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
WILD WEST HIGHLANDS
6 days riding, 1 day off 7 nights accommodation
Day One
Drumnadrochit to Fort Augustus: 21 miles
We start our ride at Drumnadrochit on the shores of Loch Ness, riding high above the loch for some stunning views along the length of the Great Glen fault line and the Monadliath hills beyond. From another viewpoint we get views to the north west of the Kintail range. We finish at the village of Fort Augustus where we spend the night.
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Day Two
Fort Augustus to Tomich: 19 miles
From Fort Augustus, we ride up through the Inchcardoch Forest switching between an ancient drove road and one of General Cauldfields old miliatary roads. Stunning views again in all directions of the Monadliath hills to the South and the hills of Glen Affric and Kintail to the North and West. We finish for the night in the beautiful village of Tomich.
Riding Difficulty: Challenging (click for more information)
Approximate Distance Covered: 120 miles
The listed price includes accomodation, meals (B, L, D).
Please note, this route requires that all riders must be able to ride at walk, trot, canter and gallop. Terrain can sometimes be boggy or steep and guests may have to lead their own horse periodically. Riders are encourage to help out with the morning routine of catching, feeding, grooming and saddling the horses for the day.
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This is ride follows parts of the Great Glen Way with stunning views of of some of the most iconic moutains in Scotland on lochside trails and then heads off through the forests and hills around Fort Augustus following old drove roads, then through the beautiful caledonian pine forests of Glen Affric to the stunning wild mountains of Kintail. From Kintail we head inland again, over the hills, with views over to the Cuillin mountains on Skye, to Strath Carron and our final day, takes us through wild country, past rugged mountains and over high passes to finish our ride at Torridon, in the brooding shadow of Liathach and Ben Eighe, some of the highest mountains in the UK.
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Day Three
Tomich to Shiel Bridge: 23 miles
A long day today - leaving Tomich, we head west along beautiful Glen Affric. Some nice faster riding, before we hit the tough part of the trail, through the Allt Grannda gorge beside a stunning waterfall, then descend to the farm track taking us to Shiel Bridge for the night. The scenery today is very wild and beautiful.
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Day Four
Shiel Bridge to Dornie: 8 miles
A shorter ride today to give both the horses and riders a bit of a break! From Shiel Bridge, we ride beside the shore then head into the forest at Inverinate, before joining the tiny minor road that climbs high above Loch Duich for amazing views of the Five Sisters of Kintail and the length of Loch duich to the Cuillins on Skye. We spend the night at Dornie - famous for Eilean Donan Castle - the most photogenic castle in Scotland!
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Day Five
Today our riders get a well earned day off where we will hit the road and head over the sea to the Isle of Skye. This day trip will include visits to famous must-see areas such as Quiraing and the Old Man Of Storr.
Day Six
Dornie to Strathcarron: 17 miles
We are back on the horses again today, hopefully feeling well rested. Leaving Dornie behind, we ride the length of Loch Long, before heading over the hills on an old hill track to Strath Carron. Loch Carron is a very beautiful loch, surrounded by high hills on all sides.
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Day Seven
Strathcarron to Torridon: 15 miles
From Strathcarron, we follow the river through fields and forests, then join the hill path taking us high over the Bealach na Lice pass. There are a couple of places where we need too lead the horses, but not for long stretches. We are really high in the hills here, with stunning views all around once again! Once we cross the pass, the iconic Torridon hills stretch out before us - Liathach, Beinn Alligin and Beinn Eighe - an amazing view! We descend to Torridon, where we spend our final night before leaving for Inverness in the morning.
You will need to get to Inverness for the start of this ride, we will collect you from the town at 08.30 on the morning of the ride. The ride finishes at Torridon and we will spend the night there, returning you to Inverness in the morning at about 11.00.
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Price: 2590 GBP
Price based on sharing a twin or double room - single rooms may be available (but cannot be guaranteed) at an extra cost of 400 GBP 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 below. 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.
