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Horseback riding tours
Rides in
Wales
Intro to Wales
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England Scotland
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National Park Ride
Wales
Wales
An action packed week for riders looking for a little challenge, a lot of fun and a Welsh Cob for a great riding companion!
This riding holiday in the UK offers the confident rider a chance to explore the pretty Welsh countryside on a varied and moderately fast route, much of it over 2000 feet above sea level allowing for spectacular views of the small yet intriguing country of Wales! Explore high mountain passes and the historic market town of Brecon, visit the picturesque villages of Talybont and Llanthony with the majestic and partly-ruined Augustinian Priory. Also featured is a visit to Haye-on-Wye, famous for it's many bookshops and well known literary festival.
Riders arrive on the Saturday evening to the riding center, settle into the farmhouse and get to know one another over a introductory dinner. The next day, there will be a local 'warm-up' ride of about 10 miles to prepare the riders for the next 5 days that will see them cover over 90 exciting and beautiful miles of the countryside. Monday morning, you will be up bright and early to transport the horses to the start of our journey, which takes you high up over the Brecon Beacons along an old Roman road with fantastic views of the 3 reservoirs. Enjoy a picnic in the forest before following an old pony tram route down to Talybont where we stay the night. On Tuesday, riders will cross the river Usk and return to the riding centre via Bwlch and over Llangorse Mountain. After a night at the center, we make a change of horses on the Wednesday morning before riding southwards down an old coach road to Pandy for an overnight stay. Thursday the group follows the ancient Offa's Dyke Path to Haye-on-Wye for a last evening on the trail and on Friday we will return to the riding center via the Three Horseshoes Pub (which used to be an old smithy). Get set for a great final gallop on Felindre Common before returning along the 'Helter Skelter/ Rollercoaster' for a final thrill with us… are you curious? Come join us and find out!
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Progressive Ride (no camping)
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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 Term 2 Lev 2 - Info Desk OR Abergavenny
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Riders:
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Min
4 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 | £940 | $1505 |
| Single supplement (requested) | £175 | $280 |
| Non-rider | (£470) | ($750) |
| B | 2013 | 8 day trip, AP - high | 8d / 7n | £960 | $1540 |
| Single supplement (requested) | £175 | $280 |
| Non-rider | (£480) | ($765) |
Transfer and Other Options:
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2013
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Transfer from London at 1 PM, return, per person (min. 2)
- to be paid locally
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£
80
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$130
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2013
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Transfer from London at 1 PM, return, 1 person only
- to be paid locally
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£
100
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$160
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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
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| A |
2013
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03/30
- 04/06
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8d / 7n
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8 day trip, AP
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4
/12
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Expired
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| A |
2013
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04/27
- 05/04
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8d / 7n
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8 day trip, AP
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4
/12
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Expired
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| A |
2013
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05/04
- 05/11
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8d / 7n
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8 day trip, AP
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4
/12
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Expired
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| A |
2013
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06/08
- 06/15
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8d / 7n
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8 day trip, AP
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4
/12
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Reserve
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| A |
2013
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07/13
- 07/20
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8d / 7n
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8 day trip, AP
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4
/12
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Reserve
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| B |
2013
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08/03
- 08/10
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8d / 7n
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8 day trip, AP - high
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4
/12
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Reserve
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| A |
2013
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09/07
- 09/14
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8d / 7n
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8 day trip, AP
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4
/12
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Reserve
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Day 1: Saturday
Arrival on your own to the riding center or transfer from London Heathrow at 1 PM (min of 2 riders). Dinner together to meet fellow riders and overnight.
Day 2: Sunday
Today is a bit of a test ride to try out the Welsh horses and familiarize with the riding levels. We ride to the Farmer’s Arms in Cwmdu, stop for lunch and return
through mountains with views of the Brecon Beacons to the riding center – about 10 miles for the
day. Any horse changes are made now if necessary - so speak up! Dinner and accommodation at the riding center.
Day 3: Monday
Monday morning we’re up bright and early to transport the horses to the
start of the day's route. It will take us high up over the Brecon Beacons along an old
Roman road with fantastic views over the three reservoirs. We will enjoy a lovely picnic in the forest
before following an old pony tram route down to Talybont where we will spend the night in a small country inn.
