COAST TO COAST - NORTH ROUTE
Your riding ability
On our long distance rides we will be travelling many miles a day in the saddle, riding up and down hills and over rough terrain so you must be capable of riding in a balanced manner for your horses sake! Our horses health and happiness is always a priority to us and because of the long days in the saddle, we require all riders to be competent in riding with a light seat (i.e posting the trot and light seat in canter) to minimise stress on the horses back. We will be crossing rivers, galloping along beaches and may need to jump small natural obstacles, like ditches or fallen trees - nothing too big, but you need to be a capable rider and able to control a horse at speed. It is also important that you are practised in leading a horse over difficult terrain as there may be times when this is necessary. We require all our riders to be at a walk/trot/canter level.
Get to know a little about the trails and our minimum age/experience requirments
Before You Book Your Holiday
Your riding ability
On our long distance rides we will be travelling many miles a day in the saddle, riding up and down hills and over rough terrain so you must be capable of riding in a balanced manner for your horses sake! Our horses health and happiness is always a priority to us and because of the long days in the saddle, we require all riders to be competent in riding with a light seat (i.e posting the trot and light seat in canter) to minimise stress on the horses back. We will be crossing rivers, galloping along beaches and may need to jump small natural obstacles, like ditches or fallen trees - nothing too big, but you need to be a capable rider and able to control a horse at speed. It is also important that you are practised in leading a horse over difficult terrain as there may be times when this is necessary. We require all our riders to be at a walk/trot/canter level.
Get to know a little about the trails and our minimum age/experience requirments
Before You Book Your Holiday
7 days riding, 6 nights accommodation
COAST TO COAST - NORTH ROUTE
7 days riding, 6 nights accommodation
COAST TO COAST - NORTH ROUTE
7 days riding, 6 nights accommodation
CENTRE BASED SHORT BREAKS
Bespoke riding holidays from 2 - 4 days from our centre on Ballogie Estate
Riding Difficulty: Intermediate (Requires walk/trot/canter)
Approximate Distance Covered: 12 miles a day
Availability: Spring and Autumn
The listed price includes accomodation and meals (B, L, D). Please note, this route requires that all riders must be able to ride at walk, trot and canter. Terrain can sometimes be boggy or steep and guests may have to lead their own horse periodically.
Feel like one day just isn't enough time in the saddle? Our centre based short breaks are perfect for those who want to get a taste of what riding in the Cairngorms is like. Come join us for a bespoke 2-4 day ride from our centre. Located on the edge of the Cairngorms and Angus glens, our premises is set in the heart of Royal Deeside, nestled in a secluded and idyllic location amongst the trees. From magnificent russet heathery hill climbs to hidden tracks in seas of amber bracken, this ride is a truly incredible mix of terrain, colour and exploration. Experience epic canters through the forest, challenging hill climbs, river crossings, panoramic views and incredible scenery - we have something for every rider. Keep an eye out for red deer prancing through the heather and Capercaille (the Gaelic name for this species, capall-coille, means ‘horse of the forest’) - extremely rare and iconic big game birds of the grouse family with stunning feathers.
Accomodation is either in our local hotel (Aboyne) or if you are a true animal lover, you can choose our new farm stay experience. After an awesome day in the saddle, you can enjoy stunning sunsets over the horses fields and relax by the fire at the beautiful stone cottage at the yard with a lovely home cooked meal each night. You can chose to be as hands on as you like, with opportunities for grooming and tacking up your horse as well as participating in other yard activities. We have cats, chickens, horses and donkeys.
If riders are interested in history or local sights/activities other than riding, extra days of sightseeing and activities can be included.
Please note: due to the nature of the terrain we ride in as well as the length and pace of our day rides, we do NOT offer these rides to beginner or novice riders. You must be comfortable in walk, trot and a gentle canter in order to participate. This is for the safety of our horses and guests. We reserve the right to change the route of your ride on the day due to weather, trail closures or rider competency.
2 Day Short Break
The two day option will give riders a great taste of the riding in Deeside. Day one sees us climb Carnferg, our local hill which provides breathtaking panoramic views of Deeside, Cairngorms and beyond. The rolling green hills and lush greenery that we began our ride with quickly give way to rough but beautiful heathery slopes as we climb higher and higher to reach the summit of Carnferg (525m). Here we reach the memorial cairn at the summit which is over 100 years old and take in the panoramic view that surrounds us. Red kites and eagles soar overhead and on a clear day, you can see Morven, Mount Keen, Mount Battock and beyond into the heart of the Cairngorms. This ride will give riders the opportunity to explore the long distance route called 'The Fungle' in both directions. Each day we will pick up the trail and follow it in a different direction - exploring varied scenery each day.
Pricing for Farm Stay Experience - 2 days riding and 2 nights
£390 per rider or £370 per rider twin share
Pricing for Hotel - 2 days riding and 2 nights accom
£580 per rider or £530 per rider twin share
3 Day Short Break
This three day rides incorporates the routes on the two day ride. The extra day see us explore the Forest of Birse. We climb a smaller hill to admire the slopes of Carnferg from a different angle. We descend to the Waters of Feugh where we will visit a beautiful stone church from the 1800's, stepping inside feels like going back in time. We follow the river before having lunch by its banks. We climb again for more beautiful views over towards Finzean. In autumn, the afternoon on this day is the best time to hear stags roar.
Pricing for Farm Stay Experience - 3 days riding and 3 nights
£585 per rider or £555 per rider twin share
Pricing for Hotel - 3 days riding and 3 nights accom
£870 per rider or £795 per rider twin share
Single rooms may be available (but cannot be guaranteed) however if you are travelling alone and willing to share a room, we often have other riders doing the same who are happy to keep costs down by sharing with another lone traveller of the same sex and wherever possible we try to match sharers by age etc too. Payment can be made by cheque, bank transfer or credit/debit card via PayPal. Please contact us if you require our bank details for transfer.
Please email or phone us to check availability on the ride before paying deposits.
