Riding in North Yorkshire, England

[CathieinMD]

Hi U.K. Coth'ers . . .

I'm taking my kids (9 and 10) to England this summer and want to relive my own youthful days of riding along little winding roads with stone walls on steady cobs.

Any recommendations out there for a stable with half or full day accompaniesd rides? I'm looking for a place with true beginner-safe packers (my 10 year old is a non-rider). Anywhere in North Yorkshire will do.

Thanks.

[ImJumpin]

Perhaps contact Ride-Away. It is a big tack store in in Yorkshire, and I am sure they might have recommendations.

[EasterEgg]

You could try this one - seems to have everything you're looking for:

http://www.arklemoor.co.uk/

And it's in my absolute favourite area of the Dales - my dream is to be able to move to the Reeth area at some point in the next 10 years

[goodhors]

You might PM Thomas, he lives up in that area. Certainly would know who had reliable horses to rent for riding.

I do know you want to get details of the language correct. The UK folks idea of VERY quiet, well-behaved, is not always what I think meets that description.

My UK friends talk about Gramma and her really quiet horse. Gramma's horse might be really nice. Yet they never mention she uses him to go Hunting, she was previously an Olympic rider and she is in First Flight, every outing!! My Gramma would be riding one of those Western Pleasure horses who can't go at all!!

Have a nice vacation with the kids, sounds like fun.

[deltawave]

I would check out Thomas_1's place, for sure. If we go to Scotland next summer I am going to pay him a visit! :yes:

[Doodlebug1]

It depends a little on whereabouts in North Yorkshire you are going to be and how much time you have. Thomas1 is not based in North Yorks and may be as much as 3 hours away from where you are staying - that's not to discourage you from going chez Thomas - and you'll certainly get the winding lanes and stone walls that you're after.

If you do specifically want North Yorkshire, it has been about five years since I lived there, and I've never gone to ride other people's horses but the Yorkshire Dales Trekking Centre certainly had a good reputation and I met the owners a couple of times: http://www.ydtc.net/index.cfm. Malham Cove, where they are based is a National Trust area and very worth a trip. http://www.malhamdale.org.uk/malham_tarn.htm

If you're wanting somewhere near the coast, Robin Hood's Bay is a great area: http://www.robin-hoods-bay.co.uk/html/attractions/farsyde.htm. I have heard good things about them from friends.

Ivesley, though not in North Yorkshire - it's in the next county up, but very easy to reach, has a good reputation and is in a nice area. (trekking = hacking on the price list). I have been there many times to compete my own horses and all certainly looks good there, but I've never ridden their horses.

It's been a while since I lived in the area and I might not be aware of the best places. Having looked on the British Horse Society Website - www.bhs.org.uk - there is one more place, near Skipton, that I have not heard of that looks good: http://www.kilnseyriding.com/ As I say, I have absolutely no previous knowledge or experience of here, but on paper it looks good...

If practical from a time/distance perspective, Thomas would definitely be the best bet. Our equivalent of Rand McNally is www.multimap.com - go to 'get directions' then you can put in where you are staying and the riding centres and figure out what's going to work best for you.

[kookicat]

It depends a little on whereabouts in North Yorkshire you are going to be and how much time you have. Thomas1 is not based in North Yorks and may be as much as 3 hours away from where you are staying - that's not to discourage you from going chez Thomas - and you'll certainly get the winding lanes and stone walls that you're after.

If you do specifically want North Yorkshire, it has been about five years since I lived there, and I've never gone to ride other people's horses but the Yorkshire Dales Trekking Centre certainly had a good reputation and I met the owners a couple of times: http://www.ydtc.net/index.cfm. Malham Cove, where they are based is a National Trust area and very worth a trip. http://www.malhamdale.org.uk/malham_tarn.htm

If you're wanting somewhere near the coast, Robin Hood's Bay is a great area: http://www.robin-hoods-bay.co.uk/html/attractions/farsyde.htm. I have heard good things about them from friends.

Ivesley, though not in North Yorkshire - it's in the next county up, but very easy to reach, has a good reputation and is in a nice area. (trekking = hacking on the price list). I have been there many times to compete my own horses and all certainly looks good there, but I've never ridden their horses.

It's been a while since I lived in the area and I might not be aware of the best places. Having looked on the British Horse Society Website - www.bhs.org.uk (http://www.bhs.org.uk) - there is one more place, near Skipton, that I have not heard of that looks good: http://www.kilnseyriding.com/ As I say, I have absolutely no previous knowledge or experience of here, but on paper it looks good...

If practical from a time/distance perspective, Thomas would definitely be the best bet. Our equivalent of Rand McNally is www.multimap.com (http://www.multimap.com) - go to 'get directions' then you can put in where you are staying and the riding centres and figure out what's going to work best for you.

