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Horseback riding tours
Rides in
Wales
Intro to Wales
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 EnglandScotland
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Black Mountains Trail
Wales
Wales
Explore the wild reaches of the Black Mountains...
The horses on this riding holiday are
beautiful, fine, fit Welsh cobs who will surprise you with their
sureness of foot and superb balance. Compact, intelligent and strong,
they are ideally suited to the hills and mountains of the area. The
terrain is varied and includes open moor-land, thick forests,
picturesque country lanes and narrow mountain ridges. During your
holiday there is plenty of opportunity for trots and canters and if you are up for it, there is even the chance to jump logs and ditches - all optional of
course! With almost 40 years of experience and knowledge of the region, our partner leads some of the best horseback rides available through the regal mountains, mysterious bogs, dense forests and clear rivers of the Welsh countryside. Come for a week of guided trail riding that progressively gets more challenging as the trails venture into the wilderness of the Black Mountains. This relatively untouched area of high moorland is set between the picturesque Wye and Usk valleys and provides some of the best cross-country riding to be found anywhere in the UK! Each day there is a new route to follow, covering between 8 and 15 miles a day, stopping for lunches at traditional Welsh inns along the way or remote picnic sites in the peaceful woodlands. You will ride up and down steep slopes, cross lofty summits, wade through rocky rivers, pass through dense woods and see the best of what the country has to offer. The handsome Welsh Cobs have fast acceleration, perfect handling and automatic survival instinct! Running on grass and water, they're more environmentally friendly than any machine! Guests are invited to take part in catching, grooming, and tacking up the horses, and are encouraged to develop a relationship with their special horse. You'll get to experience a varied range of terrain, pace
and scenery, returning to the comforts of the farm each evening. After riding with your new friend all day, you will appreciate your comfortable stay each night at the lovely 17th century farmhouse nestled in the green, rolling hillside and be wowed by Maria's splendid home-cooked meals - the highlight of each evening - and guests love to relax around the cozy fire or visit the local pub for drinks and fun. You will have one evening to dine out at a local inn or restaurant during the week and this is good news as Abergavenny and the surrounding area is becoming justifiably famous for its delicious food! We can advise you on some great places to check out! We want you to leave Wales a much more confident, relaxed and knowledgeable rider and perfectly relaxed from your riding vacation, full of good food and amazing memories!
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Center-based ride
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Meeting:
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Talgarth
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Airport:
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London
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Transfer:
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London Heathrow 1PM Terminal 2 OR Abergavenny station
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Riders:
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Min
2 riders
Max
12 riders
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Trip Brochure (PDF) 
Trip Rating
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Rates and Dates for 2013
Rates include:
Accommodations, all meals, 6 riding days
| A | 2013 | 8 day trip, AP | 8d / 7n | £770 | $1235 |
| Single supplement (requested) | £175 | $280 |
| Non-rider | (£385) | ($615) |
Transfer and Other Options:
|
2013
|
Transfer from London at 1 PM, return, per person (min. 2)
- to be paid locally
|
£
80
|
$130
|
|
2013
|
Transfer from London at 1 PM, return, 1 person only
- to be paid locally
|
£
100
|
$160
|
Transfers from London Heathrow are available (min. of 2 people) at 1 PM. It is best if you take the bus or train to Newport or Abergavenny- where a pick up is available for 50 GBP per person, return from either place.
Tour Dates for 2013
Check here for details and availability
|
| A |
2013
|
04/06
- 04/13
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Expired
|
| A |
2013
|
04/13
- 04/20
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Expired
|
| A |
2013
|
04/20
- 04/27
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Expired
|
| A |
2013
|
04/27
- 05/04
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Expired
|
| A |
2013
|
05/04
- 05/11
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Expired
|
| A |
2013
|
05/11
- 05/18
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Expired
|
| A |
2013
|
05/25
- 06/01
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
06/01
- 06/08
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
06/08
- 06/15
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
06/15
- 06/22
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
06/22
- 06/29
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
07/06
- 07/13
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
07/13
- 07/20
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
07/20
- 07/27
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
08/03
- 08/10
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
08/10
- 08/17
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
08/24
- 08/31
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
09/07
- 09/14
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
09/14
- 09/21
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
09/21
- 09/28
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
09/28
- 10/05
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
10/05
- 10/12
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
10/12
- 10/19
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
10/19
- 10/26
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
| A |
2013
|
10/26
- 11/02
|
8d / 7n
|
8 day trip, AP
|
2
/12
|
Reserve
|
|
|
Throughout the week the guests will learn horse-sense and the necessary farm skills, including catching, grooming, tacking up and cleaning of their own individual horse. They will also be responsible for caring for their tack at the end of the rides please.
