Riding on Berrow/Brean

[Jasper151]

Apologies if this should be in the regional section.

We are planning a trip to ride on Brean/Berrow beach. I have visited here many times but only to walk the dog.

I know the sinking sand/mud is very dangerous, so we wouldn't be able to ride along the shore line. Is there an advisable time to go? e.g. an hour after high tide? We would be going on a weekend so I imagine there would be a few walkers etc. so would like there to be some space to be able to avoid dogs.

I have read conflicting rules on the cantering/galloping, some say you can't, others say it is fine if you are considerate to others. Anyone know the actual rule? It's not mentioned the Burnham website.

Are there any other beaches in the area (not Studland) that you can ride along the shore line?

Thanks for any help

 

[ester]

You are not allowed to go at speed in the parking areas (marked with wooden bollards either side), once outside the wooden bollards kick on usually plenty of space as not many walkers in the bits between berrow and burnham, or berrow and brean for decent stretches and plenty of space.

Will you be parking on the beach? If some some of the autumn tides are fairly high so you might want to leave a bit longer than an hour after high tide.

You just need to be sensible about the footing if you are not overly familiar, keep an eye on each others hoof prints and if in doubt move closer towards the dunes. Be aware there are a couple of sand spits (particularly in the sort of area where the golf course drains off - used to be some railings there) which if you get stuck on the end of it is better to turn around and go back along. At brean end where brean down starts to curve round it can get particularly silty so I tend not to go all the way down that way, plenty of other beach .

I have been in the water but only on high spring or autumn tides, and on bits we know well, though even so we lost one up to his ears at one point.

 

[Jasper151]

Thanks Ester.

The plan is to park on the beach (for convenience more than anything), so will definitely check tide times before we go.

As it is our first time riding there, we will probably stick pretty close to the dunes to be safe. I imagine we will park at towards Brean Down end and ride towards Burnham.

What am I looking for with hoof prints? If they fill up and disappear quickly?

I don't fancy losing a horse up to its ears (I'm a rubbish swimmer!) so will stay away! I have done beach rides up in Scotland, cantering in the surf and you get wetter than you think - it's not like in the movies!

We go down to Berrow to run our Husky on the scooter and there are always so many people (all wanting to know what we are doing ), hopefully we will pick a quiet day!

 

[Girlracer]

I went earlier this year and it was fantastic. We got there about 10am, and had a lovely time. We did end up in a bit of the sinking mud, which wasn't too pleasant - after that we stayed up away from the waters edge.

 

[Jasper151]

Looks amazing Girlracer!

Were you able to easily get out of the sinking mud? For some reason, it terrifies me! I walked that beach so many times and every time I'm worried about it!

 

[ester]

hoof prints- how deep you are going in.

Ours are kept locally so we used to box down a lot. My bestie lives in berrow and lived their most of their life - it was her hubby that ended up submerged- I think the horse tripped tbf! Me and the 12.2 were just fine!

Usually more bits to jump near the dunes anyway

It is fine, just requires a bit of awareness and sensibleness and no going to hunt the sea. In all my many trips we've never hit anything too sinky!

 

[Girlracer]

Looks amazing Girlracer!

Were you able to easily get out of the sinking mud? For some reason, it terrifies me! I walked that beach so many times and every time I'm worried about it!

Thankfully we pulled up from a canter a few strides before, and we managed to clamber back toward the dunes and eventually out of it - hence why my horses boots are pulled down in the photo! It was a bit scary, and I couldn't tell much difference in the surface if I'm honest, but you are fine if you stay up away from the water. We did park on the beach which was absolutely fine.

 

[ester]

But if I had ended up on the bit of sand over to the right of this pic, I would have back tracked rather than gone over the slightly dodgy looking bit to get back to the dunes

You'll be fine, it is great fun and I missed it hugely moving to wilts.

and this is Frankie's beach face, it is very similar to his hunting face - It is the only place he goes ready bridled!

And this is my Mum's mare being mobbed by brummies, she loved it, Frank got ants in his pants because the ice cream man played his music (we did use it more in winter )

Also kite buggies have always been fine, model aircraft one day were problematic!

 

[Girlracer]

That was the only thing that caused some issues - kites!!

 

[Jasper151]

Pictures are fab Ester. I see what you mean about the dodgy looking bit in your first picture. We will keep our eyes peeled.

Kites were the only issue, I don't think the horses have ever seen one so I have no idea how they will react. I may have to fly a kite around their field to see!

 

[ester]

there's usually enough space for everyone though, the kites aren't there all the time and they are usually very good if you have issues.

 

[hollyandivy123]

when a teenager, use to hack there and back from home............the best bit was pinging through the dunes playing tag

 

[Pascal96]

Gosh this brings back memories. I used to keep my pony at a riding school based in Berrow and we rode on the beach all the time. They used to take out big rides on a Saturday and we would go down the beach 18 to 20 horses line abreast. They used to run weekly courses during the holidays and sometimes they would mark out an oblong in the sand and you would do your schooling session there. Also they had permission to make a pathway through the dunes between the golf course and the beach, you really learnt how to ride up and down hill there.