Day 4: Tuesday
Today we ride back to the riding center through Llanganidir to Bwlch
where we stop for lunch at the New Inn. Then we ride over Llagorse Mountain for
some fast canters on the top, coming back down the steep Snake’s Pass before
returning to the home base of the riding center.
Days 5 and 6: Wednesday –
Thursday
You have a choice of two options for the itineraries
for these days.
i) The
Skirrid Inn Option
On Wednesday
morning we ride over the spectacular Rhiw Trumau ridge of 700 meters, before
riding southwards down an old coach road to Llanbedr. Here we take lunch then
travel along the Grwyne Fawr Valley and around the Bryn Arw to our evening stop
in Pandy where we have dinner in the oldest pub in Wales and stay overnight. Thursday sees us
following right along the ancient Offa’s Dyke Path up the Hatterall Ridge and
coming down from Hay Bluff at the other end into Hay-on-Wye where we end the evening.
ii) The Llanthony Abbey Option
On Wednesday
morning we ride over the spectacular Rhiw Trumau ridge of 700 meters, before
riding southwards down an old coach road to Llanbedr. Here we take lunch before
climbing up the Henbant Ridge and dropping into Mynydd Du forest and then up
and over the Ffawyddog Ridge before dropping down into the Llanthony Valley
with wonderful views of the abbey below. Here we spend the night. On Thursday
we ride up the sheltered Llanthony Valley until we pass the monastery at
Capel-y-ffin and picnic at a beautiful waterfall in the mountains. We ride
gradually to the head of the escarpment where there is a view that will blow
you away. After we travel down through the Gospel Path and onto Hay-on-Wye where we end the evening.
Day 7: Friday
We return to the riding center via the Three Horseshoes Pub (which used to be an
old smithy), and a great and exciting gallop on Felindre Common before returning along the
northern escarpment of the Balck Mountains for a final thrill of the "Rollercoaster" or "Helter Skelter"!
Day 8: Saturday
Riders leave after breakfast, having said goodbye (and thank you!) to their lovely Welsh horses.
Meeting:
Talgarth
Airport:
London
Train station:
Abergavenny station
Transfer:
London Heathrow 1PM Term 2 Lev 2 - Info Desk OR Abergavenny
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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Endurance saddles with saddle bags
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Horses:
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Welsh Cobs
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Pace:
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4-5 hours
Fast with canters
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Walk |
Trot |
Canter |
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Level:
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(2.5
to
3.5
out of 5) Intermediate
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Age:
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Min
13
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Weight:
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Max
200 lbs
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Riders:
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Min
4 riders
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Max
12 riders
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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/novice riders on this trip!
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
The climate in Wales is temperate with few extremes of temperature. Wetter than England, Wales also has less sunshine, though the coastal areas tend to be very warm in summer. May to August is the sunniest, driest time of year and perhaps the best time to consider travel to Wales, but further inland, conditions can always be highly changeable and care should be taken when traveling to pack for all types of weather!
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 recommended to be worn while riding for this many hours in a row.
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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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
The starting base will be 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!!
On three of the nights (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday)
along the trail you will be accommodated in a small country inns or
quaint hotels. The lodgings are basic, but comfortable.
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: When staying at country inns along the trail, dinners are served in local pubs and restaurants. At the base 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.
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Tack:
|
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Endurance saddles with saddle bags
|
|
Horses:
|
|
Welsh Cobs
|
|
Pace:
|
|
4-5 hours
Fast with canters
|
Walk |
Trot |
Canter |
|
|
Level:
|
|
(2.5
to
3.5
out of 5) Intermediate
|
|
Age:
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|
Min
13
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|
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Weight:
|
|
Max
200 lbs
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|
Riders:
|
|
Min
4 riders
|
Max
12 riders
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|
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/novice riders on this trip!
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.
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National Park Ride
Tour Code:
IT-WANT
8 days /
7 nights
~$1,505.00
Dates :
April - Sept
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. |
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