Ellesmere Riding Centre - Trail Ride Holidays in the UK.

Black Mountains Short Break Trail Ride
Try our weekend break, get away from it all and join us for 3 days in the saddle. Climbing high into the mountains descending through valleys and woods at a good pace. Let our experienced cobs show you how to cope with our Welsh mountains and tracks, while enjoying spectacular scenery. If you cannot manage a weekend, don't panic! - the Short Break Trail Ride is also available as a mid-week break subject to availability.
Sample Itinerary (3 nights - 3 full days riding) (also runs mid-week)
Friday The weekend starts on a Friday evening when you will be welcomed at a local village inn by Myfanwy, your host, and over dinner meet your fellow riders and talk about the programme for the weekend ahead.

Saturday After a hearty Welsh breakfast, you will arrive at the stables around 9.30am and will be introduced to your mount, who will be fed, groomed and tacked up and waiting for you. Around 10.30am we are all ready to leave. The first part of the ride takes us along leafy, flower-lined lanes to the Black Mountains. We have a steep climb of around 2000 feet ahead of us. The trail then drops down through a beautiful valley to our picnic lunch stop among the romantic ruins of the Hermitage. After lunch we skirt the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain (1955 feet), and ride through ancient oak woods. There will be plenty of opportunities for good long canters before arriving at Pant-y-Gelli. By the time we arrive, we will have spent approximately six hours in the saddle since leaving Ellesmere stables and you will be looking forward to a relaxing bath and dinner - but first you must care for your mounts, grooming and feeding them before turning them out for a roll and rest!!

	Sunday In the morning, everyone participates in catching, feeding, grooming and tacking up his or her horse for the day’s ride ahead. There is always someone on hand to help for those less familiar with these tasks. On departure, we ride along the eastern edge of the Sugar Loaf, then follow quiet byways to the remote church at Patrishow, where we have lunch. Dating back to mediaeval times, this small church is renowned for its marvellous wall paintings, which survived the austerity of Cromwell’s Commonwealth to be enjoyed by visitors today.
Riding onwards, we drop into the valley of the Gwyne Fawr river before climbing agian to an Iron Age hillfort with spectacular views across the Black Mountains range. Finally, by the Bloodstone with its tale of revenge by the Welsh against the Norman invaders, we descend into the Vale of Ewyas, with the 12th century Llanthony Priory far below. Destroyed during Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, one tower was subsequently rebuilt as a hunting lodge. The horses spend the night at a yard in the centre of Llanthony village, whilst we all adjourn to the night's accommodation just up the lane at a nearby walkers' pub* where we also eat tonight. However, it is well worth exploring the Priory ruins first - especially as they have a welcoming bar in the undercroft.

Monday At the start of our 20 mile ride back to Llangorse, we climb the steep track out of the Llanthony Valley, following forest tracks and crossing "Windy Ridge", before having our picnic lunch in the woods. Afterwards, we follow a grassy carriageway to the top of Pen Trumau (2005 feet), followed by a long steep descent (you will have realised by now our Welsh hills have very few flat bits!!). We have a final long canter along the foot of Mynydd Troed before arriving back at the stables in Llangorse.
Your horses will then need untacking and feeding for a final time, before they are turned out into their field for a well earned rest! You can expect to be able to leave Ellesmere stables by about 6.30pm.

NOTE: This itinerary is typical of a 3 day ride. However, the route and content taken may vary slightly dependent upon weather conditions and the availability of accommodation. * Alternative accommodation may be available but may attract a surcharge - please contact us for details.

PRICE FOR 2012- £492 Price includes: horse and tack, accommodation, all meals *(breakfast, packed lunch / pub lunch, evening meal - excluding drinks) services of a guide and transport of luggage. Extra nights accommodation can be arranged at £50 approximately (bed, breakfast and evening meal). Single supplement applies.