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Castle Leslie Ireland Equestrian Vacations Glaslough, Ireland
General Info
Stay at one of Ireland’s last great castles still inhabited by its famous and eccentric founding family, Castle Leslie, and enjoy a dream equestrian vacation.
This is a once in a lifetime riding vacation at a truly special place. What makes Castle Leslie special is that your hosts are the family that sill owns and maintains the estate. You are a guest of the Leslie family, welcomed into their home and subject to their gracious hospitality.
This Equitrekking Travel featured equestrian vacation is great for beginning riders, who can take lessons on Prince, a virtual horse, and in the indoor arena to gain confidence before venturing outside for trail rides on the estate grounds. There are horses and riding options for all experience levels at Castle Leslie. Advanced riders may want to work on their cross country, dressage training or jumping skills at the world-class Castle Leslie equestrian centre, which features:
- 1,000 acres of private estate land with 21 miles of meandering bridleways for riding enthusiasts of all levels
- Over 300 cross country jumps dot the estate grounds with 100 new cross-country jumps from knee high to knee tremblers built by Willis Bros. of Badminton Horse Trials fame
- Mile-long all-weather gallop
- 56 stables
- Prince, the Virtual horse, for beginners and those who want to work on their form
- 50×30 meter indoor arena with indoor cross-country fences
- Tiered seating for 200 plus private dining/viewing room
Companions or group members who do not wish to ride may enjoy fishing for pike in the lake, walking trails, the Victorian themed spa, carriage rides and fine food. You may also just relax inside the opulent, yet homey castle, where beautiful furniture, antiques and family heirlooms abound.
Castle Leslie Estate is one of the last great Irish estates that is still in the hands of its founding family. The Leslie Family arrived to Ireland in the 16th Century and bought the Estate at that time. The Leslie Family has a long history, tracing their ancestry back to Attila the Hun. Today, Castle Leslie is run and managed by Sammy Leslie and governed by a Family Trust. The family wishes to protect the estate's land for future generations.
If you are lucky, you’ll meet Sir John Norman Ide "Jack" Leslie, 4th Baronet, who’s led an extremely interesting life and still lives in the castle. He's the first cousin once removed of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and has entertaining stories and great piano playing skills. When Equitrekking recently visited Castle Leslie, Jack entertained us and the other guests by playing piano in the grand Drawing Room.
In June 2002, Castle Leslie Estate made headlines when it hosted the wedding of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills. Many celebrities and famous guests have frequented Castle Leslie including Irish poet WB Yeats, Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, Prince Pierre of Monaco and members of the Churchill family, to whom the Leslie family is related.
Awards & Accolades
British Horse Society
Association of Irish Riding Establishments
Showjumping Association of Ireland
Failte Ireland
Castle Leslie Estate won the Sunday Times ‘Best Country House’
Food & Wine’s Best Country House Restaurant in Ulster’ awards
Hotel & Catering Review Gold Medal Award for Best Country House, which recognizes excellence in 11 categories
Packing
Packing Advice for Horse Riding Ireland
For horse riding and outdoor activities, you'll want to bring along
- rain jacket
- jophurs or riding pants
- riding boots
- hat and body protector if jumping (helmets can be provided by Castle Leslie. Please bring your own body protectors for Cross Country)
- layers are helpful for possible rain and cooler temperatures
Consider packing some nicer clothing for dinners in the castle and on the estate. Castle Leslie can assist you in getting your laundry done at an additional cost.
Please see Equitrekking Travel's General Packing Suggestions.
About the Horses
Castle Leslie has 30 fit Irish horses and 9 ponies for your horse riding holidays in Ireland. Breeds include Connemara Ponies and Irish Sport horses housed in the Castle's 56 stables. Horses are well schooled and capable of jumping, dressage or trail rides for beginners and advanced riders. Grip Fast – the Leslie family motto originates from a famous horse journey by Bartholomew Leslie in the 11th century. His passion for horses was passed down through the ages and now on Castle Leslie Estate the Horse is King and you too can discover the thrill of riding across one of Ireland's great estates.
