Ride Overview

Get ready to ride folks – this is a truly epic trail ride conceived 40 years ago, and only a handful of people know the way, so you are in for the “real deal”!  The route passes through four mountain ranges – The Black Mountains, Mynydd Epynt, the Elan Valley and over Plynlimon before a final gallop on the beach near Aberystwyth.  Check it out on the map – you are covering some amazing ground – both in terms of distance and technical ability.

The route uses mostly forgotten bridle-ways (some can be fairly overgrown and jungle like), some open moorland crossings and over private land. Luckily the guides know their way, and are there to make sure you get the most out of your trail ride.  You’ll ride hearty, capable and totally sensible Welsh Section Ds (all ranging from 15-16h) uniquely bred for the job.  They nimby take you through some of the most historic, beautiful and undiscovered countryside in Wales and all of Britain, for that matter!

Accommodations are in local hotels and historic inns, some do not have ensuite bath on one or two nights.  Riders are also responsible for grooming, tacking and cleaning tack daily.

***Please note, this is a challenging ride for competent and experienced riders only. We cross from the Black Mountains to the Irish sea, over several mountain ranges, covering great distances, mostly off-road, and riders must be fit, have good stamina, and be comfortable riding at speed, sometimes for longer distances.  Give us a call or reach out via email to discuss this in detail.

2026 Short Break: We offer shorter dates for those who want a quick getaway of 3 days and 2 nights – with more localized riding as follows: Oct. 9-11, Oct. 16-18
Rate: $1,660.00 USD (or 1,380£ per person) per person in a shared room (Single Supplement:  $175.00 USD or 150£)

* * * * *
Trans Wales Inn to Inn Ride, 6N/7D:
2027 Dates:  May 1-7, May 15-21, May 29-June 4, June 11-17, June 26-July 2, July 10-16, July 31-Aug. 6, Aug. 14-20, Aug. 28-Sept. 3, Sept. 11-17, Sept. 25-Oct. 1
2027 Rate*:  $3,720.00 USD (or 2,860£ per person) per person in a shared room. (Single rooms are very limited. IF available the single supplement fee is: $468.00 USD or 360£)
*This price is subject to change after Oct. 31

Embark on one of our Short Breaks! –Delightful three-day, two-night adventures of guided horseback riding while we handle the logistics of your luggage. Designed for intermediate or experienced riders. Approximately 4-5 hours in the saddle each day.

Short Breaks Ride, 2N/3D:
2027 Dates: Apr. 20-22, Apr. 28-30, May 12-14, June 9-11, June 22-24, July 7-9, Aug. 10-12, Aug. 24-26, Sept. 22-24, Oct. 4-6
2027 Rate: $1,950.00 USD (or 1,500£ per person), (Single Supplement, subject to availability: $156.00 USD or £120)

Included

  • 2 or 6 nights accommodation
  • 3 or 5 days of guided riding
  • All meals
  • Horse and all tack
  • Guiding services on the trail rides
  • All local taxes

Not Included

  • Airfare
  • Travel Insurance
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Airport/Train Station transfers
  • Gratuities for the riding staff at the end of the stay
Download pdf brochure

Day 1: Arrival (7 Day Itinerary)

Riders arrive in the evening, gather in the lounge over welcome drinks, and enjoy getting to know one another over a home-cooked dinner.

Day 2

We start with a local trail of 12-15 miles, so that riders can get a feel for our horses and riding style.

We stop for lunch in a local pub, and afterwards head up onto the mountain where the hill-riding really begins.

We head back to Blaenau for a well-earned dinner. Guests are free to visit the local pub (1 mile away, bring/ borrow a torch/flashlight for the way home!) if they wish.

Day 3

Time to set off on the trail! The morning is busy making sure we have everything we need for the adventure ahead. Once on horseback, country lanes lead us up to Llandefalle Common, with plenty of gently undulating wide grassy tracks to enjoy long and fast canters.

We picnic in beautiful woodland before pressing on over the common, taking in the incredible Pant Y Llyn lake high above Builth where wild ponies often congregate to drink.

Day 4

Today we track the route of the beautiful River Wye upstream, before reaching Llanafan Common, with more wild ponies and amazing views!

We drop down for a picnic lunch beside the beautiful river Cwm Cwerfru.

