Cong is a great place to be based for an adventure holiday.  It is a small village surrounded by water so it is actually an island! 

Beyond the canal and rivers there is about 3000 acres of forestry which is open for walkers and cyclists to use. Cong has a population of about 150 people and is located on the Galway/Mayo border.  

Walking

Cong’s own Looped Walks which start at Cong Abbey are clearly marked by coloured arrows and you can choose between a 2km or 4km circuit.  These are particularly helpful if you want to walk with a young family or are cautious about losing your way.  Maps to go with these short walks can be collected from the tourist office beside the Abbey.  It is possible to walk from Cong Abbey through the forest to Clonbur village, west of Cong.  Further West again there is a fabulous walk up onto Mount Gable with its hidden lake and disserted village.  If you go to the very top ridge there is an ancient Cairn or stone burial mound from which it is possible to see Lough Corrib, Lough Mask and right out to the sea on a good day.  The starting point for the Western Way from Maam to Killary Harbour is only a 25 minute drive by car from Cong.  

Cycling and Nature

The quiet roads west of Cong make it ideal for road cyclists.  A loop from Cong via Finney village and back up the Maam valley includes spectacular mountain scenery (40 miles).  For mountain bikers the Cong woods are the perfect place to practice your skills on the steep dirt trails.  For families the quiet forest paths are a very safe and healthy way to experience nature close up.  We have some ancient wild life such as Red Squirrel’s and Pine Martins that are only found in certain forest environments.  Limestone is abundant in the area and this karst landscape means there are many interesting caves dotted around the woods to explore.  The Guinness family owned the land in the late 19th century and they planted many unusual trees such as Redwoods and Monterey Pines.  These trees are native to California!  For anyone interested in bird watching Cong has a beautiful array of Swans, Herons, Ducks, Moorhens and Cormorants. 

Water Sport

A description of the environment around Cong cannot be complete without mentioning Lough Corrib.  It is the biggest lake in the Republic of Ireland and is said to have an island for everyday of the year.  Many of these islands have been planted with trees and one island even has an early Christian church dating to the 5th Century.  A leisurely Corrib Cruise or kayak amongst these islands is a spectacular way to experience this beautiful lake surrounded by forest and the distant Connemara Mountains.  Lough Corrib has some of the best Salmon and Trout fishing in the world and draws fishermen from all over the world especially in May when it is at its best.

History

Geographically Cong is the natural gateway to the West so it has a long history of archaeological activity.  The Gaelic for Cong is Cunga, meaning narrow strip of land.  In the heart of the village is Cong Abbey which originated in the 7th Century.  The famous Cross of Cong was used in Cong Abbey in the 12th century and can still be visited in the National Museum in Dublin.  The district around Cong is abundant in archaeological remains including stone circles, burial sites and castles.  Cong is also known by many people because of the filming of the ‘Quiet Man Movie’ in 1951.  Starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara it was an international success and is still loved by many today.  A visit to the Museum of Country Life in Castlebar is a great way to get a feel for Irish Country life and culture.  

Accommodation

In Cong village there are three hotels and a couple of B&B’s as well as some self-catering apartments.  There are several more B&B’s as well as a hostel within walking distance of the village.  For those who wish for some extra luxury, The Lodge at Ashford and the famous Ashford Castle are a short walk from the village.

Eating

With regard to eating Cong has a thriving Café scene in the summer months.  Pick up a coffee or a light lunch in any of the Café’s or pubs.  For some traditional Irish or pub food there are three pubs to choose from; Danagher’s Hotel, Ryan’s Hotel (Crowes Nest bar) and Lydon’s Lodge.  Many of these pubs have live music on at the weekend.  If you are self-catering Ryan’s Food Emporium has a selection of local meats and delicious home-made ready meals if you do not feel like cooking.

The Irish Draught, Irish Cob and Connemara Pony are proudly featured in our stable. Many of our horses have been bred on the nearby farm where we live. All the horses with the prefix ‘Caherduff’ are home breds.

The Connemara’s

Caherduff Puffin: Puffin is a favourite amongst our more experienced riders, he enjoys getting out into the forest and stretching his legs.

The Irish Draughts

Caherduff Holly: A niece of Bramble’s, Holly is a nice compact draught mare who often leads our trails.

The Irish Cobs

Rio: Rio came here with his best friends Setanta and Mondo in October 2016. Since then he's slotted inot the team and has proven to be a quiet horse who is eager to please. His moustache is quite the talking point!

Irish Sport Horses

Ashford Queen Maebh is Caherduff Holly's 2021 filly foal by Centenial

Other breeds

Biscuit: A mighty little pony that is great on trails and loves to jump

Ashford Outdoors Activity and Equestrian Centre is located on the magnificent Ashford Castle Estate, one of the most unique venues in the country.

A little about us

Ashford Outdoors started out in 2015 when husband and wife team David and Mary O Loughlin took on the family activity business.  Whilst loving the horses it was decided to bring action sports into the equation.  Fun filled activities like zipline, water sports and bicycles were designed to complement the four-legged friends!

