Liberty Trails - Dartmoor Horseback Adventures
Overview
Multiple Award Winning Liberty Trails offers customised, exclusive riding experiences for your party, including transfers from your accommodation, airport or train station and any extra activities you'd like to try whilst you are on Dartmoor. You can book for one, two or three days riding and each ride is carefully tailored taking into consideration your experience, confidence levels, fitness and stamina levels. Rides usually cover between 15-35 km in a day with all transfers to and from the start of ride included. The price quoted is for one day although Guests normally book 1-3 days.
Inclusions
- Lunch - You'll either enjoy a picnic prepared and delivered by the groundcrew to a remote beauty spot on route Or stop in an ancient Dartmoor Inn
What to expect
If you're an experienced, competent rider with a thirst for adventure, this experience is for you. If you are comfortable riding a fit, forward going horse at pace in wide open spaces and love exploring unfenced, wilderness terrain, this is for YOU. You'll cover up to 25 Km per day, exploring this stunning region which is the highest, oldest and least populated in South West England. You'll ride with a guide either on your own or with your friends and family enjoying a fabulous day discovering Dartmoor on horseback. If you haven't yet booked your accommodation and would like us to create a customised horse riding holiday for you, please send us an email or call us with your dates. If you've already organised your accommodation, and want to enjoy a full day in the saddle, please call or email us to check availability as we only cater for one booking at a time and you'll get the full focus of our team for the duration of your time with us.
Stop At:
• Dartmoor National Park, United Kingdom
Sample Menu
• Picnic Hamper with fresh, local produce - Sparkling Wine, freshly baked breads and scones, locally selected cheeses, meats, pasties, and fruit,
Stop At:
• Dartmoor National Park, United Kingdom
Sample Menu
• Picnic Hamper with fresh, local produce - Sparkling Wine, freshly baked breads and scones, locally selected cheeses, meats, pasties, and fruit,
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level
- You need to be an experienced, competent horse rider
- You need to have your own riding kit
- Face masks required for travelers in public areas
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Face masks provided for travelers
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- Regular temperature checks for staff
- Temperature checks for travelers upon arrival
- Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
- Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Steve V
October 2019
We booked a House Party with Liberty Trails and paid in July. Communication was poor from the beginning and we even had to chase for an invoice, notwithstanding that there were time limits to pay for the holiday. The holiday was due to take place in the first weekend of October. Roll forward to ...
We booked a House Party with Liberty Trails and paid in July. Communication was poor from the beginning and we even had to chase for an invoice, notwithstanding that there were time limits to pay for the holiday. The holiday was due to take place in the first weekend of October. Roll forward to the weekend before the holiday and we hadn't heard anything. They promise a packing list. This didn't arrive. No itinerary. We didn't know where we staying in four days time, where to take the horse, anything. Not very good for a luxury holiday that isn't cheap, On the Monday (we were supposed to travel down on Thursday), after much chasing, we received an email saying that Elaine (one of the owners) would email the itinerary and then call us to go through it. We didn't receive an email but Elaine called my number and left a voicemail, saying she couldn't read my wife's mobile number (despite having previously successfully used it when we were booking). At that point, it was too late to call back so my wife planned to call back the following day in her lunch break. Before this could be done, Elaine again called my mobile again and I called her back. She then told me that the holiday was postponed due to weather conditions but we could book again in April (presumably while they kept our payment for another six months). We queried the weather as we were told the following: It had rained solid for two weeks - It hadn't as Liberty Trails had previously posted pictures on Facebook of the Dartmoor Derby which had happened during the weekend just gone showing dry and sometimes sunny conditions. There was a severe weather warning - There wasn't. We checked the local press, Met Office and also friends who live in the area. The ground was saturated and the horses will struggle (even their super fit ones)- It wasn't too bad to not run the Dartmoor Derby the weekend before and a week after our cancelled holiday, they ran another one with "excellent ground and the horses on great form". We were left feeling very disappointed with the cancellation, particularly in light of the poor communication, even having to chase them for the promised refund. Not recommended.Celia6620
June 2023
Fantastic experience from first to last, Elaine was so well organized and welcoming. Lots of fun side trips that Bob organized to perfection, great ideas and great fun. I could have stayed on much longer! Dartmoor is a magical place and Liberty Trails is a wonderful way to enjoy it.
Fantastic experience from first to last, Elaine was so well organized and welcoming. Lots of fun side trips that Bob organized to perfection, great ideas and great fun. I could have stayed on much longer! Dartmoor is a magical place and Liberty Trails is a wonderful way to enjoy it.HollyS18
July 2021
I went on a Liberty Trails trip in June 2021 and it was amazing, I can't recommend it enough! We were in a lovely small group of people with all similar interests and a mutual love of riding. We arrived Friday evening and were greeted by Elaine- she even called us on the way to make sure we knew ...
