Ride across Wales
The Border to Coast Mountain’s riding holiday starts near the Welsh/English Border in the Wye Valley and finishes on the sands of the Dovey Estuary on Cardigan Bay – six days’ journey in the saddle crossing Wales along unmarked tracks and trails through wild remote hills and mountains. Staying overnight at small inns along the trail.
The route covers over 100 miles in total and is suitable for those who are happy and confident cantering and also have a sense of adventure! The trail is a completely different route to the Border to Coast Lakeland’s option apart from the last morning to Ynyslas.
Join a ride or hire your own guide
You can either join this trail on set dates or you can hire your own guide.
If you hire your own guide for your group you can start and finish the trail on any days and dates throughout our season (as long as we have a guide available). Hiring you own guide is free for groups of four or more riders and £165 per day for groups less than four.
Special Info
- There is no luggage delivery, you carry your own personal stuff for the trail in our specially designed expedition saddle bags.
- The accommodation places are small so you need to share a room with another rider during this trail. Most folks come as individuals and its a friendly and sociable.
Stay overnight at inns en route
The first section of this trail heads northwards across the Radnor Hills towards Radnor Forest to stay at the Red Lion or Fforest Inn. Then it follows the Ithon Valley up to Laurel Bank, Abbeycwmhir. From here there is a rugged jumble of hills & valleys as you cross the Marteg Valley and descend into the Wye Valley at Llangurig.
After a night at the Blue Bell in Llangurig head north into the Hafren Forest, ford the head waters of the River Severn and emerge onto the wilds of Plynlimon. After a comfortable night at the lonely Star Inn saddle up early and set forth to cross the wilds of the Plynlimon Mountain range. Your guide now has a choice of routes. He/she will either follow the Hengwm Valley or descend steeply down Glyndwrs Way then climb back up through woodlands before the final descent into Talybont.
The trip of a lifetime
On the fifth day the northerly and southerly riding holiday routes join and riders stay the night at Talybont. Here, accommodation is at the White Lion Inn. From Talybont it is a leisurely ride to the coast at Borth then a 3 mile ride along the sands to Ynyslas to meet the equibus for the return journey to Freerein HQ.
Itinerary
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Day 1
For this riding holiday, you arrive at Freerein HQ at 9am. Meet your fellow riders and guide. Pack all of your belongings for the week into the Freerein expedision saddle bags. Meet and prepare your horse. Out on trail all day. A long first day with lots of trotting. Arrive at your accommodation, untack, feed & turn your horses out in the field. Enjoy a relaxing evening at Red Lion/Fforest Inn.
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Day 2
Feed, groom and tack up your horse. Out on trail all day to Abbeycwmhir.
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Day 3
Feed, groom and tack up your horse. Out on trail all day to Blue Bell at Llangurig.
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Day 4
Feed, groom and tack up your horse. Out on trail all day to the Star Inn.
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Day 5
Feed, groom and tack up your horse. Out on trail all day to Talybont.
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Day 6
Feed, groom and tack up your horse. Out on trail to the beach. Pick up is at 1 pm from the beach. We bring you and your horses back by road. Return all the way to Freerein HQ by road for around 4-5pm for tea and homemade cake.
This would have been a once in a lifetime holiday, but I know we'll be back for more
On Trail Accommodation
Many of our holidays have a number of different accommodation places connected to the specific trail route that you are booking. Freerein book the places you stay at. You do not have a choice of accommodation as we book the best available to suit your group .
Your accommodation places are confirmed in writing when you are invoiced.
Night 1
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Fforest Inn
The Fforest Inn is located in the pretty hamlet of Llanfihangel Nant Melan. One of Wales’ oldest pubs, The Fforest Inn was originally built in the 16th century as a Drovers inn. Steeped in history and recently renovated, it still retains many of its original features but now compliments them with a comfortable, welcoming environment.…
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Red Lion Inn
Picturesquely situated under the steep slopes of the Radnor Forest the Red Lion has catered for more riders than any other Freerein accommodation. During that time it has built up a trade and reputation to fit the description “restaurant with rooms”. There are two cosy little bars with log burning stoves, a simple and tasty…
Night 2
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Laurel Bank Guest House
Abbeycwmhir (Abbey in the Long Valley) is a village situated in the centre of Wales, nestled amongst the Cambrian Mountains, in the old county of Radnorshire. It is steeped in history and natural beauty as well as being virtually undiscovered by the modern world. A warm welcome awaits you on arrival, from the small vibrant…
Night 3
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Blue Bell Inn
The Blue Bell Inn at Llangurig is a listed 16th Century building which retains many of its original features and is unusual in that it is run by local people – Liz and Dewi – who enjoy good local support. Although it is a very pubby pub (pool, darts, dominoes, cards etc) with traditionally furnished…
Night 4
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The Star Inn
The Star Inn is a traditional 17th Century Drover’s Inn, offering a great selection of food, ales and wine. There are 8 en-suite bedrooms, single, twins, double, triple and family rooms. They are the highest country pub run in mid Wales, and all meat and vegetables are sourced locally. All dietary requirements are catered for.…
Night 5
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The White Lion Inn
If you are riding either of the adventurous Trans Cambrian routes to the coast Self Guided or Guided, then your final evening out on trail will be spent at the White Lion in Talybont. Here you are in the county of Ceredigion where Welsh is the spoken language used in shops, offices and pubs –…
Dates & Prices
Dates
Join a ride:
Lakeland's 11th May - Full
Mountain's 29th May
Mountain's 15th June
Mountain's 6th July - 2 Saddles
Lakeland's 3rd August - 2 Saddles
Lakeland's 22nd August
Mountain's 7th September
Lakeland's 21st September
Hire your own guide, start and finish any days & dates in 2018:
Saturday 14th April to Sunday 14th October
Starts at 9am
Further information on dates
Pricing
The price is £1460pp per person including everything except your lunches and evening meals.
Your Horse Riding Holiday
Six day adventurous trail ride across wild Wales from English border to Irish Sea.
We all look forward to welcoming you on The Border to Coast Mountain’s Trail.
Border to Coast Mountain’s Trail
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