How can Equestrian Wales help you find a bridleway or long distance horse trail in Wales?

You may live in Wales and be looking for a new route to ride with your horse locally, or you may be planning to take your own horse to Wales for a holiday and want to plan your route. Whatever you are looking for, Equestrian Wales can give you all the information you need to choose and find out about bridleways, long distance trails, and equestrian access in Wales on the Bridleways and Access pages.

Equestrian Wales is the only website specialising in all things equestrian in Wales - including bridleways and specialist horse routes in Wales. This is the best source of information on all the best and longest bridleways and long distance rides in Wales, and the only one dedicated to Wales. If you want to know where you can ride in Wales you will find all the information on Equestrian Wales.

Wales boasts some of the most fantastic, unspoilt riding country in Britain. Some of the mountainous areas are so remote, that it is rare to see another person during a full day ride, and it is possible to share nature at its most basic, with only sheep and birds for company.

Equestrian Wales provides details of long and short bridleways and horse riding trails, through forests and over mountains, linear and circular, with details of the nearest town and county within Wales. Where possible, information on horse box parking is included.

Equestrian Wales offers all the information you need to plan a route for a riding holiday with your own horse in Wales. See the individual pages to find out more about routes for horse riding in the forests of Wales, and horse riding on the mountains of Wales.

There are many acres of ancient deciduous forests in Wales criss-crossed by long-established bridleways and horse trails, perfect for a peaceful hack in quiet countryside. There are also newer coniferous forests, many cared for by the Forestry Commission in Wales, with purpose made bridle paths and tracks, some softened by fallen pine needles and perfect for a brisk canter. Equestrian Wales lists many of the forests in Wales which are suitable for horse riding, with details of horse box parking and map references where possible.

If you know of other forests suitable for horse riding which are not listed, please email here, giving as much information as possible regarding bridle paths and horse box parking. 

Wales has many mountains, some green and rolling, others steeper and rockier. Some of the best riding country in Wales is to be found in the mountains of the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Cambrian Mountains and the Black Mountains of mid Wales, the Preseli mountains in south west Wales, and the mountains of southern Snowdonia. There are few roads through the Welsh mountains, meaning few cars. It is possible to ride through the mountains of Wales all day, with the company of sheep, mountain ponies, and soaring buzzards, and see no other human beings all day. There are not many areas of the United Kingdom where this is still possible - in Wales you can enjoy that magical experience many times over.

Many of the trails you will ride through the Welsh mountains are ancient drovers roads, the routes followed in the past to transport animals to and from markets in the old Welsh towns. You can enjoy a part of Welsh history, and see the same glorious views enjoyed through the centuries. You will find all the information you need on the best bridleways and horse trails through the mountains of Wales on these pages.

Equestrian Wales also includes details of beach riding in Wales. The basic rule for publicly owned beaches is that if you can reach the beach on horseback legally - via a road or bridleway which you are allowed to ride on - then you may ride on the beach. However, there are restrictions on racing on beaches, and on breaking and training horses on beaches, and you are always expected to give way to pedestrians. The rules are there to make sure all beach users, including children, horse riders and dog walkers, are kept safe. Many county councils also operate byelaws which restrict access to beaches to specific hours of the day during the summer months. Check out our beach riding page if you would like to find out where you can ride on a beach in Wales.

If you are based in or near, or visiting, one of Wales' main towns, it may be useful to find information on bridleways and equestrian access near to you. See the horse riding near main towns in Wales page for information. On this page you will find listed the best bridle paths and horse trails closest to all the main towns and cities throughout Wales.

You will find more information on the regions of Wales, and details of and links to some of Wales' main towns, here.

If you are bringing your own horse for a riding holiday in Wales, many farms and cottages will offer accommodation for horse and rider with stabling or grazing. These farms are found in some of Wales' best riding country, close to the best mountain, forest and beach riding trails in Wales. Some farms and cottages will help you plan routes, and may be able to offer maps, and even guides.

While you are in Wales, why not visit one of the entertaining horse shows and equestrian events held throughout Wales. You will find horse show dates for ridden and in-hand classes for all types and breeds of horses and ponies in Wales including hunters, hacks, riding horses and ponies, working hunters, cobs, mountain and moorland ponies, Welsh breeds including welsh mountain ponies and welsh cobs, leading rein ponies, heavy horses, arabians, appaloosas and coloured horses and ponies in Wales, and for side saddle riders and private driving. This website gives links and contact information for the many horse shows in Wales - why not take the opportunity to enter your horse for some showing classes while you are here.

There are also top level affiliated show jumping classes, and unaffiliated show jumping classes in Wales. Many shows feature the very exciting scurry driving classes, with small driving ponies racing around a track marked by cones. Take your own horse to a horse show in Wales, or simply go as a spectator. Equestrian Wales lists all the top horse shows and equestrian events in Wales, together with links to their websites, show dates and venues.

If you would like to add a horse show or equestrian event to the Horse Shows in Wales page, please click here and provide all relevant information.

If you would like to find bridleways and long distance horse riding routes in the area you are based in, you will find bridleways listed in the regions of Wales pages under bridleways in North Wales, bridleways in Mid Wales, and bridleways in South and West Wales.

You will find information regarding which routes you are allowed to ride on, and what to do if the bridleway you are riding on is blocked, on the bridleways FAQ page.

Click here if you know of a bridleway or long distance trail in Wales which is not listed here. Please include as much information as possible.

Click here to see a map of the counties of Wales.

You may need to find a saddlery or tack shop in Wales for urgent repairs to saddles or bridles, or to buy new horse tack or equipment, like saddle bags for long distance rides. Equestrian Wales lists all the best saddleries and tack shops in north Wales, saddleries and tack shops in mid Wales and saddleries and tack shops in south and west Wales.

This is the section to find out about access for horse and rider in Wales, bridleways, bridlepaths, horse trail rides, mountain riding, beach riding, waymarked horse routes, off road riding, hacking, and trail riding in Wales, UK, Europe.