The first riding day, we mount and try out all paces with the selected horses to make sure everyone is a good fit. We will work on improving the riders' balance and allow the horses to naturally sort out their preferred order to ride in.
We will mostly ride in double file and when we trot gallantly into town everyone stops for you - their Welsh Cobs are well known and respected throughout Mid-Wales!
This trail will put you through all three paces over the most varied of terrains. Mountain and moorland tracks, valleys and pasture land, we will take you through some of the most beautiful parts of the Welsh countryside! We take different trails each day and lunch at village inns or remote picnic sites high up in the Black Mountains - traveling further and faster each day!
You will ride up and down steep slopes, cross lofty summits, wade rocky rivers, pass through dense woods and see the beautiful wilderness of Wales.
The evenings are spent dining together over tasty home-cooked food and afterward guests usually relax around the cozy fire or pop into town to visit the local pub. On one night during the week, guests dine out at a local inn or restaurant – Abergavenny and the surrounding area is well known for its great food selection!
Meeting:
Talgarth
Airport:
London
Transfer:
London Heathrow 1PM Terminal 2 OR Abergavenny station
Distance:
165 miles
Transfers from London Heathrow are available (min. of 2 people) at 1 PM. It is best if you take the bus or train to Newport or Abergavenny- where a pick up is available for 50 GBP per person, return from either place.
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Tack:
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English endurance saddles with saddle bags
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Horses:
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Welsh Cobs, Irish, some thoroughbred
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Pace:
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4-7 hours
Pace medium with long canters
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Level:
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(2.5
to
3
out of 5) Low Intermediate
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|
Age:
|
|
Min
13
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|
|
Weight:
|
|
Max
180 lbs
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Riders:
|
|
Min
2 riders
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Max
12 riders
|
|
|
|
|
Riding helmets are mandatory for this ride.
|
Horses:
The horses are beautiful, fine, fit Welsh cobs who will surprise you with their sureness of foot and superb balance. Compact, intelligent and strong, they are ideally suited to the hills and mountains of the area. The terrain is varied and includes open moor-land, thick forests, picturesque country lanes and narrow mountain ridges. During your holiday here, there is plenty of opportunity for fast canters and gallops, and even the chance to jump logs and ditches - all optional of course!
There is a herd of about 65
Welsh cobs and crosses, the majority of which have been bred here on the
farm. Horses are selected for temperament and character. Size ranges
from 14 to 16 hands. We breed and break our own replacement stock, and
every year several youngsters join the riding stock. The horses are very
reliable, friendly and sure-footed, guaranteed to give you an excellent
ride.
Tack: Saddles are the very comfortable endurance type.
Skill level required:
We expect riders to be comfortable at walk, trot and canter. If you've only ridden in a school before, we can help you to enjoy your first hacking-out experience. It is not necessary to have lots of technical knowledge, but we do expect riders to have a decent level of fitness, as our trails require between 3 - 6 hours on horseback. Outdoor riding is very different from that of a riding arena. The terrain is not flat so we use several techniques that riding schools will not cover in regular lessons. We will of course fill you in on the best way to ride in the mountains, helping you to ride in a more balanced manner.
The terrain
is varied and includes open moor-land, thick forests, picturesque
country lanes and narrow mountain ridges. During your holiday, there is
plenty of opportunity for canters and gallops!
Please note, they do not cater to beginner riders!
All riders are encourage to build a
relationship with their horse, and you get to catch, groom and tack up
at the beginning of the day. The horses are beautiful, fine and fit
Welsh Cobs who will surprise you with their sureness of foot and superb
balance out on the trails. Compact, intelligent and strong, they are
ideally suited to the hills and mountains that surround us. If
you've never handled a horse from the ground before, you'll get a crash
course in general horsemanship, from catching your horse, grooming them
and tacking up. By the time you mount your horse, you'll be firm
friends! Having ensured you are safely mounted and well suited to your
equine partner, we head for the hills, where if required we can help you
to improve your trail riding technique.
Your hosts:
Paul practically grew up on a horse, was leading rides
from an early age, and took the business over from his dad, Michael,
several years ago. He takes the majority of the rides throughout the
summer on his darling, Blondie. Paul lives year round for the Team
Chasing season, and is always on the lookout for a speedy Thoroughbred.
When not trail riding you may find him breaking in young-stock, driving
tractors, fixing fences or cleaning numnahs
Emily was a television producer in London before she met
Paul, fell in love and moved to Wales. She is now kept busy looking
after their two kids Nye and Nesta, and helping out at the farm in the
office and around the house. Oh, and she met Paul while there on a
weekend's riding break back in April 2007... So horses and love can
co-exist!
Passport and Visa Requirements:
Passports Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart except: 1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card. Note: EU . more
Climate is like the rest of the United Kingdom - highly unpredictable.
