Horseback Riding in Wales
WELSH MOUNTAIN TRAIL |
This ride offers rich natural beauty: wooded mountain slopes, grassy knolls, rolling hills and fertile valleys. Villages and farmhouses nestle in the folds of this hill country blending harmoniously with the landscape. Fields and hedgerows spread out below like a patchwork quilt as you ride along the ridges.
The landscape has great variety, exciting history and lasting charm. Everywhere you find a warm, friendly welcome as in rural areas in most of the world.
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Transfer from Abergavenny or Brecon to your accommodations for dinner and the first of two nights at a comfortable country house bed and breakfast. |
| Day 2: | After breakfast depart for the stables. Mount up and head for the hills towering above Llangorse, reaching 1,645 feet. There are opportunities for some long canters with fine views into the Rhiangoll valley and before heading to a pub in Bwlch, high in a col above the Usk valley or a pleasant café in Cwmdu. After lunch, ride along bridleways between the hills, returning to Llangorse for the night and dinner at either the quaint Royal Oak inn or the Plough and Harrow. (5 hours riding) |
| Day 3: | This morning ride along leafy, flower-lined lanes into the Black Mountains. A steep climb of about 2,000 feet lies ahead. The trail then drops down through a beautiful valley to your picnic lunch stop at the remote, romantic ruin of the old hermitage. After lunch, skirt the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain (1,955 ft), and ride through ancient oak woods. There will be plenty of opportunities for good canters before arriving at your accommodation, either a wonderfully original farmhouse, a country house or old vicarage (depending on availability), where you can look forward to a relaxing bath. Dinner is usually taken at the Skirrid Inn – reputedly the oldest public house in Wales. (6-7 hours riding) |
| Day 4: | After a hearty Welsh breakfast, ride along the eastern edge of the Sugar Loaf, then follow quiet byways to the remote church of Patrishow renowned for its marvelous wall paintings. After lunch, we descend to the valley floor, passing a Quaker Tabernacle, before climbing again to an Iron Age hill fort with superb views. Finally, we descend into the Vale of Ewyas with spectacular views of the 12th century Llanthony Priory. Dinner tonight is at the Half Moon Inn, a walker’s pub in the heart of the Black Mountains. (6 hours riding) |
| Day 5: | In the morning, follow forestry tracks and quiet country lanes to the church at Cwmyoy, curiously skewed, as it is built on a moving landslide! Climb a steep, stony track known to reach the top of Hatterall Hill at 1,726 feet. This, the most easterly ridge of the Black Mountains follows Offa’s Dyke path, the de facto border between England and Wales, and the ridge affords fine views out over England. Continue along the ridge before descending the Monks Pass to the Llanthony valley. Your evening meal is taken in the ancient undercroft of the Abbey. (5 hours riding) |
| Day 6: | Climb out of the Llanthony valley, beginning a 20 mile ride back to Llangorse. Follow forest tracks, cross “Windy Ridge” and have a picnic lunch. After lunch, follow a grassy carriageway to the top of Pen Trumau at 2,005 feet, and a long, steep descent for one final, long canter along the foot of Mynydd Troed before arriving back at the stables in Llangorse and your final evening meal together. (6-7 hours riding) |
| Day 7: | After breakfast transfer to your departure point. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Abergavenny or Brecon |
| Length of Ride | 7 days, 6 nights and 5 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Advanced Strong Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-2 Maximum-6 |
| Riding Per Day | 4-6 hours |
| Pace | moderate / fast |
| Tack | English |
| Horses | pure and cross bred Welsh Cobs, Irish Cobs |
| Weight Limit | 210 lbs |
| 2012 Dates | April 22-28, May 13-19, June 10-16, June 24-30, July 8-14, July 22-28, Aug 5-11, Aug 19-25, Sept 2-8, Sept 16-22
Rides run Sunday to Saturday, October dates can be confirmed with a minimum of 2 riders. |
| 2012 Price | $2,180
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| Single Supplement | $95 |
| Additional Information | Ride price is set, guaranteed and final at the time deposit is paid.
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