of fun.’

‘From Tina at the reception desk to all the guides, we had excellent service and were well taken care of. Everyone was friendly and loads of fun. My friend and I were so pleased to see how well the horses are treated by not only the trainers but all the staff we saw interacting with them. They were well fed and the staff have a good handle on what each horse needs and what they enjoy.
When we were discussing this trip, I told my friend I did not want to canter as I was not comfortable going that fast on strange horses. Once we got to meet these gentle giants, though, all we wanted to do was canter! We were always excited about our daily rides and lessons. I had the opportunity to ride four different horses. I especially LOVED Arnie. I would have packed him in my luggage if he fitted! He was my jumping horse and I enjoyed every minute on him.
And the castle is gorgeous! The rooms were far better than we expected. The balcony over looking the stable area was a great place to wind down each day. Having two restaurants on site made life much easier and the food was delicious!’

‘The horse riding – wow! The equestrian team were fun and professional, and so supportive. I had an absolute ball. Miss Bumble was my favourite horse. Big, confident and free moving, we often led the group rides on the estate. On one ride we galloped leading the group for a mile, and it felt like the two of us were one body, one mind. I’ll never forget the freedom of those moments.

The activities organised for my husband Keith, a non-rider, were excellent, and run by professionals doing their jobs so well. You could not wipe the smile from Keith’s face after the clay pigeon shooting, so I decided I’d join in for the falconry, and just wow! Brian the bird handler’s level of expertise love for his birds was inspiring.

All the staff were interactive and fun. We both had the best time. For me, when Keith said he wished we could stay longer when I was supposedly the reason we were there… well, that just made it even more special. I’d encourage riders with non-riding partners to put this experience at the top of their list.’

‘This was a fabulous adventure. I loved Ireland and the Castle. My room was beautiful, and best of all it overlooked the stables! I loved looking out and seeing horses morning and evening. I rode a range of horses and was very happy with the variety. I loved riding out on the trails and discovering little bits of castle history along the way. I would definitely recommend this ride. It’s completely tailored to your needs.’

‘I’ve just finished the Castle and Estate Ride. What a beautiful spot. The Castle and family have so much history! It’s fascinating. This is a perfect ride for beginners, those who are just getting back in the saddle and those who have lost a little confidence. The coaches are just lovely. The horses are absolute gems. They are gentle giants – a lot of easy fun and they certainly look after you. The staff are lovely, the food is delicious, and the accommodation magnificent – the best sleep I’ve had in a long time.’

‘The Castle & Estate Ride was any horse rider’s paradise: riding twice a day (you’re in riding clothes from breakfast to dinner) – it’s the riding boot camp you always wanted to go to as a kid but can now afford as an adult! From fundamental indoor jumping and flat lessons to joyful canters through the forest, over logs and through ponds, riders at every level from beginner to advanced will be challenged and delighted with every ride, every day. Extra bonus: the accommodation and food are INCREDIBLE! Ride all day, laugh, drink and eat all evening, then do it all again tomorrow. I miss it already! I cannot recommend Globetrotting more highly!’

‘Great food, divine hotel, beautiful gardens and horse riding – the Castle & Estate Ride was my absolute dream holiday. Three hours a day of riding with plenty of time to relax and enjoy the Irish countryside. Ireland is known for its storytelling and the best stories were those shared with my fellow globetrotters. How wonderful to meet so many new horse loving friends to explore, learn and laugh with!’