Trot-off
New User
We are thinking of relocating and are looking for somewhere with a fantastic network of bridleways and off-road riding in quiet, beautiful surroundings, where house with land prices aren't too scary!
Where is the best area for hacking in UK and Ireland?
- Thread starter Trot-off
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Ali27
Well-Known Member
I would say the best place for hacking is the New Forest but house prices aren't cheap there! The Peak District has good bridleways and property is a lot more affordable!
Rowreach
Adjusting my sails
We can offer very affordable house prices, but we don't have any bridleways over here, so you have to find somewhere either near a beach (lots of those, but riding is sometimes restricted) or forest parks.
We've got wonderful off road riding in forests/up mountains but we have to buy an annual permit and we have to box (5 minutes) to it. It's definitely worth the cost of the permit, but I wish I could hack straight off the farm. Although we are very rural, I wouldn't ride on any of the roads round here, but obviously hacking on roads is perfectly possible in other areas.
To give you an idea of house prices, there was a 5 bed house on 20 acres with plenty of outbuildings for sale just down the road (actually a quiet lane) for £350k earlier this year.
We've got wonderful off road riding in forests/up mountains but we have to buy an annual permit and we have to box (5 minutes) to it. It's definitely worth the cost of the permit, but I wish I could hack straight off the farm. Although we are very rural, I wouldn't ride on any of the roads round here, but obviously hacking on roads is perfectly possible in other areas.
To give you an idea of house prices, there was a 5 bed house on 20 acres with plenty of outbuildings for sale just down the road (actually a quiet lane) for £350k earlier this year.
Dubsie
Well-Known Member
Herefordshire
mik
Well-Known Member
Dartmoor is the best!!!
lachlanandmarcus
Well-Known Member
ummm Scotland for sure, since horseriders have the same access rights as walkers up here and are not restricted to designated footpaths/bridleways. Plus theres lots of forestry. Only downside is that unless you have access to a school, riding tends to be more 3 season than 4 in my area (NE Scot) as eg our track is under deep snow or ice for weeks and weeks!
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite
Well-Known Member
Another vote for Dartmoor!
Exmoor is nice too; lovely riding.
Also parts of East Devon - but house prices are stupid here unfortunately.
Exmoor is nice too; lovely riding.
Also parts of East Devon - but house prices are stupid here unfortunately.
PeterNatt
Well-Known Member
North Hertfordshire
Trot-off
New User
Thank you so much for your responses so far. Its really interesting and useful info.
Ali- NF I think may be a bit expensive, but will look into PD, ta.
Rowmach-We do have Ireland on the short list,but have never visited yet so really useful info,ta. Are the mountains and forests usually accessable?
Dubsie- We are considering Wales so will look at Hereford too,ta.
Mik+ MiJods-We are looking into Dart+Exmoor as I know the riding there is good, having spent many a mile riding endurance there but property prices maybe a bit steep.
Lachlanandmarcus-just been looking at property in SW Scotland on internet. Looks promising...Are the midges as bad as peeps say??
Thanks again everyone
Ali- NF I think may be a bit expensive, but will look into PD, ta.
Rowmach-We do have Ireland on the short list,but have never visited yet so really useful info,ta. Are the mountains and forests usually accessable?
Dubsie- We are considering Wales so will look at Hereford too,ta.
Mik+ MiJods-We are looking into Dart+Exmoor as I know the riding there is good, having spent many a mile riding endurance there but property prices maybe a bit steep.
Lachlanandmarcus-just been looking at property in SW Scotland on internet. Looks promising...Are the midges as bad as peeps say??
Thanks again everyone
MagicMelon
Well-Known Member
Scotland. We have amazing hacking up here and house / land prices are generally cheaper than down south. I sell houses as my job and as an example up here (Aberdeenshire) I have houses on my books like; a 2 bed farmhouse with amazing views, huge steading, 5 x stables, 15 acres and direct access to forestry hacking for £250k.
As lachlanandmarcus says though, winter can be a bit interesting up here so riding can be disrupted but Southern Scotland doesn't get it as bad.
As lachlanandmarcus says though, winter can be a bit interesting up here so riding can be disrupted but Southern Scotland doesn't get it as bad.
