Spend Summer Days Riding on the Wild Atlantic Way 🐎

February 22, 2024

Caitlin Hoskins

The Clew Bay Trail Ride takes small groups of experienced riders along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way through small villages, breath-taking sandy beaches, off-shore islands, country lanes, mountain tracks and local heritage sites, stopping for a picnic along the way. This trail is expertly hosted by three generations of the Foy family who have been breeding horses here since 1970.

Farming
Blayne Sheehan near the beach at Allihies on the Beara peninsula heading out for a trek with Charlie on the Beara Bridle Way. Picture Dan Linehan

Visit the legendary West Coast of Ireland on horseback with the Foy family as your guide. Horse breeders Paddy Joe and Patsy Foy started with 3 stables at the back of the house with Connemara ponies before moving to their present site in 1970 with a stable of Connemaras, Arabs, Thoroughbreds and Irish Draughts.

Over the years this has gradually evolved and now three generations of the Foy family work at the farm, guiding riders along the ancient Wild Atlantic Way as well as breeding and producing some of Ireland’s top horses.

Ireland is known as the land of the horse and the ability to cross any country has ensured that the Irish horse is surefooted and looks after it’s rider. The majority of the trail horses used on this ride have competition experience and have been started by your hosts.

Main guide Padraic Foy is a Qualified Riding Instructor, a Monty Robert’s Certified Instructor and an accomplished Irish horseman whose family have been involved with horses in the locality for generations. You need not be an expert to ride this trail as great care is taken to ensure that each rider is matched with a suitable horse, however you should be able to ride securely and confidently at a walk, trot and canter in open country.

Stay in the charming Irish town of Westport in a locally run guesthouse or B&B. All bedrooms are en-suite and are comfortable and relaxing after a days riding. Explore the local town in the evenings and catch some live, traditional Irish music.

There is a selection of restaurant and coffee shops in the town of Westport meaning that there is a great variety of food and meal choices available during your stay. Traditional fare includes hearty roasts of local lamb, beef or pork, plenty of seasonal vegetables and traditional local cheeses and breads, as well as some tasty continental and worldly influences. The town’s close proximity to the coast means that seafood and fresh fish is abundant and very good here.

Evenings are also a chance to sample a taste of fantastic Irish brewed ales, stouts and bitters – not forgetting the traditional pint of iron rich Guiness to warm you up after your ride.

Clew Bay Trail

Departs between April and October

Price: £1931 per person

Book with a 20% deposit. The full balance is due 8 weeks before departure.

Getting there
The closest airport is Knock. Transfers are also available from Shannon or Dublin airports.