Agree with this post, especially the Yorkshire Dales Trekking Centre. I've heard a lot of good things about them.

Have fun!

[Lori B]

Cathie -- can you take me with you? I can pretend to be daughter-aged. :-) It sounds like a lovely day.

[ESG]

What about Yorkshire Riding Centre, Christopher Bartle's place? Would they not be able to help?

[CathieinMD]

I will definitely check out the places listed - esp. Yorkshire Dales Trekking Centre. This board is sooo wonderful, thank you all you great COTH'ers!

One other question -- I should have put this in my original post: When I was a kid and lived in Harrogate, I took riding lessons from an old man who had an indoor ring in the basement of his barn. He basically put me up on a grey cob, crossed my stirrups, and made me trot and canter on the lunge for the alloted 45 minutes - no reins, no stirrups. He didn't say much. I tried not to fall off. It was wonderful.

Anyway, I would love to revisit that place - anyone know of a barn near Harrogate with an underground indoor?

[dogchushu]

Hrm, no idea about the place in Harrogate!

I was just going to add that I rode here once http://www.mashamridingcentre.com/

Had a great time and now I want, want, want a highland pony! :)

[Doodlebug1]

The Bartle's at Yorkshire Riding Centre don't offer hacking/trekking anymore (due to insurance) - they also don't have ponies anymore, so not really an option.

I think you might have been thinking of Major Birtwhistle at the Harrogate Riding School/Centre (I can't quite remember the name) I don't think the indoor was exactly underground but the description sounds like Maj. B....

You could look on bhs.org.uk under approved centres to see if there is still a riding school there and go and investigate.

[Doodlebug1]

I haven't heard of Masham riding centre - but it's a lovely area and you could combine with a day out to Masham (black sheep brewery does good tours and lovely food) and/or to Riveaulx/Jervaulx abbeys.

Do you get the TV programme Heartbeat over there? It is partly filmed in a village called Thornton Watlass just a little way from Masham.

[EasterEgg]

I haven't heard of Masham riding centre - but it's a lovely area and you could combine with a day out to Masham (black sheep brewery does good tours and lovely food) and/or to Riveaulx/Jervaulx abbeys.

Do you get the TV programme Heartbeat over there? It is partly filmed in a village called Thornton Watlass just a little way from Masham.

Heartbeat is filmed in Goathland which is over on the moors...

Masham is gorgeous though - I second the idea of a trip to the Black Sheep Brewery and the trips to Jervaulx/Fountains Abbeys (Rievaulx is a little further away near Helmsley in the lower moors but is also definitely worth a trip).

[Doodlebug1]

Yes it is, but it Lord- whatever-his-name-is 's house is filmed at Thornton Watlass Hall and some of the scenes are also shot round there. Have a look on here it might look familiar!!! http://www.thorntonwatlasshall.co.uk/fame.html

I did say PART of it was shot there....

[EasterEgg]

Yes it is, but it Lord- whatever-his-name-is 's house is filmed at Thornton Watlass Hall and some of the scenes are also shot round there. Have a look on here it might look familiar!!! http://www.thorntonwatlasshall.co.uk/fame.html

I did say PART of it was shot there....

So you did, my mistake :lol:

[Thomas_1]

Heartbeat is filmed in Goathland which is over on the moors...

Masham is gorgeous though - I second the idea of a trip to the Black Sheep Brewery and the trips to Jervaulx/Fountains Abbeys (Rievaulx is a little further away near Helmsley in the lower moors but is also definitely worth a trip). I'm originally from Rosedale (Bottoms Farm) which isn't much more than a kick in the teeth from Goathland, Farndale and Thornton le Dale. They're all my old stomping grounds and I've a lot of friends down there still.

This is my old homeland:

http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/19/7a/3f/at-the-top-of-the-chimney.jpg

I'm now located nearly 3 hours from there.

I'd recommend Helmsley Riding School 01439 770355

or Bilsby Riding Centre in Hawnby near the delightful village of Helmsley 01439 798225

or Staintondale Trekking Centre 01723 871846

or Rosedale Trekking Centre 01751 417355

Chris at the Yorkshire Riding Centre doesn't do ride outs at all.

The village of Hutton le Hole is idyllic. Just up from there is Lastingham and possibly one of the nicest pubs in the UK. Or if you want something really quite classy then there's a delightful old coaching inn with fantastic food at The Blacksmiths at Hartofts End. Or else there's a brilliant pub at Cropton where a very good friend of mine brews the famous Cropton 2 Pints on the premises. All are child friendly. You could call in and see my eldest daughter ;)