Off-road hacking Wiltshire/North Somerset

[Eeconyn]

I'm looking for places within ~1hr drive of Westbury, Wiltshire for off-road hacking (needs to be accessible for a 3.5T horsebox). I regularly go to Downlands in summer, and I've been over to Brean Sands, but I'm still new to the area and I'm sure there must be more lovely places around.

I've tried looking into hacking around the Longleat Forest area and the Salisbury plain area, but I could never find any concrete information on where parking is and what areas you're allowed to ride in.

Open to all suggestions, proper equestrian places/just bridleway/byway areas - if you do know of anything please include details as I don't have local knowledge to help me out yet!

Bonus:

• Open year-round
• Accommodates carriage driving
• Small XC jumps

Thanks!

 

[Hanno Verian]

This should help - the info is linked from here :

https://insidedio.blog.gov.uk/2021/...aying-safe-on-the-uk-defence-training-estate/

You can park up at most of the tank crossings there is usually hard standing, I would aim to use the Dry Training Area, whilst you can hack around the perimeter of Live Firing Area all the time, it can be like Saving Private Ryan at times.

Drive over and have a look around, I think there are recognised long distance rides with boxing areas

 

[Hanno Verian]

I dont hack around the training area, but I live nearby and mountain bike /dogwalk there. You may encounter armoured vehicles or helicopters but they are pretty good and are considerate, just dont pick a time when a major exercise is underway

 

[Hanno Verian]

It might be worth speaking to the RA Saddle Club who are based at Larkhill they might be able to advise you about carriage driving, sorry but I dont have any details

 

[Snow Falcon]

North of the Forest is about 1hr away.