Ireland Mount Juliet
Steeped in heritage, Mount Juliet is Ireland's leading country estate and the most luxurious hotel in Kilkenny. They pride themselves in their family culture, while at the same time maintaining the high-end service and hospitality for which Mount Juliet is internationally renowned. Experience the luxury Mount Juliet has to offer. Mount Juliet is a wonderfully relaxed location for a luxury break away in the South East of Ireland. Mount Juliet Hotel is only 20 minutes from Kilkenny, one hour from Dublin and 30 minutes from Waterford. The Mount Juliet Equestrian centre is one of the most impressive equestrian centres in the country. With two arenas including one International size arena, an American style barn, an exhilarating cross-country course, 18 miles of bridleways, a new set of show-jumps and a new stock of ponies and horses, Mount Juliet offers the rider the best possible experience in all types of riding! Plenty for non riders to enjoy too with golf, family activities and a world class spa.
Accommodation
Mount Juliet House, provides a wonderful experience and is one of the most luxurious hotels in Ireland with 31 luxury bedrooms in the Manor House, including two presidential suites. Each hotel room is individually designed in keeping with the concept of a private family home. Each room is also named, drawing inspiration from the history of the estate and the history of Kilkenny. To compliment all of the services provided by the staff of the house, in the evening as you prepare for dinner, the beds are turned down, the lamps are lit and the curtains drawn.
The 16 bright and airy Clubhouse rooms are equipped with all modern conveniences and are ideal for guests who wish to stay within easy access of the spa or who prefer the relaxed and convivial atmosphere of the Clubhouse and President's Bar. The Clubhouse rooms are situated on the edge of the golf course and house the swimming pool, health club, spa, golf shop, President's Bar and Kendals restaurant.
For families there are a number of luxurious lodges where you can enjoy your own space. The Rose Garden Lodges are situated between Mount Juliet House and the Clubhouse rooms.
B&B prices start at £1,380 for a family of four for 7 nights.
There is a choice of restaurants: try the all day dining option the President's Bar, a casual dinner in Kendals restaurant to sample French brasserie classics or a more formal and grand setting at the Lady Helen restaurant to experience Irish cuisine using locally sourced seasonal ingredients
The Riding
Choose between lessons or hacks. In addition to the two excellent arenas and cross country course, Mount Juliet estate offers 16 miles of professionally-planned bridleways. Here you can take the stunning views from the ideal vantage point of a saddle while passing through mature, unspoilt parkland.
Each season has something different to offer from blankets of bluebells in the spring to the green canopy provided by mature beech and oak in the summer. With the freedom of 1,500 secluded acres to enjoy, Mount Juliet provides an exhilarating equestrian experience which visitors never forget.
The estate is also home to a fantastic cross-country schooling facility with a total of 20 challenging fences. These well-designed fences include the picnic table, the Punchestown bank and the coffin. This course offers an excellent opportunity for experienced riders to hone their technique over well maintained rustic jumps. It also offers the chance for preparation prior to hunting season. With use of well-schooled horses from the yard, riders are guaranteed an exhilarating experience over the course. All cross-country rides are accompanied by a qualified member of staff.
Throughout the year Mount Juliet will host an exciting range of equestrian masterclasses. These masterclasses have been designed to cover many different aspects of horse-riding from show-jumping to hunting. For example Confidence Building in Jumping is a three day course that will be run regularly through-out the year which aims to develop the rider's jumping position. Riders will gain confidence as they school the basics with the use of trotting poles and work a course of fences and progress out onto our cross-country course schooling facility.
Hunting Masterclass
DAY 1. Morning: Lesson (assessment) for one hour if in a group or 45 minutes if private.
Afternoon: Cross-country schooling for two hours
DAY 2. Morning: Lesson (Jumping one hour).
Afternoon: Cross-country schooling and gallopping two hours.
DAY 3. Partake in a hunt. Full day.
Confidence building in jumping:
DAY 1: Morning: Lesson (assessment) for one hour if in a group or 45 minutes if private. Followed by a one-hour trail.
Afternoon: Groundpoles, getting eye in over single fences. One hour's duration.
DAY 2: Morning: Lesson with gridwork for one hour if in a group or 45 minutes if private. Followed by one-hour trail.
Afternoon: Progressing on from the morning session, introducing a number of fences. There is an option of visiting the cross-country course. If this option is chosen the one-hour trail would not be included and two hours would be allowed for the cross-country.
DAY 3: Morning: Jump course of fences for one hour if in a group or 45 minutes if private.
Afternoon: Cross-country schooling/lesson option.
Cross Country Masterclass
DAY 1: Morning: Assessment lesson.
Afternoon: Jumping lesson. Lesson duration is one hour if in a group or 45 minutes if private.
DAY 2: Morning: Gridwork lesson.
Afternoon: Cross-country schooling.
DAY 3: Morning: Gridwork/Jump course of fences.
