6 Days Teen Horse Riding Holiday Wales, UK

Your accommodation is in Springhill Farm's comfortable bunkhouse or cottages and an overnight stay at a camp in which you can bring your sleeping and overnight bag.

The bunkhouse

Overlooking the beautiful Ceiriog Valley and out toward the Berwyn mountains on the North Wales borders, Springhill Farm is located in an area totally unspoiled by modern life, offering stunning views in tranquil peace. The nearest neighbor is 1 mile and the village of Glyn Ceiriog is within 2 and a half miles. There are a pub, post office, and village shop. The nearest towns are Oswestry and Chirk, within 8 miles. Set on a 130-acre organic hill sheep farm, Springhill Farm is suitable for families, friends, corporate meetings / activity groups and clubs for weekends or longer.

Sole use or shared use are welcome. It is ideal for walking, cycling, relaxing with friends, team management, archery, bike hire, and horse riding on site. From the parking area, there is a slab pathway to enter through double oak doors into a large tiled entrance area with a room for outdoor clothes, recycling, drying room, and cloakroom with washer and dryer. Into the large dining area, off which is the modern kitchen, fully equipped, with range gas cooker, large American fridge / freezer with ice maker, dishwasher, etc.

Tea, sugar, washing up liquid tea towels, loo paper, etc. are supplied. There are several small steps on the tiled ground floor, both floors have underfloor heating. Through into the hallway leads to the stairs and separate sitting room with television / DVD. Up to the first floor, it can sleep up to 22 people in 5 different carpeted bedrooms ranging from single occupancy to sleeping 8, including an en-suite family room, with double, 3 single, bunks, 1 bathroom, and 3 showers. Facilities available include:

• Barbecue
• Lawn area
• Outdoor chess
• Table tennis
• Patio

The cottage

There are two small cottages next to the bunkhouse. One cottage features 1 bedroom and sleeps up to 6 people. The other has 2 bedrooms and can also sleep up to 6. All bedrooms are en suite.

Day 1

You will arrive at 14:00 on Sunday and meet your friends for the week, human and animal. You will see your parents safely off after reassuring them that you have a bed and somewhere to wash and that you are going to miss them, but they can ring anytime. You will have a chat about what you want out of your holiday while having a walk around the farm to meet the horses and other riders.

In the afternoon, after the daily routine of catching, grooming and tacking up, you will have an assessment lesson with a qualified instructor in order to ensure that you are best matched with your mount and get the best out of the holiday. You can have the same pony or ride several different mounts. Please note the trail ride requires riders to be able to canter in open countryside and cope with long hours in the saddle.

Day 2

On Monday morning, you will have a jumping lesson but if this is too much, you can have a lesson that will help you get the best out of your holiday. In the afternoon, you will go for a hack to see the surrounding countryside and get you ready for the trail ride.

Day 3 - 4

Next morning, when everyone is ready and prepared with packed lunches in their saddle bags, you set off on the first day of the trail ride. You will explore the superb landscape, through woodlands and over moors with experienced leaders. When you arrive at the camp, where the views are one of the best the area has to offer, you will untack, groom and feed your horses.

Then, you will enjoy a barbecue whilst sitting and watching your trusty steed who has worked hard for you that day graze and rest ready for the next day's adventure. By the end of the trail ride, not only will you have explored some of Wales’s most undiscovered countryside, but you would also have experienced how to ride over some of Wales’s tricky terrain. Thanks to your sure-footed horse. You will arrive back at the farm to relax in the hot tub to ease the tired but happy muscles.

Day 5

The next morning will be relaxing. The ponies will enjoy a lie-in. After a leisurely breakfast, you can participate in a game of horse ball or maybe a cycle ride then spend the afternoon on a mounted treasure hunt. This will test your map reading skills.

