Overview
Slieve Aughty Centre has run since 1986 out of Kylebrack, about 15 minutes south of Loughrea in County Galway. It is a riding school first, but over nearly forty years it has grown into an eco-resort across 17 acres of organic land, with more than 2,000 acres of Coillte forestry behind it. The trek routes follow quiet, traffic-free forest tracks, the café grows much of what it serves, and the accommodation runs from eco-lodges to a converted horse-drawn wagon. Bringing small children? Book the Enchanted Forest first – it is the thing they will remember.
The landscape and the name
The surrounding range, Sliabh Eachtaí in Irish, straddles the Galway–Clare border. The name is traditionally linked to the Cenél Áeda na hEchtge, an early tribal grouping who held these uplands. Two parallel ridges are split by the Owendallaigh River, which drains south into Lough Cutra, and the highest point, Maghera, reaches only 400 metres – these are low, heavily wooded hills rather than bare mountains, which is what gives the centre its sheltered, forested feel.
Horse riding
The centre has taught riding since 1986, from first-timers to cross-country competitors, with qualified instructors and a mix of arena work, theory and trail riding. It is accredited by the Association of Irish Riding Establishments (AIRE) and the British Horse Society (BHS), a Fáilte Ireland–approved operator and a certified Ecotourism Ireland destination.
- Guided Forest Treks – hour-long rides through the woodland for riders aged 12 and up, led by an experienced guide; the signature ride here.
- Lead Rein Rides – a 40-minute introduction for ages 7+, with staff walking alongside and leading the pony at a relaxed pace.
- Mountain Trotters – the children’s programme (ages 7+) covers grooming, tack, safe handling and riding across two-hour lessons, with games and vaulting, working towards graded levels tested four times a year.
- Adult lessons and clinics – group and private sessions on flatwork, jumping and cross-country, plus workshops including the BHS Horse Owner’s Course and centred-riding clinics.
- Cross-country course – 20 acres with over 40 natural obstacles, from banks and water jumps to stone walls. Body protectors are mandatory for jumping and must be brought by the rider; helmets are supplied.
Riding runs in all weather, so bring waterproofs and wellingtons – on these hills you will get wet more often than not. Bookings go through the Hopoti platform with 24–48 hours’ notice. Stablecards (5 or 10 lessons) work out cheaper and expire three months from purchase; cancellations made 24 hours ahead are refunded to the card, shorter notice forfeits the fee.
The Enchanted Forest and family activities
Families without riders in the group still have plenty to do. The grounds hold a toddler playground, a self-serve arts and crafts room, and a farmyard of alpacas, sheep, donkeys and Eileen the pot-bellied pig. Donkey walks through the woods are bookable in advance – €10 for a short walk, €25 for a 40-minute outing – and pony camps run over February half-term, Easter, summer and October.
The standout is the Enchanted Forest, a self-guided trail through a native woodland grove beside a stream, past a gnome village, a witch’s hut, a stone ring and a wishing tree where children hang biodegradable tags. Entry is €5 per child and €2.50 per adult at the time of writing. For ages 4 to 12, a one-way pony ride to the forest gates costs €25, with parents walking alongside. Each child gets a forest pack with a map, a wishing-tree hanger and a nature journal.
Organic dining
The Slieve Aughty Woods Café & Winebar is certified by the Irish Organic Association – the only organic-certified restaurant in the west of Ireland. The kitchen leans on local producers and the centre’s own garden, cultivated from the early days by founder Esther, with salads, herbs and seasonal vegetables picked fresh.
The offering shifts with the seasons. From April to October there are Friday pizza parties in the Italian garden from a clay oven; from October to April these give way to Tapas Nights in the restaurant. The café runs Wednesday to Sunday in spring and autumn, Friday to Sunday in winter, and daily through summer and school holidays. Large tables and group menus need arranging ahead.
Sustainable accommodation
Stays run from €80 a night. The Three Towers Eco House has nine individually designed bedrooms, most with access to shared balconies over the forest and gardens; in keeping with the eco-policy, rooms have no televisions and Wi-Fi is limited to public areas, with a shared coffee and tea station on the first floor. For self-catering, the Chalet de Florence sleeps up to six across a double loft and two sets of bunks, with a wood-burning stove and open-plan kitchen. The Birds & Bees Lodge, Boho House and a set of glamping options – a refurbished horse-drawn wagon and Landrover pods among them – cover families and small groups.
Getting there and nearby
- Address: Kylebrack West, Loughrea, Co. Galway, H62 DX77
- Phone: +353 90 974 5246
- Email: info@slieveaughtycentre.com
- Parking: free on-site car park for day visitors and guests
- Accessibility: main buildings and café are level-access; forest trails and riding grounds are uneven and best suited to able-bodied visitors.
- Directions: from Loughrea, take the R351 south past Lough Rea. Continue about 10 km to The Hill Bar on your left – worth a note for its Saturday-night live music – then turn right at the four-way junction, drive 0.5 km, take the first left at the white house and follow the lane to the car park.
The centre is roughly 45 minutes from Galway city. Close by are the ruin of Marble Hill, an old mansion house whose history you can download from the centre’s site, and Abbey village, site of Ireland’s only Carthusian foundation; Abbeyknockmoy and the Abbert River are within a wider day out.
Book riding 24 to 48 hours ahead through Hopoti. For a day visit, just turn up for the Enchanted Forest and the farmyard – and time it for a Friday between April and October if you want the wood-fired pizza in the garden.