Maddybenny Cottages & Riding School, County Antrim
18 Maddybenny Farm, Coleraine, Co Derry
Accommodation
Choose from a traditional B & B in the spacious family room and complete with an award winning breakfast or one of the 8 self-catering cottages on site. All cottages are well furnished and thoughtfully equipped - you'll have everything (that includes linen and towels). The cottages won Best Non-serviced accommodation in Northern Ireland at the NITB awards 2011.
The 4 star cottages have an open plan living and dining space, some have a bedroom downstairs, two are wheel-chair friendly. The cottages have TV and videos, microwave, washer/dryer, a shower room, as well as bathroom, cloakroom to deposit walking clothes and all have central heating throughout. Three can sleep up to 6, the further three up to 8.
The two 5 star cottages are split level with access outdoors from both. Both sleep up to 9 and both are wheel-chair friendly. These cottages have four en-suite bedrooms. Again, the layout is open-plan with the dining, living area and kitchen downstairs and a further lounge upstairs with far-reaching and sea views to enjoy. The cottages have a TV/DVD player with freeview and internet access. There is a separate laundry with washing machine and tumble dryer.
The riding school offers lessons for all abilities so all of the family can partake of some four-legged fun, with no excuses! There are indoor and outdoor arenas. Should you wish you may bring your own horse along as both grass and stable livery is available.
Things to Do
The games room, kids play area, sports field, just general fields for exploring and the riding school make sure you have lots of options to keep the kids and yourself busy whilst at the farm - as well as all of the farm animals to get distracted by of course.
There will be someone around to offer any help - be it to find a suitable route around the farm or information on local beaches or places to go. The Giant's Causeway is a short drive away - reputedly a giant, Finn McCool, stepped across from Scotland using the boulders for which this area is named. A visitor centre provides lots of info and welcome snacks should you decide to walk down to the beach and back up again. Portrush is a typical seaside town with amusements and all that goes with it.
Karen has provided a list of local towns to visit, restaurants and places of interest and will point you in the direction of some fantastic beaches where the kids may run around safely for hours. Bushmills Distillery is the oldest in the world and is worth a visit if only for that fact - you may also like to try the exceptionally good whiskey whilst you're there.
Maddybenny is committed to protecting the environment and reducing their CO2 footprint. In September 2009 a 75 KW wind turbine was brought onto line that is capable of powering all of the cottages. During times of low demand power is sold back to the national grid.
Given the profusion of animals already on the site for the sake of hygiene no pets are allowed.