Riders looking to improve their form and beginners looking to get the feel of a horse before heading out on the estate grounds will delight in riding Prince, Castle Leslie's virtual horse.
Activities/Events
Horseback
- 1,000 acres of private estate with 21 miles of meandering bridleways for riding enthusiasts of all levels
- Over 300 cross country jumps dot the estate grounds with 100 new cross-country jumps from knee high to knee tremblers built by Willis Bros. of Badminton Horse Trials fame
- Mile-long all-weather gallop
- 56 stables
- Virtual horse for beginners
- 50×30 meter indoor arena with indoor cross-country fences
- Tiered seating for 200 plus private dining/viewing room
Fishing
Spa
Castle Leslie’s spa is inspired by organic and Victorian themes. Victorian Treatment Rooms are complete with Victorian steam boxes and an outdoor hot tub. Detoxify with sweet smelling organic products, soothing massages and body and face treatments. Indulge in a mud wrap, chocolate truffle wrap, facial or hot stone therapy.
The Cinema & Billiards
Watch a movie in the private cinema in the castle or enjoy a true game of Billiards.
Hiking
Walk, hike or stroll trails that wind through woodland and by pristine lakes or head into the adjacent village of Glaslough.
Biking
On the estate grounds, equestrians get the upper hand, but the Ulster Canal Cycle Trail passes through Glaslough village and guests are welcome rent a bike to follow the route and take in the scenery in the surrounding area.
Golf
There are four 18 hole Golf courses within an hour of the Castle.
Accommodations/Food
Riding Vacation Accommodations
Castle Leslie
Staying in the Castle is a once in a lifetime experience. Each of the 20 bedrooms with private bathrooms is individually decorated with priceless family antiques and heirlooms and comfortable bedding. The Castle bedrooms are technology free, allowing you to truly get away from the hassles of the modern world. You won’t find TV’s, radios, wifi or mini-bars in the Castle bedrooms. Each room is different in the castle with its own history and story, told through the current decor. Many are painted with dramatic, rich colors, like the Blue and Red Rooms.
Sleep where royalty have dreamt in the Mauve Room, called The Royal Suite, where Queen Margaret of Sweden, The Duke and Duchess of Connaught, Prince Pierre of Monaco (the father of Prince Rainier III) and Prince Kessee spent nights. Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful also slept in the Mauve Room.
The Lodge
The equestrian themed hunting Lodge at Castle Leslie Estate has 30 individually decorated rooms with period pieces. The lodge is a very social area on the estate and a great choice for equestrians, as it overlooks the stone stable courtyard. Adjacent to the Equestrian Center, the lodge also houses the Victorian spa. Wireless Internet access is available in all public areas in the Lodge. There are many common areas and small rooms to retreat to with a book or a glass of wine or tea.
Superior bedrooms are large and offer the added feature of a balcony overlooking the Equestrian Centre's courtyards. Classic bedrooms in the original building and stables are decorated in a traditional style while rooms in the newer wings are more contemporary in style. The spacious bathrooms include roll top baths and separate power showers. Many rooms feature super king beds for a dreamy night’s sleep.
Food
Castle Leslie has a variety of dining options on the estate ranging from casual classic Irish fare to fine dining in an elegant, romantic setting. No matter where you eat on the estate, you will enjoy the best of classic Irish cooking. Castle Leslie sources regional and artisan foods locally and prepares and presents them with imagination and flair. Their daily-baked breads and scones and homemade preserves are enough to tempt any guest.
At Castle Leslie Estate, it’s all about choice. Guests can look forward to lazy breakfasts, light lunches or picnic lunches in the woodlands, Irish country cooking in the bar or brasserie and candlelit dinners and formal afternoon tea in the Castle.
