Horseback Riding Vacations in Wales

Wales: Nature with all its force

Wales is one of the four countries that are part of the United Kingdom.

From a geographical standpoint, the island of Great Britain consists of Wales, England and Scotland. Wales is the smallest of the three countries (about 21.000 km²), but it’s a great riding holiday destination.

Located in the southwest of the island, Wales is bordered by England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, the Celtic Sea to the west and St. George's Channel to the north.

The people who dominated the area we now know as Wales, before and after the Roman invasion, were Celtic people, who were never a single kingdom or an empire, though.

Since there’s a total of 641 castles, it’s not surprising to find them during our horse riding holiday. You will see they are part of the scenery.

You can visit the country’s famous megaliths or stone circles – the so-called cromlechs – and other archaeological sites.

The capital is Cardiff, a dynamic and creative city with a thriving cultural scene. There are two official languages in Wales: Welsh and English.

Geography

Wales is a mainly mountainous country with much of the land being over 150 metres. The highest point is Snowdon (1,085 meters) in the northwest.

The Snowdonia Mountains are believed to be between 400 and 600 million years old. Mount Snowdon originated from an underwater eruption. There are numerous slate quarries in this region and they were the result of lateral pressure exerted on the Silurian rocks.

Wales has over 1,200 km of coastline, including the famous rocky coastline of Pembrokeshire.

In Wales, there are around 50 islands and many of them are uninhabited. The largest is Anglesey, off the northwest coast, and it’s separated from the mainland by the Menai Strait.

Wales is also a country of valleys and hills, with many rivers and lakes. The Severn River is the longest river in the United Kingdom (354 km).

Welsh National Parks

In Wales there are three National Parks that cover 20 % of the country, an area of more than 4,000 km².

Situated in northern Wales, Snowdonia National Park stands out for its impressive beauty. Rugged mountains, lakes and rich wildlife make this park the perfect riding holiday destination.

With an area of more than 2000 km², this park is a haven for outdoor activity enthusiasts, and equestrian tourism is a great way to enjoy its scenic beauty.

Brecons Beacons National Park is located in the southern part of the country. With a total area of 1350 km², this park is famous for its spectacular waterfalls and caves. In addition to mountain activities, the Brecon Beacons offer a wide range of watersports.

This park combines rocky mountain ranges with beautiful valleys, while the limestone caves and impressive waterfalls complement the breath-taking landscapes of flower-filled meadows, forests and green hills.

Here are the Black Mountains – a fabulous riding setting.

Finally, in southwestern Wales we find Pembrokeshire. It is the only UK National Park which is primarily designated for its coastal landscape and it comprises 300 km of dramatic and beautiful coast.

Its varied landscapes include impressive cliffs, beautiful sandy beaches and a gorgeous woodland setting, in addition to Pembrokeshire’s rich history, with medieval castles and archaeological sites.

Fauna and Flora

Wales has managed to preserve its natural environment and that is why you can find many incredible species such as the bottlenose dolphins of Cardigan Bay, the Red Kite or the Snowdon lily.

Every day you can see Golden Eagles in full flight over the salt marshes in the Severn Estuary.

The shorelines of many rivers are home to families of otters. The trails are full of exotic butterflies and the Natural Parks protect many other species.

This is the case of the colourful puffin. While in the rest of Europe these birds are threatened with extinction, here in Wales their numbers have been rising in the last three decades.

Since Wales has extensive areas of lowland grassland, in rural areas sheep farmers contribute significantly to the economy of the country. Sheep now outnumber people four to one.

Native horse breeds of Wales

There are several native horse breeds in Wales. The Welsh Pony and Cob Society‘s, main services include the registration of both Welsh Pure Bred Ponies and Cobs and Welsh Part Bred.

The Welsh Pony

It is the largest pony breed of in the Welsh mountains. Its height varies between 1.15 and 1.37 meters, depending on the variety. They were originally used to transport loads in the mountains.

This riding pony is hardy, intelligent and has a docile nature. They're also excellent racers and jumpers, which makes them popular sports animals.

This pony breed is divided into 3 sections:

• The Welsh Mountain Pony: They measure a maximum of 1.22 meters at the withers. This is one of the most popular breeds for children.
• The Welsh Pony: They’re about 1.23 - 1.37 meters tall. They are excellent for dressage and show jumping.
• The Welsh Pony of Cob Type: They also measure up to 1.37 meters at the withers, but their cob blood makes them stronger and tougher than the Welsh Pony.

