Horseback Riding Vacations in England

Geographical location of England

England is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom.

Geographically, England is a country that, together with Scotland and Wales, makes up the island of Great Britain, covering the central and southern two-thirds of the island.

It includes several smaller islands such as the Isle of Wight, the largest one.

It shares borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Channel Tunnel, near Folkestone, connects England with France, 52 km away.

Most of England is made up of rolling hills, with upland and mountainous terrain in the north, where the Pennine hills are the main watershed in northern England, dividing east and west.

It has 21 World Heritage Sites.

Its capital, London, is located on the River Thames and there we can find the Parliament, the Big Ben and the Tower of London, built in the 11th century. It is also a modern and multicultural city, and a commercial and artistic hub. Among the most important English cities, we can mention Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol and the universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

Equestrian tourism in England

England is well known for its excellent horses and riding. As regards Horse Riding Holiday options, the country has several alternatives, which cater for all tastes and needs, from beginners to experienced riders who like gallops.

Some offers are ideal for riders travelling alone and some others for families with children.

Although the geography of England is not very rugged, the truth is that there are several mountains in the north. In this area of England, there are mountain ranges such as the Pennines or the Lake District, the Peak District and the North York Moors.

In England, there are trail rides and accommodations including mobile or star riding programs, where you always sleep in the same place and all rides leave from there and return to the same starting point at the end of the day. You stay in comfortable farmhouses and rural hotels in the English countryside.

However, let’s talk about where you can find the best adventures when it comes to going on Riding Holidays in England.

Devon is famous for its hills and green moors, away from it all. Its exuberant meadows and its temperate climate make it a perfect area for cattle farming.

Dartmoor National Park is located in the centre of Devon, with its 'Tors' rising over 2,000 feet (650 m), the highest peaks in Southern England.

Its rock formations, with many exposed granite hilltops, create steep trails taking you into vast and deep valleys. This combination makes this place an excellent but challenging riding area, which has remained the same for hundreds of years.

Riding along the British coastline is also possible and, what is more, in some areas you can combine treks in the countryside with rides along the stony English beaches.

A place where you can experience that is the Cornwall beach , where Mount’s Bay is, with miles and miles of peaceful and safe beaches.Routes are only interrupted by tides, which change seasonally.

And if you travel to northern England, you must visit the county Yorkshire.

It’s famed for its Roman and Viking heritage, as well as its Norman castles, medieval abbeys, cities from the times of the Industrial Revolution and national parks.

In the county city of York, founded by the Romans, you can visit the York Minster Cathedral, from the 13th century, the Tudor houses and the medieval walls.

Horse riding holiday proposals in England

Dartmoor, Riding Holidays & Cattle Drives and Ride Yorkshire are two companies that offer several routes and we recommend taking a look at them.

Dartmoor, Riding Holidays & Cattle Drives

This outfitter is located near Dartmoor National Park, one of the UK’s last wildernesses.

It is a unique riding adventure, where you will get a thorough knowledge of the fascinating landscape of this gorgeous National Park. You will have a different ride every day with long gallops and challenging trails, scheduled stops for lunch in a new stunning place each time.

Your horse riding holiday will be guided by experienced guides that know Dartmoor intricately, where the best horse riding is, and where to avoid.

You will ride on magnificent Quarter horses with their fantastic laid back temperament, nimble careful feet.

That pick their way over Dartmoor’s miles of open spectacular and unspoiled scenery, crossing streams and rivers, up hills, down valleys, over land that has not changed for hundreds of years.

Their riding options

There is a wide range of riding activities, from one-day rides to multi-day crossings.

Riding will be for 4 – 5 hours, with a stop for lunch. The multi-day rides range from 2 to 5 days, with a maximum group size of 8 riders.

One of their most interesting rides is “The Dartmoor Crossing”, which lasts 8 days and 7 nights, stopping at different places for lunch and accommodation in hotels each night.

Their rides will pass Bronze age stone circles, medieval villages as well as countless historical sites; hearing stories of legendary Dartmoor ‘characters’ and scary ghostly tales.

Accommodation

Their accommodation is usually at the 'Castle Inn', or, if there is no availability, they have a selection of other local inns. All accommodation is on a half-board basis and they will arrange the transfers to the farm where breakfast will be served before the ride starts.

