Horse holidays abroad · Scotland
Horse Riding Holidays in Scotland: the Highlands, the Borders and the Coast
Horse riding holidays in Scotland run as Highland trails from inn to inn, Borders trails between hotels and centre-based weeks, and most last six or seven nights.
- Best monthsApr to Oct
- Level
Novice to expert - Typical trip6 or 7 nights
- Price guide
Higher to premium
At a glance
What does a riding holiday in Scotland involve?
- Best monthsApril to October for trails; centre-based weeks run all year
- Riding level
Secure at all paces in a light seat for Highland trails; beginners on centre-based weeks - Hours in the saddle2 to 6 hours a day; 8 to 32 miles a day on Highland trails
- Typical trip6 or 7 nights, with 5 or 6 riding days
- Weight limit95kg (15 stone); some smaller horses carry up to 14 stone
- Group sizeUp to 8 to 10 riders where published
- HorsesHighland ponies, Irish Cobs, Connemaras, Irish Draughts, Appaloosas and Warmbloods
- TackEnglish saddles
- AccommodationInns, family-run hotels, castle hotels, a country house and B&Bs
- Price guide
Higher to premium for this kind of holiday, per person, before flights
The riding
What is horse riding in Scotland like?
Horse riding in Scotland takes three forms: point-to-point trails through the Highlands, trails between hotels in the Borders, and centre-based weeks with lessons and hacking.
On a Highland trail you ride from one inn to the next across moor, forest, old drove roads and river crossings, covering 8 to 32 miles a day.
The ground can be boggy or steep, and on some days you lead your horse on foot for a stretch. Some northern routes finish with a gallop on the beach.
In the Borders the trail passes Traquair Castle, the Bowhill Estate and the Falls of Clyde, with canters uphill and a hotel each night.
A centre-based week keeps you at one yard, with a lesson and a trail ride most days, and suits a rider who wants to improve.
Highland trail
Borders trail
Country house week
Centre-based week
When to go
When is the best time to ride in Scotland?
The best time to ride in Scotland is April to October, when the trails run, and the long Highland routes run between May and October.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
The Blair Atholl ride runs in April and May and again from August to October. The Borders trail departs on set dates from June to October.
A centre-based week near Lanark starts every Sunday of the year apart from Christmas and New Year, so you can ride in winter too.
Your level
What riding level do you need for Scotland?
For a Highland trail you need to be secure at walk, trot, canter and gallop, and able to ride in a light seat over rough ground for long days.
Novice
Intermediate
Experienced
It suits you if
- You want to ride from one inn to the next through open hill country
- You are happy riding in wind and rain as well as sun
- You want a riding week without a long flight
It is not for you if
- You weigh more than 95kg in your riding clothes
- You want settled, dry weather every day
- You would rather not lead your horse on foot over rough ground
You send a video or photographs of your riding when you book a Highland trail. You should expect river crossings, small jumps and stretches on foot leading your horse.
The Borders trail is for intermediate riders who can rise to the trot for long spells and hold a forward seat cantering uphill. The Blair Atholl ride takes beginners who can rise to the trot and canter, and a centre-based week takes complete beginners.
The weight limit on each of these rides is 95kg, or 15 stone. Minimum ages run from 8 on a centre-based week to 12 on the long trails and 14 at Blair Atholl.
The horses
What are the horses and tack like in Scotland?
The horses in Scotland are mostly native ponies and Irish types: Highland ponies and Highland crosses, Irish Cobs, Connemaras and Irish Draughts, with Appaloosas and Warmbloods in the Borders.
Highland ponies are shaped by this ground and cope with bog, rock and steep climbs. On the northern trails some horses wear hoof boots instead of shoes on stony ground.
Tack is English, with general-purpose saddles on the rides that state it.
Where you stay
Where do you stay on a riding holiday in Scotland?
You stay in inns, hotels and bed and breakfasts on a trail, moving to a new one most nights with your meals included.
The Highland trails use small, family-run hotels, some of them old coaching inns, and one converted railway carriage. The Borders trail uses three and four star hotels, including castle hotels.
The Blair Atholl ride is based at a restored Georgian country house. The centre-based week near Lanark uses a four star bed and breakfast with en-suite rooms.
The cost
How much does a riding holiday in Scotland cost?
A riding holiday in Scotland is a higher price for a centre-based week, and runs from a higher to a premium price for a trail or a country house week.
Caledonian Tuition and Trails
Price guide
Higher
Scottish Castles Trail
Price guide
Higher
Wild West Highlands
Price guide
Premium
The Scottish Highlands Ride
Price guide
Premium
Highland trail prices include all meals but not drinks, and a single room costs extra.
Rides we can arrange
Which rides do we recommend in Scotland?
We know horses, and we know the people who run these rides. Tell us how you ride and where you want to go, and we will put you with the right one.
Wild West Highlands
About 120 miles from Dores on Loch Ness to Torridon, through Glen Affric and Kintail, with river crossings and old drove roads.
Scottish Castles Trail
A Borders trail past Traquair Castle, the Bowhill Estate and the Falls of Clyde, staying in hotels and castle hotels.
The Scottish Highlands Ride
Riding on the Blair Atholl estate from a restored Georgian house, on Irish Draughts, Irish Cobs, Connemaras and Irish Sport Horses.
Caledonian Tuition and Trails
A week at one yard near Lanark, with a lesson and a trail ride most days, in groups of up to eight riders.
County guides
Which Scottish areas have a riding guide?
We have a riding guide for six Scottish areas, from the Highlands to the Borders. Each one sets out where the riding is, when to go and what to ask before you book.
Common questions
Scotland riding questions
Can beginners go horse riding in Scotland?
Yes, on a centre-based week, which takes complete beginners and adds a daily lesson. The Highland trails are for experienced riders only.
What is the weight limit for riding holidays in Scotland?
The limit is 95kg, or 15 stone, on each of the rides listed here. Some smaller Highland horses carry no more than 14 stone.
Can you ride on the beach in Scotland?
Yes. Some Highland trails include a gallop on the beach, and riders also use the sands at St Andrews and in East Lothian.
What horses do you ride in Scotland?
Mostly Highland ponies, Irish Cobs, Connemaras and Irish Draughts, with some Appaloosas and Warmbloods. They are ridden in English tack.
Are meals included on a Scottish riding holiday?
On the Highland trails all meals are included, from breakfast to a dinner of up to three courses, and drinks are extra.
What is the minimum age for a riding holiday in Scotland?
It runs from 8 on a centre-based week to 12 on the long Highland trails with a parent, and 14 at Blair Atholl.
Where to go next
Nearby, and next
Tell us how you ride
Tell us your level, your dates and the country you have in mind, and we will point you to the ride that fits.