Ride Across Wales

~A trail ride for you and your horse~

'Most of us have dreamed of doing an epic ride and imagined ourselves following in the footsteps of people like Aime Tchiffeley..... and for those of us with our own horses; they are normally included in the dream. Abee (my mare) and I recently rode with two friends across Wales, from the English borders to the Welsh Coast, whilst it wasn't in the 1000 miles league, the 70 odd miles filled a week's vacation to perfection'. (Fran)

The Riding

The Accommodation

We are delighted to be able to offer you and your horse the opportunity to ride this route yourself. We are able to ride and stay with you and share our knowledge of the hills. Few of the paths are way-marked so you are unlikely to meet other riders, cyclists, or walkers and will find the countryside quiet and unspoiled with abundant birds and other wildlife. Although distances each day are not too far, the terrain can be tricky and riders and horses must have good stamina and be able to cope with long days. We expect to be in the saddle between 6-8 hours on a full day.

We recognise that not everyone wants to ride with a guide an so we are offering a self-guided option in which case we will provide you with marked maps and a detailed route description so you won't have to worry about route checking before you go

We offer you

small private groups
dedicated services of your guide (guided option)
marked maps and detailed route descriptions (self-guided option)
accommodation (6 nights) and all meals
luggage transfers
horse and rider transport back to the start

It is of course perfectly possible, as we have done over the years, to ride the bridleways of Wales by yourself.........Indeed the BHS have developed the Prince Llewellyn ride as part of the Ride-Uk network. However, this is isolated country over some challenging terrain and you do need to be skilled at navigating with a map!

'the planning of the route had taken months. In 2006 I had set out on a similar ride but this had been a disaster, as we had come across bogs, locked gates, badly maintained paddocks and indifferent B&B's. This time, following months of research, reccaeing on mountain bikes and foot, visiting B&B's and farmhouses, knocking on doors and checking paddocks, the ride was a huge success (Fran)

Enjoy our picture gallery;Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

The Riding

Very little of the route is way-marked so you are unlikely to meet other riders or walkers along the way; you will find the countryside quiet and unspoilt with abundant birds and other wild life.......You may well ride all day without meeting a soul.......this is wonderfully remote country! Although the distances each day are not too long the terrain can be tricky. Riders and horses must have good stamina and be able to cope with long days. On a full days' riding we would expect to be in the saddle for between 6 and 8 hours.

Depending on when you arrive the first day comprises of a short (2 to 3 hour) orientation ride. This is a great opportunity to settle your horses in and to loosen them up after their journey before setting off from the Brandy House on the second day. On the following 4 days, approximately 6 -8 hours a day will be spent en-route. The last day's riding to and along the beach is a bit shorter and we are restricted by tide times but tends to be around 3 hours and then a 2 hour journey back to the Brandy House with a horse transporter.

Please note that this is not a fast ride, (it's an expedition!) though there are plenty of opportunities for cantering along the way. Some of the going is uneven and there are steep ascents and descents some of which require you to dismount and lead your horse.....Gates and tricky terrain tend to slow the pace!

Day by Day

Day 1 - 6 miles
Arrive Brandy House early in the afternoon. A chance to settle your horses, meet us and take an optional short afternoon ride into the hills to familiarise yourself and your horse with the terrain.

Day 2 - 20 miles
From the Brandy House ride across open moorland, quiet lanes and forest tracks to your first night's accommodation.

Day 3 – 18.2 miles
Ride along bridle ways, drovers tracks, round the wonderful Marshes Pool and across open moorland and on into the Hafren Forest.

Day 4 – 12.5 miles
The route takes you along part of the Glyndwr's Way, providing magnificent views of distant Snowdonia and through the foothills of Plynlimon.

Day 5 – 12.5 miles
The penultimate leg of your journey - Ride on through Plynlimon foot hills through spectacular valleys and forestry. Catch your first glimpses of the sea and on to your descent to Talybont,

Day 6 – 8 miles - 5 to the beach and 3 along it!
From Talybont ride through woodland, farmland and along quiet lanes to Borth. We ride through Borth and onto the beach. The ride today will be dictated by the times of high tide as the water needs to be low enough for you to enjoy an exhilarating canter along the beach to Ynyslas. Here you will meet up with your transport back to The Brandy House.

Day 7
Depart Brandy House after breakfast.

This is the ultimate riding experience - a true long distance ride - an expedition!

The Accommodation

Click on the pictures to enlarge them.

We spend 4 nights out on the trail staying in a selection of wonderful accommodation. We have met some fabulous people in our reccaeing and are delighted to be able to offer you quality and exclusive over night stops. Our hosts will welcome you into their homes, where they will cook for you and look after you. Your horses are welcome - Our horses have tried and tested them all !!

Stables are available at The Brandy House (first and last night) but not through out the rest of the ride. Your horses will be in a paddock. If horses need to be separated we can arrange for 2 paddocks at most of our accommodation along the route and where we can't we will be carrying electric fencing with the luggage ferry and so can separate horses as necessary.

Please contact us for any further details and to make a booking.

photo by Tel Griffith

Your Horse Adventures

Riding holidays for you and your horse

Ride Across Wales