Horse holidays abroad · Wales
Horse Riding Holidays in Wales: the Borders, the Black Mountains and Coast to Coast
Horse riding holidays in Wales run as guided trails over the border hills and mountains, from inn to inn, on trips of two to six nights.
- Best monthsApr to Sep
- Level
Novice to expert - Typical trip2 to 6 nights
- Price guide
Higher to premium
At a glance
What does a riding holiday in Wales involve?
- Best monthsApril to September; some trails run from late March to mid October
- Riding level
Walk, trot and canter for the border trails; experienced for coast to coast - Hours in the saddle4 to 8 hours a day, 15 to 26 miles
- Typical trip2 to 6 nights, with 3 to 6 riding days
- Weight limit82kg to 95kg, depending on the ride
- Group sizeUp to 8 riders
- HorsesWelsh Cobs, cob crosses and native breeds, about 14hh to 17hh
- TackEnglish saddles; some endurance saddles
- AccommodationFarmhouses, village inns, B&Bs and small hotels
- Price guide
Higher to premium for this kind of holiday, per person, before flights
The riding
What is horse riding in Wales like?
Horse riding in Wales is mostly trail riding over open hill, moorland and mountain, with a vehicle carrying your luggage between inns.
The longest trails cross the whole country from the English border to the Irish Sea, over the Black Mountains, Mynydd Epynt, the Elan Valley and Plynlimon. The last day on the coast-to-coast trail is 26 miles to the sea.
Shorter trails loop through the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons from Hay-on-Wye, or follow Offa's Dyke and the Berwyn Mountains along the northern border.
You reach every ride by road or rail from England, with no flight to arrange.
Coast to coast
Hay and Beacons triangles
Welsh Borders
When to go
When is the best time to ride in Wales?
The best time to ride in Wales is April to September, when the trails run weekly and the hill ground is firm.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
The Welsh Borders trail runs from late March to mid October, and the coast to coast trails run from April or May to September. The weather on the high ground can turn quickly in any month, so you need waterproofs as well as sun cream.
Your level
What riding level do you need for Wales?
You need to walk, trot and canter confidently for the Welsh Borders trail, and to be an experienced, confident rider for the coast to coast routes.
Novice
Intermediate
Experienced
It suits you if
- You want a trail riding week without a flight
- You are fit enough to ride most of the day on hill ground
- You like a village inn with a proper bed each night
It is not for you if
- You weigh more than 95kg in riding clothes
- You want a hot, dry climate
- You are not yet confident cantering in open country
The Hay and Beacons triangles suit intermediate and experienced riders on four to five hours a day. The coast to coast trails ask for five to eight hours a day over rough hill ground.
Weight limits are strict on the long trails: 82kg on the Wales coast-to-coast trail, 92kg on the Border to Coast Trail and 95kg on the Welsh Borders trail. Teenagers from 13 or 14 can ride with an adult if they meet the standard.
The horses
What are the horses and tack like in Wales?
The horses are mainly Welsh Cobs, the Section D of the Welsh stud book, with cob crosses and other native breeds. The Wales coast-to-coast trail breeds its own Section Ds for the work.
On the Welsh Borders trail the string runs from ponies and cobs to sport horses of 14hh to 17hh. Most rides use English tack with simple snaffle bits, and some use endurance saddles.
Where you stay
Where do you stay on a riding holiday in Wales?
You stay in farmhouses, village inns, B&Bs and small hotels, moving on each night while your horse stays in a nearby field.
On the Wales coast-to-coast trail you spend three nights in the farmhouse at the base and the rest in hotels and inns on the route. The Welsh Borders trail starts in farm cottages or a bunkhouse and moves on to inns with en suite rooms. On the coast-to-coast trail all meals are included, from the first dinner to the last breakfast.
The cost
How much does a riding holiday in Wales cost?
A riding holiday in Wales is a higher price for four nights on the Welsh Borders, and it stays a higher price for a six-night coast to coast trail, like most riding weeks abroad.
Welsh Borders
Price guide
Higher
Hay or Beacons Triangle
Price guide
Higher
Wales Coast to Coast Trail
Price guide
Higher
Border to Coast Trail
Price guide
Premium
Rides we can arrange
Which rides do we recommend in Wales?
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.
Wales Coast to Coast Trail
Five riding days from the Black Mountains to the Irish Sea, over Mynydd Epynt, the Elan Valley and Plynlimon, on Welsh Section D cobs. All meals included.
Hay and Beacons Triangles
Three days of four to five hours, either round the Black Mountains and the Llanthony Valley or west into the Brecon Beacons, staying in village inns.
Border to Coast Trail
Over 100 miles from the English border to the coast, six to seven hours a day on hardy native horses, staying in B&Bs and inns. Groups of up to eight.
Welsh Borders
Three days of 15 to 20 miles along Offa's Dyke and into the Berwyn Mountains, from a farm above the Ceiriog Valley.
County guides
Which Welsh counties have a riding guide?
We have a riding guide for four Welsh counties: Gwynedd, Powys, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. Each one sets out where the riding is, when to go and what to ask before you book.
Common questions
Wales riding questions
Can beginners go on a riding holiday in Wales?
Yes, on the Welsh Borders trail, which takes novice riders who can walk, trot and canter. The coast to coast trails are for experienced riders only.
What is the weight limit for trail riding in Wales?
It runs from 82kg on the Wales coast-to-coast trail to 95kg on the Welsh Borders trail, and the long trails hold to it strictly.
What is a Welsh Cob?
The Welsh Cob is Section D of the Welsh Pony and Cob stud book, a strong native horse used on most Welsh trails.
Can you ride across Wales on horseback?
Yes. Trails such as the Wales coast-to-coast trail and the Border to Coast Trail both cross from the English border to the sea in six nights.
Do you need to fly to ride in Wales?
No. Every trail starts within reach of England by road or rail, so you can drive or take the train to the start.
Is there a short riding break in Wales?
Yes, the Hay and Beacons triangles run over two nights and three riding days, with all meals included.
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.