Our story

David O’Loughlin and Mary Clesham both started out life in our village of Cong.  David’s path led him to representing Ireland in cycling at the Beijing Olympics.  Having formative years based with horses at Ashford, Mary then studied Archaeology and not having known each other beforehand, their paths crossed in 2000 and now they have three young sons who share their passion for animals and the outdoors.  

In his spare time (in short supply!) David loves nothing better than to hit the trails mountain biking and during lockdown Mary has gotten very fond of her bike too…  David is now heading up our horse breeding programme, so they are definitely influencing one another! 

Mary has always enjoyed cooking up a big dinner with a home baked dessert and this has transpired into our opening of the ‘clubhouse’ in 2021, which serves teas and coffees all year round and in the summer season sandwiches, snacks and the traditional home baked cakes, cookies and scones that Mary has been making for years!  The children and their friends are loving the cookies!!   Seeing a smile on people’s faces doing activities and enjoying themselves in our ‘clubhouse’ outdoor space is a great reward.  Our wish is to create safe and memorable outdoor experiences for all our customers.  

Our Mission Statement

‘A family business that provides a safe, high quality and fun outdoor experience lead by knowledgeable and customer focused guides’

Environment and sustainability

Steps we have taken to be environmentally friendly include switching over to led lighting in our indoor arena, researching rainwater harvesting and eliminating single use plastics where possible.  Our horse manure now makes it's way to various gardens in the area...

Timeline

1986

Tim and Brigid Clesham founded Ashford Riding Centre at the ‘Quiet Man farmyard’ on the Ashford Estate

1992

Tim and Brigid acquired the current property and built the Ashford Equestrian Centre at our current location

1994

Clay Pigeon shooting introduced as an activity on the estate

1996

The Mark Philips equestrian clinics were established and the outdoor arena was added.

2008

Mary joined the family business

2011

David established Cunga adventure

2015

Mary and David formed Ashford Outdoors Ltd.  The zipwire course was added.

2017

Tree Hoppers course was added

2021

The ‘Clubhouse’ was opened.

The Equestrian Centre

Boasting a full sized outdoor arena, indoor riding school, 15 stables, amazing trails on the quiet estate roads and forest trails, we have something to offer all equestrian enthusiasts.  Whether this is private trail riding, lessons or carriage rides.

We breed sport horses, Irish draught horses and Connemara Ponies.  Our home bred Irish draught mares are crossed with Irish Draught Stallions and thoroughbreds.  We also have some horses with European influence such as the Dutch warmblood.   We  have show jumping horses and ponies that we like to go to shows with!

The Shooting School

We have a vast array of sporting targets powered by the latest promatic traps and our gun room contains the finest Baretta, Browning, Rizzini and Cogswell and Harrison shotguns.

The Estate has a long history of shooting stretching back to the Oranmore and Brown family that owned the estate before the Guinness family.  In fact the forest in the area was planted for the purpose of creating the ideal habitat for Woodcock, a migratory bird that travels here in our winter time from Greenland.  Whilst we are shooting clays rather than birds, that nostalgia for olden days and the rich history here on the Ashford Estate,  is very much part of the passion for outdoor pursuits we still harbour today.  

The Adventure Centre

Our adventure forest is a fantastic way to get out in the wild and feel the exhilaration of zipping and climbing between our beautiful mature trees.  Nestled between lakes, rivers, mountains and forests we are set in an adventure playground.  We offer archery, zipwire, treeclimb, Kayaking, Stand Up Paddle boarding and bike hire.  We offer water sports in the summer months which are second to none as you see the majestic Ashford Castle from on top of your board from the lake itself.   Our own Olympic cyclist ensures that our bike fleet are ready for your adventure.  

The Clubhouse

If you like the sound of sipping your coffee outside whilst listening to the birds and looking at our horse’s heads over the stable doors you will love our clubhouse!

We serve ‘Gran Milano’ barista coffee and tea all year around and in the summer with locally baked cakes and snacks as well as Irish made confectionery and soft drinks.

We can cater for pre-arranged groups such as birthday parties, family gatherings and even team builds for sporting groups or work colleagues wishing to reconnect with one another.  So by arrangement,  you can combine  an activity with the option of being catered for in our outdoor setting at the clubhouse on site. 

We welcome our many cycling friends to enjoy our coffee offering.

Our Team

Our team of staff draws from the local area.  We have a dedicated and conscientious equestrian team many of whom have been with us for years.  In summer time we offer internships to mostly continental European students.  Our shooting instructors are versed in the history of game shooting on the estate and love country pursuits and the great outdoors.  Our seasonal activity staff love to join our team and experience the Ashford Estate.  We have another section all about our horse team!

Our partners and community

Ashford Castle Hotel, The Lodge at Ashford, veterinarians Paul Cummins, Philip McManus and John Dixon, Cong, Cross and The Neale Tourism and networking group, Cong Food Village, Cong Tidy Towns, Cunga cycling, Neale GAA, Ballinrobe Rugby Club. CNM Cornamona, Taste the view artisan foods, Fior Uisce, Gain animal feeds, Farrier Mike Corcoran. Fred O’ Connors Ltd Spar Cong.