Castle Dining
Andrew Bradley, the Executive Chef at Castle Leslie Estate, cooks up centuries old Leslie family recipes and new cuisine based on his Michelin experience for dinner in Castle Leslie’s candlelit dining room. Taste fine wines as you enjoy a regal dining experience. The desserts are scrumptious! Breakfast at the castle ranges from continental cereals, Irish cheese, croissants and yogurt to full Irish fare with sausages, potato bread and bacon to buttermilk pancakes and omlettes.
Enjoy piping hot Irish tea in the afternoon with fresh scones with jam and clotted cream, snack sized sandwiches and perhaps a class of champagne in the elegant drawing room.
Conor’s Bar and Lounge
Looking for something more relaxed? Head over to Conor’s Bar and Lounge for traditional Irish food including sandwiches and burgers, salads and drinks. Conor's Bar sometimes hosts live music and many times has a roaring fire going to keep you warm on cooler Irish nights.
Snaffles Brasserie
With views out over the area woodland, Snaffles provides an upscale, relaxed dining experience. Offering a fresh approach to modern Irish cuisine, Snaffles’ chef prepare dishes in a state of the art wood stone burning oven.
Self catering guests may ask Castle Leslie staff to stock their kitchen or get homemade meals delivered or head into the village for a meal. You may also request picnic baskets from Castle Leslie staff and enjoy a meal al fresco!
The Ideal Traveler
Equestrians and their non-riding friends will delight in this special castle equestrian vacation. Equitrekking Travel’s Castle Leslie Ireland horse vacation is great for beginning riders, who can take lessons on Prince, a virtual horse, before venturing out to enjoy gentle trail rides on the expansive grounds.
Advanced riders may want to work on their equestrian training with cross country, dressage training or show jumping skills at the world-class Castle Leslie equestrian centre.
Castle Leslie Riding Vacation Itineraries
Dates & Rates 2018
5 day riding vacations
Includes 3 hours riding per day, 5 nights Bed & Full Breakfast and a choice of a 2-course meal each night in Conor’s Bar or a main course in Snaffles Restaurant. Activity will be part of a group session.
$1913 USD* per person double occupancy
$1537 USD* per child sharing (7 to 12 years)
$2423 USD* per person (not sharing)
7 day riding vacations
$2679 USD* per person double occupancy
$3393 USD* per person (not sharing)
6 day riding vacations
$2296 USD* per person double occupancy
$2908 USD* per person (not sharing)
Rates for Non-Riders
5 day vacation
Includes 5 nights Bed & Full Irish Breakfast and a choice of a 2- course meal in Conor’s bar each night or a main course in Snaffles Restaurant.
$1180 USD* per person double occupancy
$1084 USD* per child sharing (7 to 12 years)
$1690 USD* per person (not sharing)
* These prices can vary based on exchange rates.
Self-catering accommodation is also popular and can be perfect for larger groups or if you prefer complete flexibility. If staying in self-catering accommodation all meals are payable locally and the riding programme is tailored according to your requirements. Please call or email for details.
Your personal riding holiday will be designed to suit your riding experience, so contact us to get matched with the best itinerary. If you have chosen the Horse Sport Program, then it may be a combination of dressage, show jumping, cross-country and estate rides. If you prefer to trails and riding out over the Estate, the Happy Hacker Vacation is a good fit for you. Beginner riders are welcome and the riding is tailored to your ability and wishes (Learn to Ride Programme).
When you arrive at Castle Leslie your riding itinerary will be outlined for you (based on the riding experience profile you have submitted). If you would like to make any alterations to the times of your rides or the discipline scheduled for you, then you should request this since it is normally possible to make changes (although flexibility may be limited at very busy times).
The below horse riding vacations can be customized:
Horse Sport (5 days)
For the more experienced rider looking to improve their riding skills. This Ireland riding vacation incorporates a mix of show jumping, cross country, dressage and estate rides. This is a 5 day riding holiday with 3 hours riding per day, 5 nights Bed & Full Breakfast and a choice of a 2 course meal each night in Conor’s Bar or a main course in Snaffles Restaurant. Activity will be part of a group session.
