Overview
Errislannan Manor sits on a private 220-acre peninsula just south of Clifden, and it has bred Connemara ponies from the same female bloodlines since 1960. It works as three things at once: a riding centre, a small stud, and a charity garden. The grounds run down to a trout lake, with the Twelve Bens and the Atlantic behind. The name means ‘peninsula of St Flannan’, after the saint said to have arrived in the early 7th century and built a church beside the lake; a Stone Age waste pit found behind the house suggests people have lived on this ground for something like 7,000 years.
History
The estate began as a hunting lodge for the Lambert family of Athenry. The present house dates to about 1863, built by John Lambert, and was later renovated by the Reverend Richard Wall, who gave it the name Errislannan Manor. It passed to his daughter Henrietta, who married the Reverend George Heather in 1866, and by the 1870s Mary Anne Wall held some 890 acres here.
Riding and treks
The riding centre, run by Stephanie Brooks, offers lessons, treks and pony camps on quiet, bitless Connemara ponies. The bitless part matters: it makes this a gentler prospect for nervous or first-time riders than most trekking centres. Routes head out across heather moor, over the hills and down onto the beaches, with short hacks or longer rides on offer. Sessions run Monday to Friday at 10:00 and 11:30, and Saturdays in season bring Irish Pony Club rallies for local youth riders. Book ahead between June and September, when slots fill quickly.
Gardens
The gardens are part of the Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland’s Gardens for Charity scheme, so entry is by voluntary donation at the gate. A coastal microclimate keeps things growing that arguably shouldn’t be, including rare camellias, alongside wildflower meadows. They’re open daily, with seasonal variation in what’s in flower. If you have children along, the ‘Tuck Shop’ in the car park is a small ritual worth the coins.
Practical information
- Booking and contact: +353 (0)95 21134, info@errislannanmanor.com, or through the manor’s website.
- Admission: gardens by voluntary donation; treks and lessons charged by the hour.
- Accessibility: the grounds are largely level, though some garden paths are gravelled, so wear sturdy shoes.
- No accommodation: the manor does not offer rooms on site.
- What to bring: waterproof layers and a windproof jacket – the weather here turns fast. Riding helmets are supplied, but bring your own gloves and long trousers for treks.
Getting there and nearby
A car is the most reliable way to reach the peninsula; public transport in this part of Connemara is thin. From Clifden, follow the signs for the Errislannan Peninsula. If you do one thing beyond the ride, climb the hill above the manor: the view down over the house to Clifden Bay is one of the best in Connemara, and it costs nothing. Afterwards, Ballinakill Bay is a quiet shoreline for a walk, and stronger walkers can head for Benbaun, the highest of the Twelve Bens.