Featured in Equitrekking host Darley Newman's column in Practical Horseman magazine.

Combine this trip with the Ireland Training, Trails & Medieval Village Ride.

Stay at one of Ireland’s last great castles still inhabited by its famous and eccentric founding family, Castle Leslie, and enjoy a dream Ireland horse vacation. Ride the cross country course or in the indoor jumping arena. Take gentle countryside hacks, lessons for beginners and advanced equestrians and enjoy fine cuisine and cooking classes, the spa and fishing. This is a once in a lifetime Ireland equestrian 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.

Activities

Castle Leslie Ireland riding holidays are suitable 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 or jumping skills at Castle Leslie’s world class equestrian center.

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, an avid equestrian, and governed by a Family Trust. The family wishes to protect the estate's land for future generations.

Castle Leslie Horses: Castle Leslie has 30 fit Irish horses and 9 ponies are suitable for all levels of riders looking for Ireland equestrian vacations. 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, on these horse riding holidays in Ireland.

Accommodations

Castle
Staying in the Castle is a once in a lifetime experience, especially on Ireland riding holidays. 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.

Old Stable Mews
Families and groups wish to stay in The Old Stable Mews. Located in a quiet, wooded area on the estate grounds, these self catering, well restored coach houses consist of 12, two-bedroom cottages. The historic mews have been refurbished with modern amenities. Guests may choose to cook for themselves or dine in one of the restaurants on the Estate. You may order welcome baskets and breakfast foods to get you started in these self-catering cottages. The Old Stable Mews are surrounded by woodlands in the heart of the Estate and are the perfect spot for families or groups that want the convenience of hotel living combined with private self catering.

Village Cottages 
Larger groups of 8 to 10 people may prefer the four and five bedrooms that the self catering village cottages offer. Located in the original cut-stone village of Glaslough, the twelve beautiful 4-star Village Cottages fit right in with the historic village architecture. With nine-foot ceilings, each cottage is beautifully decorated with modern amenities including an open fire, TV, DVD and stereo. The Village Cottages offer the best of both worlds to guests and they are ideal for larger families or groups who are looking for private self-catering with the convenience of hotel facilities nearby. The open-plan modern kitchen is equipped with everything you need for gourmet or simple meals. Cottages with five bedrooms have three double bedrooms with en-suite, one double and one twin with shared bathroom.  Four bedroom cottages consist of two double bedrooms with en-suite, one double and one twin with shared bathroom.  Both house types have one bathroom downstairs and one main bathroom upstairs with bath.  Bed linen and towels are included. The Village Cottages are in the center of the village, within walking distance of the Equestrian Centre, the Cookery School and the spa.

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!

Area Attractions

Non-riders may enjoy fishing for pike in the lake, walking trails, cooking classes, 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. There are many exciting attractions on this Ireland equestrian vacation at Castle Leslie.