Happy Hackers (5 days)
Happy Hackers is for anyone who enjoys the simple pleasure exploring the countryside on horseback. This Ireland equestrian vacation involves daily estate rides. This is a 5 day riding vacation with 3 hours riding per day, 5 nights Bed & Full Breakfast and a choice of a 2 course meal each night in Conor’s Bar or a main course in Snaffles Restaurant. Activity will be part of a group session.
Learn to Ride (5 days)
For beginners or riders who wish to improve their riding skills while enjoying some gentle hacks around the Estate. Each rider will receive a series of lessons culminating in a 2 hour ride around the estate. This is a 5 day riding vacation. 3 hours riding per day, 5 nights Bed & Full Irish Breakfast and a choice of a 2 course meal in Conor’s Bar each night or a main course in Snaffles Restaurant. Activity will be part of a group session.
* Itineraries are subject to changes due to the weather, the trip guide's discretion and other factors.
Traveler Reviews
From Travelers
Sue and I wanted to thank you and your staff at the equestrian facility for such a pleasant visit.
--
Just wanted to say thanks for the great riding at Castle Leslie Equestrian Centre during the week. I particularly enjoyed the cross country, which I started on Maisie and finished on Scooter. Fantastic! The two hour hack on Blue was a lovely way to see around the estate. What a great bunch of horses you have in such lovely surroundings. First time for our group at the centre and I'm sure it won't be the last !
-- Niki McAlister, United Kingdom
-- Ute, Germany
In the News
Choosing my favourite place to go riding in Ireland is next to impossible. But if I were to book tomorrow I’d choose Castle Leslie. You can bring your own horse (if you like) to ride through 400 hectares of private land, including woodland gallops, cross-country jumps, bridleways for gentle hacking and, to finish off, a plunge through a lake that had me laughing with the thrill.
-- Gemma Tipton, Irish Times
You don’t have to go far in pursuit of unashamed luxury. A grand old pile of, set in a 1000 acre County Monaghan Estate, Castle Leslie manages that rare thing – to be both utterly luxurious and pleasantly informal at the same time. There are all sorts of activities to keep you happy and occupied, such as pike fishing in the lake or riding.
-- Great Escapes, The Daily Telegraph
True to their motto, the Leslies have held tightly to family traditions, foremost among them entertaining guests. Swift was a regular visitor; he often stopped at Castle Leslie on his way to his estate in nearby Armagh, where he penned Gulliver’s Travels. William Butler Yeats may not have written any poems about Castle Leslie, but he often slept in the estate’s Red Room. The Duke of Wellington, a cousin of the Leslies, spent time here before and after defeating Napoléon at Waterloo, and the Pre-Raphaelite painters John Ruskin and Dante Gabriel Rossetti were frequent houseguests of the first baronet in the late 19th century... Castle Leslie is indeed a sanctuary for those who are able to return.
-- Robb Report
The 35-bedroom hunting lodge houses a Victorian spa with steam boxes and organic treatments, and at the $14.8 million equestrian center a mechanical horse helps break in any novices. But the castle itself — and its colorful past — is still the main attraction. Request a tour with great-uncle Jack Leslie to hear tales of its illustrious guests, and see if Sammy is around for a chat. After all, it's her passion that brought the rambling Castle Leslie and its vast, landscaped grounds back to life.
--Jeroen Bergmans, Time Magazine
Reading List
General Guidebooks & Novels
Fodor's Ireland 2010 (Fodor's Gold Guides) (Paperback)
Updated annually, Fodor’s Ireland provides the most accurate and up-to-date information available in a guidebook.
Ireland: Eyewitness Travel Guide (Paperback) by Tim Perry
Amazon.com Review-- You'd be hard-pressed to find a more comprehensive, engrossing and just plain fun-to-read guidebook than the Eyewitness Travel Guide: Ireland. Spilling over with all sorts of useful information for the traveler, you'll find three-dimensional drawings, floor plans, detailed neighborhood maps with a street-finder index, and even historical timelines.