For their Dartmoor Trails and Dartmoor Cattle Drive experiences, there is an “On farm” option, since they have two “shepherd hut” style accommodations, with wood-burning stoves. In addition, you can use the guest lodge with bathroom, kitchen and other amenities.

Dartmoor Cattle Drive

One of the most interesting activities you can do here is Driving Cattle.

Driving cattle is immensely satisfying and doing something that has barely changed for hundreds of years makes it even more attractive.

At Meldon, they have always used horses to move their cattle to their grazing areas and you can be a part of this amusing rural activity. They invite guests to help with those tasks.

Their horses, for their quiet easygoing nature and their agility, are the most adequate ones when a quick response is needed with uncooperative cattle. The horse walks at much the same speed as the cattle and often anticipate the cattle movements.

Cattle respond well to being moved by horses. Horses are quiet and the cattle are used to being moved by them, the cattle are not threatened but have a natural respect for the horse.

The riders work as a team with most flanking at the sides of the herd with just a couple at the rear, and one or two at the head. Each rider will have a position and a job to do, depending on their ability.

For more information, please go to their website: dartmoorridingholidays.co.uk.

Ride Yorkshire

Located in the North of England, Ride Yorkshire e is a not-for-profit undertaking that groups the best local specialists in Equestrian Tourism services.

Ride Yorkshire was set up in 2010 after Janet Cochrane and John Yeomans (then the Chair of Visit York) met out riding in the North York Moors and hatched a plan to get more people enjoying the Yorkshire landscapes from horseback.

Their aim is to get riders from all over the World enjoying the Yorkshire countryside on horseback.

This offer is for everyone, with fabulous countryside, from moors and hills to coasts and pretty villages, Yorkshire’s views are finest from between a horse’s ears.

Come and Ride Yorkshire for fun with your horse in open country - or learn new skills at a riding or trekking centre.

Would you like to take your horse on your holidays? Here it is possible. Or you can just travel alone and use their horses. There’s plenty of accommodation space for horses, superb and well-trained horses at your disposal and charming routes provided by excellent riding and trekking centres that, in this web site, offer their Services.

A small donation helps them provide horsey experiences for scores of disadvantaged children and vulnerable adults. And produce a new route map so you can have a self-guided experience with the largest amount of details indicating where to sleep, where to eat or where to stop and take in the local scenery.

Ihre Reitprogramme

Whether you are experienced or a beginner, you can enjoy fantastic and fun riding experiences at Yorkshire's equestrian centres.

Some specialise in flatwork, jumping or cross-country lessons, while others offer hacks and trail-rides through beautiful Yorkshire landscapes.

The trekking centres in North York Moors or Yorkshire Dales offer rides on request and they also have options for closed groups:

• Heart of the Wolds Plunge: into the marvellous scenery of the Yorkshire Wolds while admiring long grassy bridleways through rolling hills and rural villages. Overnight at a traditional country pub, with your horses at a nearby farm.
• Howardian Hills: Stay comfortably on a working farm with beautiful meadows for their horses and ride the long grass and woodland tracks around the Castle Howard estate and the Howardian Hills Area. Experience the everyday life of a rural English family.
• The Glorious Moors: Enjoy the unspoiled hills and hidden valleys of the North York Moors National Park from a base at a working farm, with wonderful scenery and riding.

They only list businesses licensed by their local Council, which means they are fully insured and have annual veterinary and safety checks.

Many have additional accreditation from the British Horse Society (BHS) or the Association of British Riding Schools (ABRS). Feel free to ask them for advice on the best riding centre for you.

More information about them on their website: www.rideyorkshire.org.

Great Britain is an island that offers great green trails where you can go for amazing horseback rides while exploring the English countryside. Ride along the cliffs in the mountain areas, visit its abbeys and castles to discover its history, and choose this destination for your next horse riding holidays.

Are you also passionate about the idea of travelling the world on horseback?

Argentina is a country with a long-standing tradition of horses. Exploring the country on horseback is something unique – a highly recommended experience. In our eBook "Discover Argentina, the Land of the Gaucho, on Horseback" you will find our options to enjoy Argentina on horseback.