Riding the countryside
We see bridle-riding as more than just riding – it’s riding the countryside – enjoying the scenery, the places of interest, the wildlife and, if you’re interested, the history, geology and farming practices, and local stories. Our routes are designed to take you to the most interesting and scenic places, our Route-guides (which give you your detailed directions) are full of short notes about the flowers, the buildings, the industry, the railways and canals, the history, stories, or anything of interest about the place you’re riding through (they are printed in a different typeface, so you can easily skip them if you want). In addition, for each network, we’ve written a Guide which gives a very brief history of the area – eg. the wool trade in the Cotswolds, the monks in Yorkshire, the Saxons on the Ridgeway Downs, and so on.
Bridle-rider Fiona Greenwood at Chettle House on the Cranborne Chase network. It’s a fine Queen Anne brick house (1710), with an elegant circular double staircase inside.
Chastleton House on the North Cotswold network. On the top floor, the Gunpowder Plot was hatched in 1605. The house has recently been restored by the National Trust.
Braemar House in Hampshire on the Cranborne Chase network. In the woods nearby, some plastic hovels were constructed to represent where the peasants lived in the film of Hardy’s The Woodlanders.
Clubmen’s Down on the Cranborne Chase network. Here in 1645, in the middle of the Civil War, several thousand men, fed up with successive armies passing through and taking all their food and women, gathered to agree to fight whichever side came next Roundheads or Cavaliers. Cromwell, of course, had not time for this sort of CND approach – his New Model Army smashed the Clubmen (who, as their name implies, were only armed with clubs).
You can also see each other of course – and take some photos to remind you of the holiday. Bridle-riding is a very social and enjoyable activity. Above left: Naomi Clarkin on Dobbin – not exactly approved riding technique, but it does capture the happy spirit of Bridle rides quite well.