Packages and Options

Day 1 Arrive in Glasgow and transfer (private car or public bus depending on numbers) to the farm on the Peninsula of Kintyre on the West Coast of Scotland. Relax around the fire and read a book or explore around the farm. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2 After a first test ride in the hills and forests around the farm, your guide Malcolm will assign you your horse for the week. You will return to the farmhouse for a welcome lunch then out for an afternoon ride to view the Inner Hebridean Isles from the hills.
Day 3 After breakfast you will saddle up and ride through the forest to Glenahanty and Largybaan to the cliff edge. There will be some steep climbs and descents. You might have to be prepared to lead your horse once or twice. You stop to picnic at the “Sailors Grave", a lonely cove where a sailor was washed up on the beach in 1916 and buried there by the shepherd who found him. Your first taste of lots of Scottish history. After lunch you continue your ride through the hills towards Ballygroggan where the horses will get a well deserved rest at the end of the day.
Day 4 After another full Scottish breakfast (you won’t leave hungry!) there will be a short transfer by Land Rover back to Ballygrogan. Your first challenge will be to ride Machrihanish beach and gallop the 4 1/2 miles of sandy beach to Westport where you catch your breath as you picnic by the beach. From there you ride alongside the Atlantic where you can see seals sunning themselves on the rocks. On to Bellochantuy Bay and up the beach to Glenbarr where you will pass by the secluded Glenbarr Abbey - seat of the clan Mcalister. The horses will stay the night at Skernish Farm.
Day 5 In the morning you drive back to Skernish. This day you mostly will ride across highlands and forestry commission land along the Lussa Loch. You might have to travel through some bog but not to worry, the horses are used to it! There will be some beautiful views of the surrounding hills and the ocean during the route. This is where you get a true sense of the amazing tranquility, peace and beauty of this well kept secret area of mystic Scotland. The ride continues crossing the peninsula up to Ugadale. Expect lots of long trots.
Day 6 Ride on small country roads to Saddell Bay with beautiful Saddell Castle in the background. Here is another opportunity for a canter along the beach. You will see astonishing vistas and on a clear day you can see some of the other Islands (Aran, Ailsa Craig and the Ayrshire coast). Your picnic lunch will be at the beach. This day is excellent for stretching your riding abilities and building your confidence. Both the horse and rider find it fun and challenging. The horses are well trained, easily controllable and amazingly calm with local farm and logging traffic. More canters and trots back into the forestry commission land and beaches back to Homeston.
Day 7 Today you can ride in the other direction - to the south - and enjoy some more wonderful beaches. This time beside the Irish Sea. Ride through the forests and moorland to the beaches at Southend. You will eat your picnic as your horse grazes beside you (or begs for an apple)! Then home through Glen Breakerie to unsaddle for the last time and turn your horse out to pasture before you go in for your welcome tea and cakes.
Day 8 Departure after breakfast in the morning back to Glasgow. For some, a difficult adjustment after a week at this lovely farm and its great Scottish hospitality.

Attire is casual. Don’t forget – throughout the UK, including Scotland, riding helmets are MANDATORY. Some are available – please let us know if you wish to reserve.