Winters are wet, although days can sometimes be clear, crisp and sunny. Winter temperatures average around 37°F (3°C)
Springtime is a popular time to travel, with mild weather and plenty of flowers to enjoy, though there will be sporadic rain and wind.
Summers are usually warm, with plenty of sunshine with temperatures that average around 77°F (25°C).
Warm, comfortable and windproof clothing is vital for mountain riding. Unless you are ‘calf-hardened’ it is wiser to bring long riding boots or half chaps. Jodphurs, Breeches or tight fitting jogging trousers (tights/long-johns in cold weather) are a must. Jeans are not to be worn whilst riding. We advise everyone to come equipped with a long coat as this will keep you dry and also our saddles too!! Hard hats are essential and must fit properly. Gloves and neck towel are a useful addition to normal riding gear. Don’t forget casual wear for the evenings and house shoes/slippers for indoors!
| … this list is only a guideline for you |
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| Hidden Trails Travel Documents and TripVoucher (contains important local tour contact info.) |
| Flight tickets |
| Passport |
| Visa (check with your consulate) |
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|
| RIDING GEAR |
| Riding pants or Jodhpurs (used if possible!) |
| Riding boots (short) + Minichaps |
| Riding helmet (there are some at the riding center for you to borrow. However for best fit it's advisable to bring your own) |
| Riding gloves |
| Hat (with chin strip) for sun protection |
| Lightweight Rain coat |
|
|
| PERSONAL CLOTHING |
| Jacket or sweater for cool evenings |
| Comfortable T-Shirts/Shirts |
| Jeans |
| Shorts |
| Underwear and socks |
| Pyjama |
| Bag for dirty clothes |
| Trekking boots/ comfortable shoes |
| Swimsuit |
| |
| ADDITIONAL THINGS TO BRING |
| Personal Toiletries |
| Insect protection |
| Personal medications |
| Sore cream (for an emergency) |
| Sewing kit |
| Torch/ Flashlight |
| Adapter for electric appliances |
| Camera and extra film or batteries |
| Belt pack |
| Address book and pen (for postcards!) |
| Sun glasses with strap |
| Sun protection lotion and lip balm |
Sorry, no video is currently available for this tour.
*Important Notice: The following ratings have been submitted by guests and do not necessarily represent the views of Hidden Trails, its partners or employees.
Every care is taken to ensure accuracy but Hidden Trails is not liable for any errors or omissions.
..view other reports for different trips
You will be staying at a lovely farmhouse that dates back to the 17th
century. The rooms are basic, but clean and comfortable... some have a private washroom, some have
to share. There is a dining room with open fire place where everyone meets and swaps stories of the day. There is a Jacuzzi to ease off your well worked muscles in after a long
days riding. So don't forget your swimsuit!!
Single riders: There is no
single supplement if you are willing to share. If you prefer a room to
yourself, a Single room can be requested and if available charged at GBP
20 per night.
Meals: Maria's superb Anglo-Bavarian cooking has earned the farm a reputation for some of the finest food to be found anywhere on a horse riding holiday in the UK. Luckily you will have the chance to ride off the extra calories! All meals are fully inclusive in your holiday, except on a Wednesday night, when the kitchen staff escape for the night and we ask guests to eat at a nearby pub. We can cater for vegetarians and any special dietary requirements - just let us know when you book.
We take care to use the highest quality products, locally and ethically sourced wherever possible. All of the meat is from Brian George, a nationally-acclaimed butcher in Talgarth (he got a write-up in the Guardian too!) with an abattoir attached - this meat has never known packaging! Eggs are from the farm across the road. Fruit and vegetables are from the Farmer's Market in Hay on Wye. Potatoes and onions are from a farm down the road in Raglan. And when in season, you may find raspberries, blackberries, lettuces, salad leaves, green beans or fresh herbs on your plate, picked that afternoon from our garden. We even have our own spring water on tap!
There is a 'local pub' (a.k.a. Mike's shed) serving real ale, which operates on an honesty policy, but it's open strictly on the landlord's whim, so you are welcome to bring along your own wine or beer to enjoy with your evening meal!
** Drinks not included. Beer: ~£2/pint (0.5l) & Wine: ~£10/bottle
This trip includes
and can accommodate special dietary requests.
|
Tack:
|
|
English endurance saddles with saddle bags
|
|
Horses:
|
|
Welsh Cobs, Irish, some thoroughbred
|
|
Pace:
|
|
4-7 hours
Pace medium with long canters
|
|
Level:
|
|
(2.5
to
3
out of 5) Low Intermediate
|
|
Age:
|
|
Min
13
|
|
|
Weight:
|
|
Max
180 lbs
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|
Riders:
|
|
Min
2 riders
|
Max
12 riders
|
|
Horses:
The horses are beautiful, fine, fit Welsh cobs who will surprise you with their sureness of foot and superb balance. Compact, intelligent and strong, they are ideally suited to the hills and mountains of the area. The terrain is varied and includes open moor-land, thick forests, picturesque country lanes and narrow mountain ridges. During your holiday here, there is plenty of opportunity for fast canters and gallops, and even the chance to jump logs and ditches - all optional of course!
