6 Days Flagship Border to Coast Trail Horse Riding Tour in Wales, United Kingdom

Overview

Relaxed, informal experienced guides, varied scenery, tracks, old green roads and traffic-free country lanes, open hills for the canters all leading to a friendly welcoming accommodation at the end of the day and in the company of a small posse of like-minded riders. Altogether fantastic guided riding holidays!

Arrive Freerein HQ on the morning of your trail to meet fellow riders, your guide and horses. Pack saddlebags then meet and prepare your horses and head out into the hills. As with all Freerein's guided riding holidays, there is a maximum of 8 riders when you join a ride on set dates.

Please note that you will carry your own personal stuff for the trail in Freerein's specially designed expedition saddlebags). Each night the horses are turned out a short walk or drive from your overnight stop.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Begwns - Builth Wells (16 miles)

Arrive at Freerein HQ for 8:30 a.m. Meet your guide, your fellow riders and pack your saddlebags. Meet your horse and prepare them for a day out on the trail. Out on trail all day. Explore the open tracks of the Begwns and Llanbedr hill, passing through the Village of Painscastle, where one of the biggest battles in Welsh History took place in 1198.

After lunch, cross up and over Aberedw Hill to arrive at the horse’s accommodation for the night. Feed and untack before a short taxi ride into the agricultural town of Builth Wells, where you will spend the night.

Day 2: Builth Wells - Llanwrtyd (22 miles)

Enjoy your first Welsh breakfast of the week before being picked up and taken to the horses. Feed, groom and tack up your horse. Out on the trail all day.

Climb up to Pant-y-llyn lake high above Builth Wells, and follow the northern stretch of the Mynydd Eppynt down to Abergwesyn, where the horses will stay the night. A short taxi ride will take the group to the town of Llanwrtyd, where you will stay at a local inn.

Day 3: Llanwrtyd - Pontrhydfendigaid (18 miles)

Feed, groom and tack up. Out on the trail all day. Today’s route travels through the mid part of the Cambrian Mountains, across very remote terrain. Follow the ancient Monk roads, crossing large river fords, eventually dropping down to the historic Abbey at Strata Florida to stay the night at nearby Pontrhydfendigaid. Horses stay a short walk away with a local farmer.

Day 4: Pontrhydfendigaid - Ponterwyd (20 miles)

Out on trail all day. Ride through the small town of Fair-Rhos and out across a deserted valley, passing the remains of an ancient marketing village. Enjoy a peaceful ride through the Bwlchgwallter forest before crossing the bridge over the Dologau waterfall. Pose for a photo under the old masonry Arch built in 1810 to mark the Golden Jubilee of George III.

After lunch, follow the river out onto open moorland and down into the town of Ponterwyd, where you will stay the night at a local hotel.

Day 5: Ponterwyd - Llandre (17 miles)

Out on the trail all day. Follow the old mountain road up past Dinas Reservoir, on to cross the dam at Nant-y-moch reservoir at the base of Plynlimon - the highest point of the Cambrian Mountains. Get your first glimpse of the sea before heading down into the valley in Ceulanamaesmawr. Follow the bridleways looking out over Cardigan Bay before arriving at your final overnight stop.

Day 6: Llandre - Freerein HQ (7 miles)

A shorter ride over the hills before dropping down into the coastal plain and the seaside town of Borth. Enjoy a trot up the high street before arriving on the beach! Time for a canter and a splash in the sea before arriving at your final meeting point. Untack the horses and enjoy a cup of tea and an ice cream. Pick up is at midday. Arrive back to Freerein HQ for tea and cake and a farewell to the horses to finish around 3:00 p.m.

Tack type

Each horse has its own individually fitted English tack, customised and fitted professionally for Freerein. All horses are ridden in simple snaffle bits.

Rider’s experience

You must be happy and confident cantering in open spaces to join this ride. You will be riding between 6-7 hours each day, so riders must have a good level of current riding fitness. You must be physically fit enough to enjoy long trots and long days in the saddle on this riding expedition.

Breed of horses

You will be matched to one of the incredible herd of fit, friendly, forward going trail riding horses and ponies. They are all a mixture of hardy breeds native to the UK. They live out all year round, working for seven months of the year and enjoying a five-month break over the winter months. They love their job and relish their happy, healthy lifestyle.

Riding declarations

All riders will sign the applicable declaration stating that they can walk unaided along tracks which may be steep and slippery, mount and dismount unaided, and trot and canter over uneven ground; that they understand that horse riding and handling are potentially dangerous and can result in injury or death, that they are riding this trail entirely at their own risk, and they do not suffer from any illness or disability which could prejudice their safety or that of others.

Freerein's trail riding network is located in Clyro, Mid Wales - UK’s finest trail riding country.

The riding

The route on this trail is very varied, with stony tracks, open hills, river crossings, green lanes, and so on. The trails are a mixture of little-used bridleways, old council roads and timeworn drovers routes. The mixture of terrain means a varied riding pace each day; there will be lots of trotting to cover the distance and canters wherever the terrain allows. There will be points where it is necessary to dismount and walk with your horse, such as steep downhill tracks which may be loose underfoot.

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This horse riding package includes three daily meals per day, consisting of breakfasts, packed lunches, and evening meals.

Expect to be fed well on this trip; food is all homemade using locally sourced ingredients where possible. All accommodation places can cater for any dietary requirements.

• 6 days with riding activities
• All arrangements for the duration of the holiday
• Trail riding horse, tack, saddlebags and other equipment for the duration of the holiday
• Services of guide
• 5 nights accommodation
• Breakfasts
• Packed lunches
• Evening meals

• All drinks at any bar
• Tips

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 10% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.