Trail Rides (2, 3 & 5 Days)

Our 5 day trail rides have proved increasingly popular since they began in April 2008.  We travel round the most beautiful parts of the Lake District on horseback staying at local B&Bs and Inns along the way.  We cover around 80 miles over 5 days so, as you can imagine the terrain changes on a daily basis as we climb fells and drop down into valleys, seeing some of the most inaccessible parts of the Lake District.  

Due to the terrain we occasionally have to lead the horses, therefore, it is essential that you are confident and experienced both handling and riding horses.  

We have just started offering 2 day trail rides for those of you with limited time.  These rides take in the amazing countryside and coastline that surrounds us at Murthwaite Green.  Details of these rides are listed below.

Places on all trail rides will be limited to 6 per ride so early booking is essential. All rides will be escorted by 2 fully qualified and experienced ride escorts.

Please see our gallery page to look at some of the photos from our previous trail rides.


Sample itinerary -  Beach & Fells Trail (2 Day)                     

Day 1


Arrive at your B&B (The Miners Arms in Silecroft) in time for your evening meal which will be provided at the local inn or the hotels restaurant at a time to suit you.

Day 2


Ride along the beach for 3 miles upto Gutterby.  From here we will head inland toward the imposing fell of Blackcombe.  We will either stop for a picnic lunch or take a break at a local hotel.  After lunch we will begin our climb to the summit of Blackcombe (almost 2000ft).  There are plenty of photo opportunities and on reaching the summit we will take a break to admire the fantastic views.  We will drop down into Whicham Valley crossing fields before heading back to the stables to cool off the horses.  Evening meal will be back at The Miners Arms in Silecroft. (Approx. 12.5 miles)

Day 3


Arrive at the yard in the morning ready for a 10am departure.  We will have a longer ride along the beach today in the opposite direction.  We will ride round the old Harbour wall and through Hodbarrow nature reserve before stopping for a picnic lunch whilst your horses takes a rest.  After lunch the ride continues along the salt marshes before heading inland towards Po-House hills enjoying the spectacular scenery as you go. We should arrive back at the yard by 4pm.  (Approx 13.5 miles)

Sample itinerary -  Langdale Trail (3 Day)                     

Day 1 (pm)

Arrive at the stables in the afternoon for a short assessment.  You and the horses will then be transported to Seathwaite from where the trail ride will begin the following day.

Day 2 - the first day of the trail ride

Leave Seathwaite by 9am we will ride over the Walna Scar Road, skirting around Coniston Old Man.  We will then drop down into Coniston village where we will stop for lunch at one of the local pubs.  Following lunch we will pick up bridleways leaving Coniston and heading towards the Langdale Valleys.  We will pass Hodge Close and ford the beck leading us into the picturesque hamlet of Little Langdale.  From here we will once again pick up bridleways past Lingmoor Fell around the back of Elterwater before entering the Great Langdale Valley and Chapel Stile.  We will stop for the night at The Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel at the base of the Langdale Pikes.

Day 3

Leaving Great Langdale behind us, we will climb the lanes passing Blea Tarn looking back onto the best view of the Langdale Pikes from anywhere in the Lake District.  We will drop down to the base of Wyronse Pass and head over green roads and bridleways towards Tilberthwaite.  We will eventually head back into Coniston for lunch at a local inn.  Following lunch we will climb back over the Walna Scar Road heading back towards Seathwaite for the night.

Day 4

Leaving Seathwaite on our final day we will head towards Thwaites Fell over Bridleways and Lanes.  After a picnic lunch stop we will head through the picturesque village of Hallthwaites before picking up Po-House Lanes.  We plan to be back in the yard for around 4pm.


Sample itinerary -  Wasdale Ride  (5 Day)                   

Day 1


Arrive Silecroft in the afternoon, come along to the stables for an assessment and ride out and to meet the horses and the ride leaders. You will stay the night in a local B&B and we will meet up at a local inn for our evening meal to discuss the plans for the week ahead.

Day 2


Leave Silecroft at 9am. Riding over Po House using quiet lanes and bridleways. Heading firstly to Ulpha where we will stop for lunch, and from there over the Dunnerdale fells dropping down into Seathwaite . We will stay the night in Seathwaite village and have a restful evening at the Newfield Inn whilst the horses graze in a nearby field.

Day 3


Leave Seathwaite by 9am for what will be the most challenging day. We will ride though Dunnerdale Forest skirting round Harter Fell, and dropping down into Eskdale via Jubilee Bridge, where will will stop for lunch and to rest the horses. We will then continue the ride towards Eskdale heading for Boot. Once at Boot we will pick up the Old Coffin Trail which takes us over Eskdale Moor and past Burnmore Tarn.  After a few hours we drop down into Wasdale Head getting the most amazing views as we traverse round the head of Wastwater.  We will stay the night at Wasdale Head Inn where food and good ale is available as is grazing for the horses.

Day 4


Up bright and early for a 9am start - we will ride along the full length of Wastwater (the most beautiful view in Britain) hopefully before the crowds!! From Wastwater we will head for Santon Bridge using quiet country lanes and bridleways. From Santon Bridge we will head into Eskdale Green were we will stop for lunch at a local pub. From here we will pick up a bridleway which passes Muncaster Head before joining the lanes that will take us up over Birker Fell.  Once we reach the top of Birker Fell we can stop for a while and take in the amazing views of all the fells and moors we have ridden over in the last few days.   From Birker we drop down into Ulpha and head back to Seathwaite where we will spend the last night, once again enjoying our evening meal at The Newfield Inn.

Day 5


The last day will be re-tracing the route of day 1 but the views are completely different when approaching from the other direction. We plan to arrive back at the yard in Silecroft at around 4pm.

 

Sample itinerary -  Langdale & Coniston Ride  (5 Day)

Day 1


Arrive Silecroft in the afternoon, come along to the stables for an assessment and ride out and to meet the horses and the ride leaders. You will stay the night in a local B&B and we will meet up at a local inn for our evening meal to discuss the plans for the week ahead.

Day 2


Leave Silecroft at 9am. Riding over Po House using quiet lanes and bridleways. Heading firstly to Ulpha where we will stop for lunch, and from there over the Dunnerdale fells dropping down into Seathwaite . We will stay the night in Seathwaite village and have a restful evening at the Newfield Inn whilst the horses graze in a nearby field.

Day 3


Leave Seathwaite by 9am we will ride over the Walna Scar Road, skirting around Coniston Old Man.  We will then drop down into Coniston village where we will stop for lunch at Yew Tree Farm which was famously used in the filming for Beatrix Potter.  Following lunch we will pick up bridleways leaving Coniston and heading towards the Langdale Valleys.  We will pass Hodge Close and ford the beck leading us into the picturesque hamlet of Little Langdale.  From here we will once again pick up bridleways past Lingmoor Fell around the back of Elterwater before entering the Great Langdale Valley and Chapel Stile.  We will stop for the night at The New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel at the base of the Langdale Pikes.

Day 4


Leaving Great Langdale behind us, we will climb the lanes passing Blea Tarn looking back onto the best view of the Langdale Pikes from anywhere in the Lake District.  We will drop down to the base of Wyronse Pass and head over green roads and bridleways towards Tilberthwaite.  We will eventually head back into Coniston for lunch at a local inn.  Following lunch we will climb back over the Walna Scar Road heading back towards Seathwaite for the night.

Day 5


Leaving Seathwaite on our final day we will head towards Thwaites Fell over Bridleways and Lanes.  After a picnic lunch stop we will head through the picturesque village of Hallthwaites before picking up Po-House Lanes.  We plan to be back in the yard for around 4pm.