The afternoon finds us negotiating the ancient drovers trails across Llanwrthl common, part of the Cambrian Mountains, earning our first glimpse of Elan Valley. Red kites fly above us and the views stretch for miles.

We reach Rhyader for the night where we stay in a comfortable hotel.

Day 5

We head straight up onto the hill, a steep climb but while horses rest at the top, we are rewarded with unforgettable views down the stunning Elan Valley with its string of reservoirs and the Pen Cerrig Dam.

We follow grassy tracks down the hill to our picnic spot at the bottom of the valley.

After lunch, we track the Elan Valley Mountain road before turning into the Tar Ennig Forest for some long adrenaline-inducing gallops to finish off the day!

We stay in the small hamlet of Llangurig, in the historic Bluebell Inn, which offers fairly basic comfort compared to the rest of the accommodation but always very warm welcome and fantastic food!

Day 6

The final day of riding is literally a marathon day – 26 miles to the sea, crossing mountains with no trail to follow!

The final day is literally a marathon day – 26 miles to the sea, crossing mountains with no trail to follow!

This is challenging terrain with deep bogs and undulating trails. It’s not for the faint-hearted but by this time your bond with your horse is unshakeable, and the sense of achievement at the end is just incredible!

We drop down for lunch in the middle of nowhere, far from civilisation, and by now you will really understand the extent of the wilderness of Wales. After lunch we welcome a less challenging but equally beautiful route, with two more hills to hop over, and celebrate our first view of the sea as Aberdovey Estuary comes into view.

We stop for tea at a lovely cafe, then trot down the road, around the headland of Ynyslas, and hit the beach!

After a refreshing paddle in the waves, horses and riders enjoy galloping along the firm sand – you won’t want to stop!

Riders and horses alike are glad of a lift home, stopping en-route for dinner at the Blue Bell Inn. Tea and cake waits for you back at Blaenau, and it will feel like coming home!

Day 7

Guests depart after a huge breakfast.

Day 1: Short Break Itinerary (slight variations depending on date/time of year)

Day 1 sees us set off through quiet country lanes and bridleways before turning west, crossing the old railway line and then enjoying a long ancient hollow-way beneath Llanfilo. We cross the Usk in Brecon itself, and head up onto the grassy common beneath Mynydd Illtud for long canters, with the most incredible of the Beacons range in all their glory – these are the highest mountains in South Wales. Horses overnight on the outskirts of Brecon, while guests stay in the historic town itself, in a gorgeous B&B.
Or:
Day 1 sees us pack up the saddlebags, throw your stuff (carefully!) into the Land-rover, mount up and wind our way up through the lanes and set off over the ridge towards the very edge of Wales.
After a long climb over Rhiw Trumau, we are rewarded with fantastic views back over the Rhiangol valley. We then head down an old coach road to the Red Lion Inn at Llanbedr for lunch.
After lunch we follow a valley path in the shadow of Sugarloaf Mountain to Forest Coal Pit, then ride across Bryn Arw finishing the day in the village of Llanvihangel Crucorney.
Guests stay in a comfortable B&B (your luggage has been delivered already by our land-rover) and dine at the Skirrid Inn, allegedly the oldest pub in Wales! The horses are turned out, and a cup of tea and slice of delicious cake awaits tired riders.

Day 2 Short Break

We ride up Hatteral Ridge on the ancient border between England and Wales, the famous Offa’s Dyke path which stretches from one end of Wales to the other, named after King Offa who built it in the 6th century. You will earn glorious views of the green fields of Herefordshire in England to one side, and on the other the vastness of Wales and the Black Mountains. Along the top of the ridge between England and Wales there are endless canters to be enjoyed. We ride up on to the Black Hill before descending Hay Bluff and Cusop Dingle towards our bed (and field!) in historic Hay-on-Wye, a quaint market town made famous for its bookshops.

Day 3 Short Break

Day 3 sees us set up Cusop Dingle, a steep wooded valley that leads out of Hay-on-Wye, across the river and head up onto the lower reaches of Hay Bluff. We ride along the lower regions of the northern escarpment of the Black Mountains before descending through Hay Wood to the small village of Felindre.
We lunch at the ancient Three Horseshoes pub, before heading homewards to Blaenau via Felindre Common for a glorious run along the grassy tracks.
Back at Blaenau, riders relax by the little stream with tea and cake before heading home.

Download pdf brochure

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