The Donegal Trail is a self lead trail ride.
You can ride the Donegal Trail only with a minimum of two* riders.

* We are offering wonderful self lead trails but it is not advisable to go alone, we prefer it if you are a minimum of 2 people, however, if a Trail is really what you would like to do we are offering you, with our help, the possibility to find a suitable companion whom you could get to know before you travel Meeting Page

DAY 1 - ARRIVAL DAY
Arrive, receive saddlebags, maps and have a trial ride along the laneways near Horse Holiday Farm, to Trawalud Strand and Dunes and return to the farm.

DAY 2 - COUNTRY MANSION
After breakfast, receive instructions on tacking up and guidelines for the next 6 days. Then you and your horse will be transported to Belleek to commence your first day's trail. This day takes you along the shores of Assaroe Lake and then through the forests of the Knader Wood to Cavangarden House, a beautiful country mansion set in its own 1,000 acres.
Riding time 4-5 hours. You will be by-passing Ballyshannon - the oldest town in Ireland, created in 1613. Why not pay a visit in the evening and have a drink at Dorrian's Thatched Pub.

DAY 3 - ROSSNOWLAGH
From Cavangarden Hause you will ride through the farm to a quiet country road, which brings you to the famous surfing beach of Rossnowlagh, miles of beach and dunes stretch ahead of you. Rossnowlagh is the home of a beautiful Franciscan Friary which has a small museum housing stone age flints and old lrish musical instruments. Take a break at the Smugglers Creek. Leaving at Murvagh to follow a small country road to a modern guesthouse. Approx. 4 hours riding.

DAY 4 - PEACE, TRANQUILITY AND RELAXATION
Return to Murvagh -you will have the Golf Club in sight as weIl as a magnificent view to Slieve League and the Bluestack Mountains. Across the bay you will see many islands, lnishpat and Rooney's Island are directly in front of you, keep to the shoreline, and leave the sea at St. Ernan's Island. Follow a small country lane rising all the time in the direction of Oughternid. Enjoy the magnificent views, Barnesmore on your left and spreads of blanket bog formed up to 7,000 years ago on your right. Arriving after approx. 5-6 hours at Moorlands Guesthouse. Rosie and Walter also have a Health Centre, a massage from Rosie could do wonders for those aching muscles.

DAY 5 - THE PILGRIMS WAY
Departing the Moorlands, follow forest tracks to the shores of Lough Derg, Ireland's most famous Pilgrimage site,
St. Patrick's Purgatory on Saint's Island - thousands of people travel here every summer for three days of prayer, penance and fasting. Overnight at a farmhouse near Pettigo. Approx. 4-5 hours riding.

DAY 6 - ARDMOURNE GUESTHOUSE AND STABLES
Leaving Pettigo follow a small track which brings you back to the shores of Lough Derg, this time on the north east shore. On leaving Lough Derg you follow a series of smaU forest
tracks, riding along the Mullafa Mountain and Meenbog Hill, enjoying the peace and the comfort of wildlife to a warm welcome from Helena and Joe at Ardmoure Guesthouse.

DAY 7 - BARNESMORE GAP
Leaving Ardmourne you will ride a series of forest tracks through Killeter Forest rising to a height to give magnificient views of the very scenice Barnesmore Gap and Bluestack Mountains. You will ride down into the Gap where you take a break at Biddy's of Barnes (Pub). At this point we can pick you up at Biddy's Pub and bring you back to Horse Holiday Farm.

DAY 8 - FAREWELL TO "FRIENDS"
After breakfast say goodbye to your equine friends of the past week.

A rest day can be arranged should you wish to visit the historic Donegal Town with its castle dating back to the l5th century and the ruins of Donegal Abbey built in 1474. There are also great opportunities for shopping.

Included - 7 nights bed and breakfast, your horse for one week (6 days) with all equipment and saddlebags.

It is sometimes possible to book at short notice: just phone us, send us an email or fill up the contact form

Tilman and Colette Anhold
Horse Holiday Farm Ltd.
Grange
County Sligo
Ireland

Telephone : (071) 9166152
Fax : (071) 9166400

From Europe and the UK:
Telephone : 00 353 71 9166152
Fax : 00 353 71 9166400

From the USA:
Telephone : 011 353 71 9166152
Fax : 011 353 71 9166400
Email : [email protected]

Form: enquiries-reservations

Location and airports

The Horse Holiday Farm is Bord Fáilte (Irish Tourist Board) approved and
a member of A.I.R.E., the Association of Irish Riding Establishments.