Glenlivet Ride in Scotland

In this country of myths, tales and ballads you ride along old, grass overgrown trails and cross country over high bogs and sheep grazing fields, partially belonging to the immense properties of the Scottish Clans. This equestrian holiday is about exploring the wide open spaces and relaxing in the peace and tranquility of the highland landscape in Scotland. A landscape which is steeped in history - not least our base at St Bridget Farm, site of a medieval chapel and from 1738-1745 home of the famous Gordon of Glenbucket who was deeply involved in the Jacobite Risings of 1715 and 1745.
During your week’s holiday, we will be riding for on average 5-6 hours per day. With minimal riding on public roads the trails cover varied and occasionally demanding terrain at a medium pace with plenty of opportunities to canter.

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Rates include accommodations in country hotel, meals, 6 riding days.
8 days/ 7 nights $ 1,590   Single+  $0
-- based on £ 795
2008 Dates:
05/17-05/24    05/31-06/07    06/14-06/21
06/28-07/05    07/12-07/19    07/26-08/02
08/09-08/16    08/23-08/30   09/06-09/13
09/20-09/27    10/04-10/11

Meeting:  Tomintoul
Transfer:  Aberdeen  $140 pp (min 2)
- we recommend to take the train to Huntley Station and then public bus or taxi ...
Level:   Strong Intermediate
Horses:  Thoroughbreds, Arabian crossbreeds or Highland Ponies
Tack:   English
Pace:  Moderate with long trots and canters and gallops
Min/Max Riders: 2-8
Notes:   You ride ~20 miles per day.

Itinerary
Saturday: Arrival, dinner, overnight stay.  During the week you will be staying at the Richmond Hotel. This hotel is located in the lovely village square of Tomintoul. Tomintoul is the highest village in the Scottish Highlands (1,165 feet) situated in the south of Moray on the edge of the Cairngorm Mountains. The town was originally founded during the "Age of New Towns" in the latter part of the 18th century. The hotel has a traditional Scottish pub which serves great bar meals and malt whiskey and gives you a true taste of the Highlands. There also is a separate dining room for those who prefer a quieter evening. All rooms are recently restored but remain its country inn charm and have private bathrooms. You will likely get to know the locals here, and no doubt will leave a new friend or two behind. If there is a single place where the phrase "land of ten thousand welcomes" was born this may be it!
Sunday: After meeting at St Bridget Farm, you will be introduced to our horses and there will be an opportunity to discuss the weeks program. Riders will then be assessed in our outdoor riding arena and matched to the most suitable horse. Leaving Tomintoul along the old military road we ride to Glenmulliach Forest. After a picnic lunch we follow forestry tracks and start climbing before opening out onto moorland towards the summit of Breac Leathad. Here the panorama shows most of the area covered during the rest of the week and dramatic views of the Cairngorm mountains enjoyed.  We descend through the forest back to Tomintoul.
Monday: Heading out to the north-west today, our route takes us through farm and woodland before descending to cross the river Avon (pronounced A’an).
Our route takes us through forestry, past Kilnadrochit Lodge before opening out into Glen Brown. This valley was in the past well populated, despite its isolation, but now all that remains of this community are the deserted ruins of once thriving crofts. Leaving Glen Brown, we cross the main Tomintoul-Grantown road and stop for lunch at the Bridge of Brown Tearoom. After lunch we enter Glen Lochy- riding along the waterside in this extremely peaceful valley birdsong and the river flow are the only sounds. Leaving Glen Lochy we follow the Avon valley before returning to Tomintoul via hill and forest tracks.
Tuesday: We set out to the north of Tomintoul following the Speyside Way, riding through upland farmland and over open moor. Weather permitting, our route takes in the summit of Cairn Daimh, (Hill of the Stags) - at 1,866 ft. above sea level, this magnificent if somewhat  exposed viewpoint provides a 360 degree panorama of the Tomintoul and Glenlivet area and beyond. Our descent takes us into Glenlivet, home of the world famous “The Glenlivet” malt  whisky. We arrive at the distillery for lunch and time is available for a guided tour and sampling of the product (in moderation please!). Suitably refreshed, our return takes us over the shoulder of Carn Liath and through forestry plantations to return to Tomintoul along the Conglass valley.
Wednesday: We leave the village heading north through farmland and pine forest, with the opportunity to see Fallow Deer, Soay Sheep (a rare semi-wild Scottish breed) and sometimes Reindeer which are farmed in this deserted glen.
We descend through birch woods to the River Avon where we stop for a picnic lunch by the waters edge. After lunch we climb a secluded heather covered valley. Here there are remnants of ancient Caledonian pine forest and to the north the spectacular views over lower Avonside open to the less rugged farmland of the Spey valley. We descend through pine woods and return to Tomintoul along the Conglass valley.
Thursday: This route takes us east out of the village with long canters through pine forests emerging into the Braes of Glenlivet. We ride on through farmland to a secluded valley where many of the farms and crofts are now deserted, over moorland and descend through  birch woods towards Tomnavoulin. After a picnic lunch we ride through farmland and  pine woods to the shoulder of Cairn Ellick where a spectacular view of Tomintoul and the Cairngorm Mountains unfolds. Our descent is over moorland and farmland and follow the Conglass valley back to Tomintoul.
Friday: Heading south-west out of Tomintoul our route takes us past Glenmulliach forest before climbing over open moorland and descending into the hill-farming area of the Braes of Glenlivet. We stop for a picnic lunch at the Scalan- from 1717 -1799 this was a college for training Roman Catholic priests and played a vital role in keeping the traditional Catholic faith alive in northern Scotland. The present house dates back to 1767. Our  return route takes us past the Braes of Glenlivet distillery, through farmland and forest tracks with fine views over Tomintoul with the backdrop of the Cairngorms on our descent to the village.
Saturday: departure after breakfast.