Afternoon: Cross-country schooling.
Ask us about availability and dates for these special Masterclasses.
Families
While staying at Mount Juliet, families can be assured of a fun-packed activity break with a number of exciting, organised family activities on a daily basis ranging from horse riding and trekking in the vast grounds to an introduction to the world of golf with a weekly organised junior golf clinic. Our activities include daily supervised kids club, Little Rascals, from 1pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday and includes a packed lunch.
Golf
Mount Juliet Golf Course opened in 1991 with a match featuring golfing legends Christy O'Connor Snr and Jack Nicklaus. The beautiful and challenging Mount Juliet golf course has established itself as a premier golfing venue for top professionals as well as leisure golfers worldwide. It was the first Jack Nicklaus designed golf course in Ireland. The Golden Bear was meticulous and pain-staking in his design and in overseeing the construction of his great creation. In preparation for the WGC American Express Golf Championship that was held here in September 2002 and again in 2004, the Jack Nicklaus design team instigated some extensions and new features to the course, For riders with golfing partners, it couldn't be a more perfect venue!
Pool and leisure centre
Mount Juliet Leisure Centre is located in the Clubhouse area of the estate. The Leisure Centre is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The minute you walk through the doors, your body starts to unwind. For relaxation, you can enjoy the sauna and steam room which is scented with Eucalyptus, as well as our 17-metre indoor heated swimming pool with Hydra water jets and a waterfall.
The Leisure Centre also has a fully-equipped gym which boasts the first personal Kinesis Wall in the south east. The physiological benefits of this wall include improved strength, articulator flexibility and dexterity.
Fishing, clay pigeon shooting and the Mount Juliet Spa with its superb range of treatments are also availble to guests to ensure a memorable and unique holiday.
Prices include: Accommodation in the Mount Juliet House, full Irish breakfast and four riding days - hacking, flat lessons, jumping or cross country (3 hours per day).
5 day package as above with 4 nights B&B staying in Mount Juliet Main House from £835 pp (£770 in Club House room)
Low season
Single supplement: £154 in Club House: £439 Main House
Mid season prices from: £899 pp Main House (£833 Club House room) High season prices from £965 pp (£899 Club House)
If you would like a shorter or longer break with more or less riding than the package please contact us and we will tailor a quote. Individual Riding prices are shown below:
Adult and Childrens Lessons
Wednesday-Sunday 10am - 3:30pm
Later times by appointment
Rates:
Child: ½ hr £18- 1hr £28
Adult: ½ hr £23 - 1hr £36
Small Class Sizes - six per class
Private lunge classes
£40 per half hour.
Stable management classes available upon request
Lessons need to be booked in advance to gurantee your riding. Please let us know your requirements.
Holidays can generally be of any duration and start on any day (except where specified).
Make a reservation / enquiry.
These prices are guidelines only. Please contact us for an exact quote since prices will vary depending on the season, the amount of riding you wish to do and whether you are travelling alone or with a group. To calculate the equivalent cost of your holiday in another currency, please visit XE.com's Universal Currency Converter.
Getting there
Dublin Airport is just over a 2 hour drive from Mount Juliet. Air carriers such as Aer Lingus, BMI Baby, British Midlands fly into Dublin from all UK Airports.
Mount Juliet is close to Waterford airport which is a 50 minute drive from Mount Juliet. Aer Arann run flights daily to Waterford Airport, with two flights each day to London Luton, four flights each week to Amsterdam, six to Manchester, six to Birmingham and four flights each week to Galway.
There are reguar buses from the airports to Thomastown.The hotel can also provide a rail collection service from Thomastown train station, or bus stops in Thomastown for customers staying at Mount Juliet. Just advise us on your arrival time in Thomastown we will arrange for the concierge to collect you and bring you to Mount Juliet. Thomastown is serviced by the Waterford - Dublin train service as well as frequent bus services.
Yo can also hire cars from any Irish airport.
Environmental issues
You can calculate the CO2 emission of your journey to Ireland at Climate Care and compensate for your 'environmental footprint'. If you let us know how much it is we will be happy to pay this on your behalf.
In the office, we use paper from sustainably managed forests and recycled material where possible.
We encourage you to travel onwards from your arrival airport by rail when possible, and will book seats on your behalf.
How to book
To make a non-binding enquiry or a provisional booking, please fill in the reservations & enquiries form. Once we have checked availability, we will send you a quote with a holiday reference number by email. To secure your holiday, a deposit is required of £200 per person (or half the cost of the holiday, whichever is lower) and forward any insurance premiums to the insurance company. You should book your flights at this stage, and forward details to us so that we can organise your transfers. The balance of payment must be received by us not less than eight weeks before departure. Payment instructions.
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Insurance: all riders must be fully insured. We can recommend this travel insurance policy. The application form may be printed out to send with your premiums direct to the insurance company.
Please read our Terms and Conditions.
