Ballywildrick Stud

Getting Here

Visitors are very welcome and will receive a warm welcome as we are always pleased to meet people with the same interest as ourselves THE CONNEMARA PONY. Please however arrange with ourselves prior to arrival so that we can ensure we are available and can show you the ponies.

The stud is within easy access of all the airports and ports within Northern Ireland being approximately 23 miles from Londonderry Airport, 44 miles from Belfast International Airport, 48 miles from Larne Port, 55 miles from Belfast Port and 57 miles from Belfast City Airport.

We can also be reached by railway and bus services.

Please contact if needing help to arrange travel or accommodation and we will try to assist you.
We are situated on the North Coast of Ireland just 6 miles outside Coleraine and 2 miles from Castlerock beach. Coleraine is home to the oldest known human settlement in Ireland dating back to before 7000 BC.




Tourist Attractions

Ballywildrick Upper and Lower
The stud itself is situated on land that has an Irish landmark. There is a recognised standing stone that is protected under the Department of the Environment, Environment and Heritage Trust. According to the trust the area immeditaly around and including the stud is of “Irish Cutural value”.
Ballywildrick standing stone is a prehistoric site and shows where early settlers once lived.
Another part of the land that the stud is situated on is near the foot of the ‘Giants Sconce’ near the Sconce Hill. This was originally an Iron Age hilltop enclosure something similar to Granian in Donegal. The Giants Sconce is said in Irish folklore to be associated with ‘Cethern son of Finton’ who was one of the ‘Red Branch Knights’.

The Murder Hole
Approximately 1 mile from the stud
In years gone by travelling from Coleraine to Limavady was a dangerous road to travel as there where as many as 6 gangs of highway men that would lay in waiting for travellers to rob. This road was known as the Murder Hole. The most famous gang of the highway men was led by the feared Cushy Glen it is reported that he buried his unfortunate victims along this stretch of road hence the name ‘Murder Hole’. Nowadays the road is known as the Windyhill.

Railway Journey from Coleraine to Londonderry
Approximately 2 miles from the stud
The railway journey along the coast takes visitors along the beautiful views of Downhill and also through the famous tunnel at Downhill which is one of the longest in Ireland and was featured in the Television series ‘Great Railway Journeys of the World’ which was presented by Michael Palin. When the tunnel was made by blasting out stone out of the cliffs in 1846 it attracted over 12000 people. When the work was finished 500 people enjoyed a banquet in the new tunnel. The making of the tunnel became known as the ‘Great Blast’



























Musseden Temple and Downhill Demense
Approximately 2 miles from the stud
The dramatic coast of Downhill is the situation of Frederick Hervey’s beautiful dream. He was Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry. His home was the grand 18th Century Castle which now is just a ruin. The Musseden Temple was his library which is perched upon the cliff edge and was inspired by the Temple of Vesta at Tivoli. The views over this area are some of the most specktacullar in the North Coast. Lord Hervey also had beautiful gardens, forest and walks made some of which extend as far as nearby Castlerock. Lord Hervey actually once owned some of the land Ballywildrick Stud is situated on.

Mountsandel Fort
Approximately 6 miles from the stud
Mountsandel is home to the oldest known Human settlement in Ireland and dates back to the Iron Age. Situated beside this site is the first known hunter-gatherer settlement in Ireland which dates back to before 7000 BC.

Dunluce Castle
Is situated approximately 13 miles from the stud
The Castle was to begin with lived in by Irish families the McQuillins and McDonnells and later taken over by the British in the 16th Century. The Castle is situated on the cliffs edge and during a storm the sea swept the kitchen away killing all the cooks and kitchen staff. Dunluce Castle is one of the most romantic and pitcturesque castles in the whole of Ireland.

Giants Causway
Is situated approximately 14 miles from the stud
The Giants Causway is steeped in Irish Folklore being the the Home of the ledengery Irish Giant Fionn Mac Cumhaill. The famously step shaped stones where suposidly the path that Fionn’s Scottish counterpart Fingal had walked to cross the sea to fight Fionn. Fionn was wise and pretended to be his own baby son at which when the Scottish Giant saw the baby he fled. Fingal had thought if this was the size of the child what size did that make his father. In fear the Scottish Giant hit the steps in Scotland breaking the path so Fionn could not follow him back to Fingal’s Cave in Scotland. There is also formations that are said to be the Giants wishing chair, harp and organ.
The Beauty and Folklore of this area has attracted visitors for centuries and is a designated area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The formation of the rocks where created by a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago and is the only world heritage site in Northern Ireland. There is a path from the Causway to Carrick-a-rede rope bridge.

Carrick-a-Rede
Is situated approximately 20 miles from the stud
The bridge was first erected by local fishermen so they could check there salmon nets. The bridge spans 20m over a 30m drop from the cliff to a small rocky island. From here beautiful views of Scotland and Rathlin Island can be seen. The rope bridge offers and exciting experience and great bird watching opportunity.

Bushmills Whiskey Distillery
Is situated approxmatley 17 miles from the stud
The Old Bushmills Distillery is the oldest whiskey distillery in Ireland. Bushmills distillery in 2008 will have been distilling whiskey for a remarkable 400 years of unbroken distilling. In 1608 a royal licence was given to distil the (water of life) or in Gaelic ‘uisce beatha’ which nowadays is known as whiskey. If interested there are guided tours and sampling of the famous whiskey.


Sporting Events and Attractions

North West 200
The racecourse is situated approximately 7 miles from the stud
Ireland is famous for its motorbike road races and the North West 200 is the most famous it attracts crowds upwards of 120000 spectators. The race is an International motorcycle road race which is held on the Portrush/Portstewart/Coleraine circuit. The race brings together the cream of the motorcycle road racers from all over the world even as far as New Zealand. The race is ran Mid May and has numerous entertainment events throughout the week including air displays, fireworks, demos and shows something for everyone not just bike fans. Local pubs and clubs offer special entertainment and attract large crowds.

Northern Ireland Milk Cup
Is situated approximately 2-30 miles from the stud
The Milk Cup is an International Youth Football event and was first established in 1983 and quickly became one of the most prestigious youth football tournaments in Europe if not the world. The central venue in which the tournament is based is Coleraine and several surrounding towns and villages including Ballymoney, Limavady, Portstewart, Portrush, Castlerock, Ballymena, and Broughshane. The tournament is held in the last week of July and has attracted teams from 56 countries around the world including Europe, the USA, Africa, the Far East, South America, the Middle East, Australia, Russia, New Zealand and Canada. David Beckham also graced the area in his youth.

Royal Portrush Golf Course
Is situated approximately 12 miles from the stud
Royal Portrush golf course is one of the best and most challenging links golf courses in the world. In recent years the course ha s hosted the Senior British Opens three times. The golf course has also the only golf club outside of Great Britain to have hosted The Open Championship the oldest of golf’s major championships. The course was rated no 4 of the “100 greatest courses in the British Isles”, Golf World 11/96 and was ranked 12th in the World top 100 in Golf magazine. This ranking is often thought to be the gold standard of course ranking. On top of that Golf Digest ranks it as third best golf course outside of the USA.