Review of Slieve Aughty Riding Centre, County Galway, Ireland

> For contact details and availability, see greentraveller's full listing of Slieve Aughty Riding Centre.

Catherine riding in lush woodland surrounding the centre

Catherine's son learning to ride a horse at Slieve Aughty CentreThe activities: Each day started with a mini adventure, taking a forty minute woodland walk from our cottage to the Centre, accompanied by a couple of Esther’s donkeys, which we tied up in the cottage’s field the night before. We cycled, we walked, we ate and, of course, we rode. All inexperienced and nervous, they put us immediately at our ease. There is a very natural approach to riding here, with bitless bridles, an ethos of talking to the horses, not pushing them, and same with the visitors! Our hack leader, Gerry Daniels, was everything you could want in a teacher. He watched the children carefully, encouraged them gently, and talked to us all humorously and warmly. He led  our younger son on a rein at the start, and judged perfectly when to let him ride independently, through luscious woodland, over streams and up over hills.

The accommodation: Staying in local self-catering cottages, all within walking or cycling distance of the riding centre. We stayed in a recently restored, thatched cottage, owned by the farmer whose family lived here for generations. Still living across the road, he told us, “I am so delighted to have life in the old home again. This is why I restored it, just to have the building breathe once more”. He has maintained the traditional style, with sofas and armchairs around the fire, large open plan kitchen, and bedrooms in the old hayloft. Green restoration techniques include recycled timber, clay plaster, and a woodchip boiler for heating and hot water.

Most of the food is organic, homemade and locally sourcedThe food: Although the accommodation is self-catering, there is no need to cater, as all breaks at Slieve Aughty are full board. The owner, Esther Zyderlaan, likes her dining room and kitchen to be the Centre’s hub. At breakfast, for example, we had home-made scones, local cheeses, compotes, eggs, yoghurt, great coffee and hot chocolate for the children. Suppers are smorgasbords of smoked salmon, stews and salads. Loved the rhubarb crumble left over from dinner, being served as part of the breakfast spread. Nothing goes to waste at Slieve Aughty. Everyone puts their dishes in the dishwasher, and helps at the hub, while chatting about plans for the day ahead, or adventures had at the close. We ate outside when the sun shone, with superb barbeque and clay oven baked pizzas.

The green: This riding centre is not only a gold cup winner but also a green one. It is organic in the real sense of the word, growing not only as a riding centre, but as a place to eat fine organic, home-cooked (and often home-grown) food, go hillwalking, discover cycling trails and stay at locally owned cottages.  The Centre’s buildings are all simple, low carbon eco-designs, many of them built out of timber from her original family house, which Esther knocked down when her children left home. They are putting the finishing touches to the inspired heating system, fuelled by dry horse manure, and wood from her 35 acres. Now that is slow fuel. By 2011, they hope to have completed the onsite eco- accommodation and conference room. In the meantime, I loved the walk home to the cottage with the donkey anyway.
 
Getting there: Read greentraveller’s tips on how to travel to Ireland without flying. Take the train or bus to Galway or a bus straight to Loughrea where you will be collected by one of the Centre’s staff. Book the bus in advance in peak season as this is a busy route. There is €20 charge (return) to be picked up at Loughrea bus station. You can hire bikes when you are there, or there are a few farm bikes for messing around on.

One of the centres' horses peaking out from the stablesTop tip: Do volunteer to help in the garden, kitchen or in the stables when you are there, as Esther is a font of knowledge in all three. Help is always welcome, but never expected, but it is wonderful to feel part of the family while you are here, as this is what Aughty is all about. From cleaning horses’ feet to weeding the beds, or feeding the donkeys, there is always something to bring you into the Aughty fold.

Verdict: Esther makes ethical look easy. It felt like we were staying at a favourite aunt’s farm for the weekend, with stables full of beauties, and a larder full of goodies. She even has a workshop full of arts materials, boxes of beads, glittery things, paints, kids’ dressing up clothes and endless rainy day stuff.

For contact details, see greentraveller's full listing of Slieve Aughty Riding Centre.