Riding program: 6 days of riding (5-7 hours) on friendly, sure-footed Thoroughbreds, Arabian crossbreeds or Highland Ponies. This ride is for the more experienced rider.

       View Slide Show

Trip report:
Greetings to the Hidden Trails folks - I just returned from your Scotland  "Glenlivet" ride. It was great. The selection of horses was as good as any rider could hope to find anywhere. The tack was appropriate and well maintained. Rosey, the guide was a sweetie. She was kind, patient, knowledgeable, and fun to be with. The weather was bad, but it only dampened our enthusiasm slightly. I recommend this ride highly.

Kathy Spear, Richmond  VT

Moray
Stretching from the Cairngorm Mountains northwards to a coastal lowland plain known as the Laigh of Moray, Moray is bisected by the River Spey which flows northwards to empty into the North Sea. The region is renowned for its many whisky distilleries and its chief towns are Elgin, Forres, Buckie, Fochabers, Keith, Dufftown and Tomintoul.

General Information:
May and early June : Spring comes late to Tomintoul and this can be a magic time here. The bright fresh green of the birch trees bursting into life and the skies are filled with birdsong - Lapwings, Oyster Catchers, Curlew, Redshank and Snipe are all nesting and the fields are full of fluffy chicks!
July and August : This is Highland Games season and many of the villages in the area hold their own  Games. Guests have the option of arriving early or staying an extra night and enjoying the traditional events - tossing the caber, throwing the hammer, Highland dancing, piping competitions, pipe bands  etc.
Dates in area :   Sat 21st July - 162nd Tomintoul Highland Games
                         Sat 28th July - 112th Dufftown Highland Games
                         Sat 4th August - Aboyne Highland Games
                         Sat 11th August - Abernethy Highland Games
                         Sat 25th August - 161st Lonach Gathering
                         Sat 1st September - The Braemar Gathering,
                         always attended by the Queen and other members of the Royal   family.
(Attending any of the games is not included in our package price so there would be extra costs involved  - accommodation, taxis, tickets etc)
Mid August, Early September : The heather is usually in full bloom at this time turning the hills "picture postcard" purple.
Late September, Early October : This can be a lovely time of year too although the weather is turning colder. Crisp days, autumn colors appearing and Red Deer stags roaring in the hills.

Tomintoul
A village in the Moray parish of Kirkmichael, situated in Strathavon 14 miles (22.5 km) south-west of Grantown on Spey. At an elevation of 354m (1,160 ft) and on the fringe of the Cairngorm Mountains, it is the highest village in the Highlands.
Tomintoul, was created as a planned village by the 4th Duke of Gordon who in 1775 decided to create a manufacturing settlement as a focus for the communities scattered throughout his upland property. The proposed textile and quarrying industries never took off despite its strategic position on the military road from Strathdon and Deeside to Fort George via the Lecht. The village only survived with the arrival of tourists in the wake of Queen Victoria's visit in 1853 even though she thought it a 'tumbledown, miserable, dirty-looking place'.
A long linear main street lined with stone or harled cottages opens into a central square. Buildings of interest include the Museum, Thomas Telford's Parliamentary Church (1826), the Catholic Chapel (1837) and Richmond Hall which was rebuilt as a Memorial Hall and Library after the First World War.