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albeg
Well-Known Member
From my experience, you generally have to pay for access, unless riding on roads.
In some areas, the roads are brilliant, although in others, people are a bit stupid about horses on the road...
Petalpoos
Well-Known Member
Sussex is great for riding with the South Downs and the beaches and loads of bridleways - but a big Ouch! in terms of prices for houses with land
Trot-off
New User
South Downs are I guess a bit like Dorset too. Fab riding but prices out of budget for us. Thanks anyway.
I think it maybe Wales or Scotland are for us, anymore feedback out there please? For and against these areas are very welcome...
I think it maybe Wales or Scotland are for us, anymore feedback out there please? For and against these areas are very welcome...
Trot-off
New User
Happy New Year!!
abitodd
Well-Known Member
If you are looking at Exmoor,try the North Devon side. The riding is awesome,sheltered ,wooded valleys and vast open moorland with scope for a gallop,sea views and best of all house prices are cheap compared to Somerset's Exmoor.
The downside is: 20 miles to any shops,so you fuel bill will be higher. Very little in the way of employment. It rains alot and dense fog can be a problem.
Happy new year to you too!
The downside is: 20 miles to any shops,so you fuel bill will be higher. Very little in the way of employment. It rains alot and dense fog can be a problem.
Happy new year to you too!
Orangehorse
Well-Known Member
I think good riding is a difficult generalisation. If you are looking to move, find your sort of house first and then check out the riding, because there might be a superb network of bridlepaths, but you can't get to them as it means crossing a major trunk road. Sometimes rural counties can look lovely, but when it comes to riding there aren't any bridlepaths in your parish and only one circular ride round the lanes. (I thought Herefordshire isn't that good for bridlepaths? Although it is a lovely county).
Look on the County Council website to see if they mention riding routes at all - a good sign - and then you can look at an OS map to see if there is a network close to the house.
House prices are generally going to be less the further west you go, and further from main employment centres/big cities, and access to motorways. For instance, Ludlow in Shropshire is a very lovely town and a foodie capital, but it is too far from a motorway and a big city and not very good roads to have become another Cotswolds.
Look on the County Council website to see if they mention riding routes at all - a good sign - and then you can look at an OS map to see if there is a network close to the house.
House prices are generally going to be less the further west you go, and further from main employment centres/big cities, and access to motorways. For instance, Ludlow in Shropshire is a very lovely town and a foodie capital, but it is too far from a motorway and a big city and not very good roads to have become another Cotswolds.
L&M
Well-Known Member
We moved to the shrops/mid wales borders 6 yrs ago.
Shrops is quoted as the most rural county and our hacking is amazing, with numerous bridlepaths and stunning views. We can hack straight from our yard onto 700 acres of open common land, and the Shropshire hills are only a short lorry journey away.
We have access to several hunts, RC and PC's and some reasonable comp venues, with fun rides over stunning country virtually every weekend from Mar - Sept.
House prices are lower on the welsh side of the border and our first property was a 3 bed cottage/2 acres/stabling and school, which we bought for less than £250 k. We now have up graded to a small farm over the border into Shrops and own a 4 bed house/22 acres/8 stables and school for a very reasonable price - certainly nothing like we could have afforded in surrey.
Shrops is quoted as the most rural county and our hacking is amazing, with numerous bridlepaths and stunning views. We can hack straight from our yard onto 700 acres of open common land, and the Shropshire hills are only a short lorry journey away.
We have access to several hunts, RC and PC's and some reasonable comp venues, with fun rides over stunning country virtually every weekend from Mar - Sept.
House prices are lower on the welsh side of the border and our first property was a 3 bed cottage/2 acres/stabling and school, which we bought for less than £250 k. We now have up graded to a small farm over the border into Shrops and own a 4 bed house/22 acres/8 stables and school for a very reasonable price - certainly nothing like we could have afforded in surrey.
lachlanandmarcus
Well-Known Member
Yes midges are as bad as people say....if you go and live in the milder wetter west of Scotland. Which is why I went for the colder dryer sunnier (north) East (Aberdeenshire) and also live on a hill; we dont have ANY midgies, I cant bear them and neither can the horses!
We live off up a track so I can ride off road from our house, through the woods, across the moor and up the mooonnnntins
))And the naglets get to have fields like this....
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