The Welsh Cob

Welsh Cobs are the tallest and stockiest of the Welsh equine breeds. They must be taller than 1.37 meters, with no upper height limit. They are ideal for many equestrian disciplines such as hunting, cross-country, endurance and jumping.

They are known for their stamina, intelligence, versatility and docile nature. They display a bold movement with a powerful trot and are easy to train.

They have bone and substance with quality, and an extremely strong appearance. The neck is arched and the hind-quarters are powerful.

In the Middle Ages, Welsh Cobs were used by knights as war horses. Today, they’re used for harness driving, horse competitions and events around the world.

They are also used for dressage and jumping, where they are a very popular breed, especially in dressage. And in other disciplines, they are used as "family" mounts for less experienced riders, due to their calm and friendly nature and their size.

Some equestrian tourism outfitters in Wales

Below, you can find the riding holiday outfitters that Ampascachi has selected for you.

Snowdonia Riding Stables

Located in North Wales, between Snowdon and the Irish Sea, they offer you superb riding amongst some of the best mountain and coastal scenery in this part of Wales.

Their centre-based riding holidays are spent in one location, riding out in different directions each day and returning to the same accommodation each night. You can choose from a wide range of options, from 2-hour rides to full-day horseback tours, with miles of trails and bridleways to explore.

They will offer you different accommodations, ranging from a caravanning areas to charming cottages and camp sites. Their two most popular choices are Plas Dinas Hotel and Hen Ysgubor Cottage.

All rides are guided by experienced trek leaders and include instruction in the arena for beginner and novice riders.

For an enjoyable ride, the trek leaders plan the route and pace of the ride to ensure the right match of horse to rider and to suit their ability.

Besides the rides, they offer riding instruction, in small groups or private lessons.

The horses of Snowdonia Riding Stables

Whether you opt for riding lessons or horseback tours, you can bring your own horse or ride one of their horses.

They have a wide range of horses and ponies to suit all levels and abilities.

Some of their horses and ponies are home bred and many stay in the centre until they retire when they find them good private homes.

Snowdonia Riding Stables is approved by the Pony Club and the British Horse Society.

More information on their website: www.snowdoniaridingstables.co.uk.

Trans-Wales

Located in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park, this family-run business offers day rides and longer adventures to experience the best of wild Wales with their Welsh Cobs.

Built from stone from a quarry just upstream, their 16th Century Traditional Welsh Longhouse will be the place where you stay.

They offer two-, three- and multi-day programs. In most cases, you will go back to their centre each night.

The terrain is varied and includes open moorland, thick forests, picturesque country lanes and narrow mountain ridges.

They can offer fully inclusive holidays to just 8 guests at a time here at their traditional Welsh Longhouse, so that you can really kick back and not worry about a thing.

Trans-Wales-Trail

If you want to be an expert rider and enjoy a more intense experience, you can join one of their great equestrian adventures.

You'll cross Wales from the Black Mountains to the Irish Sea, using little-known tracks across some of the most remote and undiscovered country in Britain.

This route passes through 4 mountain ranges: The Black Mountains, Mynydd Epynt, the Elan Valley and Plynlimon.

The route ends with a gallop on the beach near Aberystwyth.

It includes 6 days of intense riding, spending more than 5 hours per day in the saddle.

Their horses

They are Welsh Cobs horses and are bred on the farm. Each year they breed around 4-6 foals and youngsters join the riding herd when they are four years old.

Their well-schooled and sociable horses build a close relationship with their riders, and you can walk, trot and gallop on them.

Their horses are ideally suited to the hills and mountains that surround them.

During your holiday here, there is plenty of opportunity for fast canters and gallops, and even the chance to jump logs and ditches – optional of course!

So if you fancy some fresh air and want to get away from it all, and join them for a riding adventure you will not forget, then pay them a visit!

You can find more information, if you go to their web site: www.transwales.com.

The extraordinary natural landscapes of Wales are filled with adventures and their variety allows for many different horseback rides in vast green fields or in mountain regions, amidst rivers and lakes, or along cliffs.

Thinking about a horse riding holiday but don’t know how to book it?

Download our free eBook “How to plan your next horseback trip” and learn all you need to know when planning an unforgettable horse riding holiday.