35 AUTUMN / WINTER 21 DESTINATION IRELAND
From urban quarters to the greenest glens , every step reveals landscapes and experiences that inspire , whether it ’ s music trails in Belfast , whiskey tasting on the Antrim Coast or kayaking on the spectacular Strangford Lough .
Embrace a Giant Spirit by heading high into the heart of the Sperrin Mountains to a family farm , where you can encounter the real Northern Ireland character and enjoy the distinctive experience of seeing sheepdogs at work .
Coastal Canters with Sheans Horse Farm let you pick what kind of horse you want – a cool , calm Irish cob , or an athletic sports horse with more zip – and whatever pace you like .
At Glenshane Country Farm in County Londonderry , watch spellbound as farmer Jamese McCloy directs his dogs to herd hundreds of sheep to wherever he wants them to go with just a whistle , a whisper or a gesture .
Then ride at some of most breathtaking sites along the iconic Causeway Coastal Route – Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge , the Giant ’ s Causeway and plenty of Game of Thrones ® filming locations . Relax with a picnic lunch at historic Dunluce Castle , or marvel at the splendour of the eighteenth-century Mussenden Temple , perched over the Atlantic Ocean .
Like his father and grandfather before him , Jamese has been tending to sheep for decades , with the help of highly trained border collies , Moss , Jess and Tess , themselves from a long line of sheepdogs .
Help Jamese open gates to lead the flock into traditional wooden pens . Make friends with the dogs , reach over to touch the sheep ’ s springy wool , and if the weather is poor take shelter in the viewing gallery to see Jamese and the dogs at work .
From the farm you can see the Mourne Mountains 70 miles in the distance and enjoy the sight of Slemish Mountain in neighbouring County Antrim , where St Patrick shepherded as a boy .
Down at sea level , the vast stretches of the unspoilt County Antrim coastline are perfect for a tailor-made beach trots , canters or gallops with the wind in your hair and water at your horse ’ s feet .
On these giant adventures you ’ ll meet people from the area who will welcome you warmly , while Danny McKinley or one of his passionate guides will be keen to share the history and stories from this famous coastline and beyond , with plenty of wit and humour thrown in . The hoof prints of your horse in the wet sand might be washed away in minutes , but the memories of the giant spirit of Northern Ireland will last a lifetime .