With rolling hills, luscious lakes, butterscotch beaches and mile upon mile of beautiful bridleways to explore, Wales truly is one of the world’s wildest and most wonderful places to enjoy a horse riding holiday.
Matt Williams is a local horseman and has been exploring Wales on horseback all his life. He shares his passion for riding at his trail riding centre, Freerein, where you can enjoy your holidays learning to ride or honing your equestrian skills in the very heart of Mid Wales.
I asked Matt a few questions about his horse riding holidays and self-guided trails, which he’s been operating since 1989.
Ben: What is it about Wales that makes it such a paradise for horse riding?
Matt: In the Radnor Hills and Cambrian Mountains we have the highest concentration of bridleways and other rights of way for horses in the UK. We have built the network to include 26 different accommodation options with route descriptions linking them all together. Mid Wales offers hundreds of square miles of riding terrain and large areas of unfenced hillside, which offer fantastic views and canter opportunities.
The best time to go horse riding in Mid Wales is between April and October, when it stays light till late and you can explore the trails at your leisure.
B: Tell us a bit about the Freerein riding centre.
M: We’re a friendly, relaxed and professional trail riding centre with a mission to offer exception trail riding holidays that travel from place to place. We are totally unique in the UK as we offer self-guided riding holidays and also offer guided trails and learn-to-ride holidays for adults.
Our trail riding network is located in Mid Wales, which is widely considered as the UK’s finest trail riding country. And our holidays are unique as you can’t ride self guided anywhere else in the UK.
B: What are your horses like?
M: Freerein’s happy horses have a well balanced natural lifestyle and this shines through in their joie de vivre!
Our knowledgeable and professional staff are extremely passionate about horse trail riding and Wales’ breaking natural landscapes, and this enthusiasm is infectious for all who experience our riding holidays.
We invest in only the very best tack equipment, using only comfortable, clean, simple and lightweight items to get the most out of your time on horseback.
B: What kind of riding holiday packages do you offer and who are they for?
M: We offer self-guided, guided and learn to ride holidays mostly for adults. As we have a range of trails we can cater from complete beginners to very experienced people. Our friendly and professional staff are exceptionally knowledgable and can tailor the perfect riding holiday package — whatever you dream of, we can make it happen.
Book your dream horse riding holiday in the heart of Mid Wales now
Never ridden before? No problem. Find out about Freerein’s Learn-to-Ride holidays now
Sample Riding Holiday Itinerary ~ Freerein
Day 1 ~ Arrive at Freerein HQ at 9am. Pack saddle bags then prepare your horses. Go through your individual route pack & depart. Out on trail all day. Arrive at your accommodation, untack, feed & turn your horses out in the field. Relax for the evening and enjoy a home cooked meal at your first night’s accommodation – Cwmfillo, New House or The Old Rectory.
Day 2 ~ Feed, groom and tack up your horse. Out on trail all day with choice of routes, Picnic lunch. Relax at Bettws or Glanoer after a satisfying day on trail.
Day 3 ~ Feed, groom and tack up your horse. Out on trail all day with the option of a pub lunch at the Roast Ox. Return to Freerein HQ around 5pm for tea and homemade cake.
B: What kind of tours and trails can riders expect if they book a Freerein riding holiday?
M: An example tour might be a ride ranging from 2 – 7 days through the stunningly beautiful Radnor Hills and Cambrian Mountains of Mid Wales. With Freerein you can ride with or without a guide.
Freerein offers REAL trail riding where you travel a new route to new destination each day. This is why our customers highly rate our holidays, with many returning again and again.
B: What accommodation options are there for people who want to come riding with you?
M: We offer a cherry-picked selection of 26 different accommodation venues, ranging from charming B&Bs and cosy guest houses to rural retreats at historic farms and traditional country inns.
B: What about food? Do you provide meals too?
M: All of our accommodation offer hearty breakfast, lunch and evening meals. Everything’s home-cooked — perfect for refuelling after a day out on trail.
B: Apart from the horse riding, what else makes your horse riding holidays so special?
M: Apart from the outstanding and unrivalled beauty of our fortunate location, many riders return again and again because they fall in love with our herd of horses. We find many riders also enjoy making new friends and sharing their passion for riding with other like-minded people.
Make it Happen ~ Book Your Dream Freerein Riding Holiday
Free Rein have an easy, informative and friendly booking process and the professional staff will help you book your dream riding holiday.
How to Book
Visit www.free-rein.co.uk to find your perfect riding package or call 01497 821 356 to find out more and book today.
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