Day 6

The final day is an opportunity to put everything you have learned into practice by bathing and plaiting your new four-legged friend and working together to win yourself a rosette. You will have talked in the week about what sort of classes you want but it usually has a variety from dressage to bending.

Note

This holiday is aimed at teenagers who can walk, trot and canter happily, with lots of riding and horse involvement.

This horse riding holiday will take place near Glyn Ceiriog, Wrexham, Wales, UK, in the unspoiled countryside, moorland, and fields.

Nearby places

• Glyn Ceiriog, 2 and a half miles
• Oswestry and Chirk, 8 miles

• Canal boating
• Cycling
• Golf
• Paintballing
• Quad biking
• View the steam trains
• Visits to National Trust properties

• 2-day trail rides
• 5 nights' accommodation
• Hats and boots
• Horse riding lesson
• Optional archery activities
• Wild camping

Driving directions from West Midlands, London, and the South via Shrewsbury or Welshpool

• Continue to Oswestry.
• Take the road directly into Oswestry from the Oswestry Little Chef and Esso service station roundabout on the A5.
• Continue straight across two small roundabouts and through the traffic lights.
• Follow the one-way street until just before the Morrisons petrol station, then turn left into Castle Street.
• Continue to the end at the T-junction.
• Turn right onto Willow Street toward Llansillin (B4580).
• Continue on this road uphill for just over 2 miles and at the top of the hill, you will arrive at the old racecourse common.
• Take the turning right at signposted Ffordd Carreg-y-big.
• Continue for 1 mile down to the T-junction then turn right.
• Then in 50 yards, turn left following signposts for Llechrydau.
• Continue for 1 3/4 miles, past forestry and stone walls.
• Turn off left (by continuing straight on) at the sharp right bend, immediately down through a farmyard and through the gate (which needs to be opened).
• Continue for 1 mile over the open moorland and over the cattle grid.
• You will find Springhill Farm on your right.
• Riding place is on the first entrance and the accommodation is on the second.

Driving directions from Wrexham (Chester, Liverpool, Manchester, and the North)

• Continue to Chirk.
• Take the third exit with brown signs for Chirk and Ceiriog Valley coming along the A483, at the first roundabout you arrive at after the end of the dual carriageway.
• Take the first exit at the next roundabout to continue into Chirk.
• Turn right at the church for Glyn Ceiriog after passing the center.
• You will arrive at Glyn Ceiriog after 6 miles.
• Turn left (1st exit) at the mini roundabout.
• Go down past the post office, over the bridge.
• Turn immediately right into a small narrow lane at the speed de-restriction sign.
• Head uphill for 2 miles passing a trout farm.
• When you get to the top, there is a junction on your left, but carry on straight ahead for another half mile.
• You will find Springhill Farm which will be on your left side.
• If you pass over a cattle grid, you have gone too far.

Driving directions from Llangollen (A5 and North West Wales)

• Continue to Chirk by turning right at the first roundabout you come to, which is the second one in the above directions.
• This will add 9 miles to your journey.
• Travel eastward on the A5 and turn immediately right toward Green Bank after the traffic lights, then left into Hill street, signed for Plas Newydd.
• Carry on this road over a small bridge, past some houses, then take the second lane on the right signed Glyn Ceiriog.
• This will take you steeply uphill through some trees for about 1.2 miles.
• Turn right and carry on for about 1.3 miles at the very top until you come to a crossroads with a farmhouse on your right.
• Turn left downhill.
• This road is steep and winds into the village of Glyn Ceiriog.
• Take the second exit at the mini roundabout signed Selattyn, past the post office.
• Follow the road around over a bridge and as you leave the bridge, turn immediately right into a small narrow lane.
• Head uphill for 2 miles passing a trout farm.
• When you get to the top, there is a junction on your left, but carry on straight ahead for another half mile.
• You will find Springhill Farm which will be on your left side. If you pass over a cattle grid, you have gone too far.

• A reservation requires a deposit of 25% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid 60 days before arrival.