I went on a Liberty Trails trip in June 2021 and it was amazing, I can't recommend it enough! We were in a lovely small group of people with all similar interests and a mutual love of riding. We arrived Friday evening and were greeted by Elaine- she even called us on the way to make sure we knew where we were going and gave us some useful directions. She was our tour guide for the whole weekend and was such a fountain of knowledge about the area having grown up on Dartmoor. The first night we all had a meal together in the house that was organised for the group. We had a personal chef, Dave, who was able to make a meal that suited all of us and took into account all our dietary requirements- no easy thing when there were six of us. His wife Sally provided us with waitress service and was always willing to help out with whatever we needed. Both of them were brilliant the whole weekend. The following day we set off early (after a huge breakfast!) and drove to the moor where we met up with our hired horses. All of them were presented as if we were going out showing, they looked immaculate with hooves polished and everything, not even a speck of dust on them. All of our horses had been picked out for us based on riding ability and experience and I don't think anyone in our group had a bad match. We rode for a couple of hours then were met by Bob (human) and Boris (dog) who had a delicious picnic laid out for us in the middle of the moor with seats overlooking an expansive view of several Tors. We rode for a few more hours in the afternoon, at a mixed pace so it wasn't all in walk by any means- we got our pace up over the hills! We were then met back at the lorries by Bob and Boris again- accompanied by whisky and port. The following day we all discussed what we'd like to do as the weather forecast was telling us there was 96% chance of torrential rain. We chose to have a longer ride in the morning and then hop off at lunchtime rather than plodding on through the storm and it turned out very much in our favour. We had a magical ride through the fog in the morning at a faster pace than the day before and then went home for a late lunch. The house we stayed at (Whitelady House) was wonderful with all the amenities you could ask for (private chef included) and a lovely garden where a few of us sat when the weather was dry, and a hot tub for those so inclined. There was a good amount of parking for everyone and it wasn't difficult for us to find the place using GoogleMaps. The horses we had were beyond what I could have imagined. All of us said how wonderful they were, none of them are lazy so we really could just sit back and relax, enjoying the scenery rather than having to kick on all the time. I was lucky enough to ride two horses (due to a rider not wanting to risk the rain, so I took her horse) both of which were lovely and really affable. These horses know the terrain so well that the rocks of the tors prove no challenge for them. They are sure-footed, incredibly fit and confident marching on even after several hours riding and as previously mentioned they were turned out beautifully each morning. I would absolutely recommend going with Liberty Trails, I just had the best time and wish I could do it again every weekend! All the staff, from Elaine, our guide, and Caroline, our guide- in- training, and Bob and Boris, were all excellent and more than happy to oblige with all requests. We had constant check-ins to make sure that everyone was still having fun and amendments were made to ensure everyone was happy and safe on the day. It couldn't have been better!KHW_NZ
March 2021
I have been lucky enough to have two amazing experiences with Liberty Trails - the third one is booked for August this year. First experience was the Dartmoor Darby 2018. Despite horrible weather (!!) myself and three friends had an incredible time. Staying in a luxury yurt. Top quality catering,...
I have been lucky enough to have two amazing experiences with Liberty Trails - the third one is booked for August this year. First experience was the Dartmoor Darby 2018. Despite horrible weather (!!) myself and three friends had an incredible time. Staying in a luxury yurt. Top quality catering, but most importantly gorgeous fit, keen and safe horses and incredible scenery and riding. We loved it so much we went back again last year as a small group and stayed at Bovey castle and had a bespoke weekend of riding. This time fabulous weather! Bovey castle was gorgeous and covid safe. Different but equally lovely horses and such incredible care from Bob and Elaine. Can't wait for our next trip - this time staying in a cottage with 5 friends. It can't come soon enough. Can't recommend highly enough!Julia G
May 2019
Amazing weekend, really well organised. Elaine and Bob superb hosts. The hirelings 🏇 were fantastic, I would choose mine again and definitely book with Liberty Trails again.
Amazing weekend, really well organised. Elaine and Bob superb hosts. The hirelings 🏇 were fantastic, I would choose mine again and definitely book with Liberty Trails again.Stephen W
May 2022
Not only no hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle (Winston Churchill). Especially in these days you must be privileged to spend time riding in this lovey piece of earth letting you soul dangle and deriving new energy. Most reliable! Super horses. Service great. All in all outstanding.
Not only no hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle (Winston Churchill). Especially in these days you must be privileged to spend time riding in this lovey piece of earth letting you soul dangle and deriving new energy. Most reliable! Super horses. Service great. All in all outstanding.