The Star of the Sea, a novel by Joseph O’Connor
Publisher’s Weekly-- First published in the U.K. and shortlisted for Irish Novel of the Year, this brooding new historical fiction by novelist, playwright and critic O'Connor (Cowboys and Indians) chronicles the mayhem aboard Star of the Sea, a leaky old sailing ship crossing from Ireland to New York during the bitter winter of 1847, its steerage crammed to the bulkheads with diseased and starving refugees from the Irish potato famine.
History Enthusiasts
How the Irish Saved Civilization (Hinges of History) (Paperback) by Thomas Cahill
Amazon.com Review-- In this delightful and illuminating look into a crucial but little-known "hinge" of history, Thomas Cahill takes us to the "island of saints and scholars," the Ireland of St. Patrick and the Book of Kells.
Short History of Ireland (Paperback) by Richard Killeen
Since its first publication in 1994 Richard Killeen's Short History of Ireland has been widely accepted as the most accessible introduction to Irish history. It presents the history of Ireland in attractive double paged spreads, which can be quickly read to give an easy overview of the key events of Irish history. It is superbly illustrated with over 150 full color photographs, paintings and drawings.
A History of Ireland (Paperback) by Mike Cronin
Publisher’s Weekly-- A research fellow in history at De Montfort University Leicester (U.K.), Cronin offers synopsis with little insight in this overview of Irish history.
Modern Ireland: 1600-1972 (Penguin history) (Paperback) by R.F. Foster
Publisher’s Weekly-- In what PW described as an "engaging revisionist chronicle," the author traces Irish history from 1600, when the country had a subsistence economy and was home to a welter of peoples, each of whom defined their "Irishness" differently, to the 1970s, when Ireland--despite three centuries of conquest and fissure--was a country with a powerful identity.
Equitrekking Coffee Table Companion Book & DVD
Equitrekking Travel Adventures on Horseback by Darley Newman with Photographs by Chip Ward available at Amazon.com
This companion to the PBS TV series, Equitrekking, proves that the world's most beautiful views are often best seen from atop a horse. This gorgeous book features dozens of scenic rides in the U.S. and around the globe. Denver Post review: For horse folk and dreamers, as well as fans of the show, it's a beautiful trip through stunning equestrian-friendly possibilities.
Equitrekking DVD's featuring Emmy winning PBS episodes, available in the Shop section of Equitrekking.com
Get off the beaten path to see some of the world's most beautiful horses and classic riding destinations with host and equestrian travel expert Darley Newman with Emmy Award-winning Equitrekking, the horseback riding travel series on PBS.
Season One: Vermont, the Carolinas, Georgia Coast, Wyoming, Colorado and Spain.
Season Two: Iceland, Coastal Ireland, Hawaii's Big Island, Irish Countryside, Maui, Virginia Hunt Country and California Wine Country.
Season Four: Southern Spain, Alaska, Central Turkey, Quebec City and Beyond, Scotland and Wales.
Good Books for Horse Lovers and Equestrians
Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior (Paperback) by Temple Grandin
Philosophers and scientists have long wondered what goes on in the minds of animals, and this fascinating study gives a wealth of illuminating insights into that mystery. ---Publishers Weekly
The Horse: A Miscellany of Equine Knowledge (Hardcover) by Julie Whitaker with Ian Whitelaw
The Horse is an informative gallop through everything to do with the horse: evolution, history, biology, breeds, behavior, training, competition, health, and care—all gathered into an accessible gallery of solid information, essential facts, and fascinating trivia.
Hunter Seat Equitation (Hardcover) by George H. Morris
A classic by a world-renowned teacher and master equestrian--the definitive work on the art of teaching and riding the hunter seat, now updated to include refinements in Morris's insightful program of riding instruction.
The New Encyclopedia of the Horse (Hardcover) by Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Chronicling the history of the horse, this guide encompasses the early domestication of the horse, classical riding styles, as well as a survey of the great stud farms and current international sporting events.