There is a herd of about 65
Welsh cobs and crosses, the majority of which have been bred here on the
farm. Horses are selected for temperament and character. Size ranges
from 14 to 16 hands. We breed and break our own replacement stock, and
every year several youngsters join the riding stock. The horses are very
reliable, friendly and sure-footed, guaranteed to give you an excellent
ride.
Tack: Saddles are the very comfortable endurance type.
Skill level required:
We expect riders to be comfortable at walk, trot and canter. If you've only ridden in a school before, we can help you to enjoy your first hacking-out experience. It is not necessary to have lots of technical knowledge, but we do expect riders to have a decent level of fitness, as our trails require between 3 - 6 hours on horseback. Outdoor riding is very different from that of a riding arena. The terrain is not flat so we use several techniques that riding schools will not cover in regular lessons. We will of course fill you in on the best way to ride in the mountains, helping you to ride in a more balanced manner.
The terrain
is varied and includes open moor-land, thick forests, picturesque
country lanes and narrow mountain ridges. During your holiday, there is
plenty of opportunity for canters and gallops!
Please note, they do not cater to beginner riders!
All riders are encourage to build a
relationship with their horse, and you get to catch, groom and tack up
at the beginning of the day. The horses are beautiful, fine and fit
Welsh Cobs who will surprise you with their sureness of foot and superb
balance out on the trails. Compact, intelligent and strong, they are
ideally suited to the hills and mountains that surround us. If
you've never handled a horse from the ground before, you'll get a crash
course in general horsemanship, from catching your horse, grooming them
and tacking up. By the time you mount your horse, you'll be firm
friends! Having ensured you are safely mounted and well suited to your
equine partner, we head for the hills, where if required we can help you
to improve your trail riding technique.
Your hosts:
Paul practically grew up on a horse, was leading rides
from an early age, and took the business over from his dad, Michael,
several years ago. He takes the majority of the rides throughout the
summer on his darling, Blondie. Paul lives year round for the Team
Chasing season, and is always on the lookout for a speedy Thoroughbred.
When not trail riding you may find him breaking in young-stock, driving
tractors, fixing fences or cleaning numnahs
Emily was a television producer in London before she met
Paul, fell in love and moved to Wales. She is now kept busy looking
after their two kids Nye and Nesta, and helping out at the farm in the
office and around the house. Oh, and she met Paul while there on a
weekend's riding break back in April 2007... So horses and love can
co-exist!
Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all nationals referred to in the chart except:
1. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Note: EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.
Passport Note
(a) A passport is not required for travel between Great Britain and Ireland, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. (b) Passengers transiting the UK destined for the Republic of Ireland are advised to hold return tickets to avoid delay and interrogation.
Visas
Not required by nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to six months.
Visa Note
(a) Nationals not requiring visas are advised to be in possession of either a return ticket or, if arriving on a one-way ticket, proof of sufficient funds to accommodate and support themselves for the duration of stay. (b) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements
| Passport Required? |
| British |
N/A |
| Australian |
Yes |
| Canadian |
Yes |
| USA |
Yes |
| Other EU |
1 |
| Visa Required? |
| British |
N/A |
| Australian |
No |
| Canadian |
No |
| USA |
No |
| Other EU |
No |
| Return Ticket Required? |
| British |
N/A |
| Australian |
No |
| Canadian |
No |
| USA |
No |
| Other EU |
No |
This information is not being updated on a regular basis. Hidden Trails does not
take any responsibility for the accuracy of the above information. Please, consult
the embassy or consulate for updated info.
|
|
|
|
Black Mountains Trail
Tour Code:
IT-WARS
8 days /
7 nights
~$1,235.00
Dates :
April - Oct
Trip Rating :
Difficulty :
Riding Level Explained | A | Beginner
 | Beginner A rider who has limited experience, is unable to post the trot and does not canter. | | B | Novice
 | Novice A rider who is capable of mounting and dismounting unassisted, capable of
applying basic aids, comfortable and in control at the walk, moderate length posting
trots, and short canters. | | C | Intermediate
 | Intermediate A rider who has a firm seat, is confident and in control at all paces
(including posting trots, two point canters and gallops), but does not ride regularly. |
| D | Strong Intermediate
 | Strong Intermediate An intermediate rider who is currently riding regularly and is comfortable in the saddle for at least 6 hours per day. | | E | Advanced
 | All of the above, plus an independent seat, soft hands, and capable of handlinga spirited horse in open country. |
|