A country of green hills, hospitality and lovely melodies, Wales is the land of King Arthur, converted to Christianity by the Romans and then unconquered by the Normans and was never fully discovered by the “tourism army”. Opportunities for mountain, beach and countryside horse vacations are numerous in Wales and you will fall in love with the tiny villages that scatter the rural landscapes. Discover horse riding holidays in Wales with Hidden Trails.
Horse Riding in Wales
Wales is home to majestic mountains and fertile valleys and was in past times a refuge for the Celts. Known for its rural splendor, Wales is a haven for outdoor pursuits – particularly in its more mountainous areas. Wales is also the home of the Welsh Cob, a tough endurance-bred horse, perfect for carrying riders of all walks of life on a dream horseback vacation in their beautiful home country.
Hidden Trails Welsh horseback vacations are all located in the Black Mountains. This mountain range lies in the far east of the Brecon Beacons National Park. These mountains have a wild, restless beauty to them and seem almost perfectly designed for horseback tours. From hilly green grazing fields the land climbs to become open moorland with windswept peaks.
The main villages in the Black Mountains are Tretower with its 13th century castle and Crickhowell, the latter being more of a town and a better base if you want to explore the countryside and take advantage of the good walking. Table Mountain (1481ft) and Pen Cerrig-calch (2302ft) are both popular climbs.
For the most part the Black Mountains are far less busy than the rest of the Brecon Beacons and so can make for a more pleasant experience than battling mid summer crowds. Our horse riding holidays take us deep into the unspoiled countryside, passing small villages, castles and monasteries, and then continue high up into the Brecon Beacons while enjoying a fascinating view over Mid-Wales' mountains along the Irish Sea.
Three Hidden Trails horseback riding tours are offered: the Black Mountains Trail; the National Park Ride; and the Trans Wales Trail. All of these rides offer spectacular mountain riding and great views, with the latter ending on the coast near Aberystwyth.
Wales Climate and Weather
Contradictory to its reputation, Wales has a fairly mild climate due to the proximity to the Gulf Stream, providing a pleasant temperature for horse riding. In the cooler months of April and October highs of 15 ° C (60°F) can be expected. Summer has average highs of around 21°C (71°F).
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