Details and Pictures of our latest Trail Ride

Hello All and welcome to our Trail Ride Blog..

On the 19th May 5 of us set off on a wonderful 5 day ride from Bigland Hall Equestrian taking in most of the wonderful Lakeland Scenery on the way.

Our holiday began at Bigland Hall Equestrian Centre where we spent time preparing for the ride and being matched up to our trusted steeds for the week .. As well as Mike Myers the ride leader Tom, Tish, Dave and Janet were with us for a week of great horse riding adventure.. Also on the ride were 5 of our favourite horses , Indie a 15.2hh black Pure bred Hackney, Rupert a 16hh grey Hungarian Cross, Pablo a 16hh grey Cob, Baileys a 16.1hh Warmblood and finally our lead horse Star, a bay 16hh Thoroughbred Cross.

We spent the morning of day one familiarsing ourselves with the horses whilst taking in a low level ride from Bigland Hall Equestrain, through the local Village of Stavely in Cartmel and surrounding tracks and woods culminating in a lunch time stop for horse and rider at the famous Masons Arms Pub at Strawberry Bank.

The best of this stop is the superb selection of speciality beers held at this pub. Whenever we stop for our lunch time breaks the horse create a lot of interest. The horse must have had some oats in their feed at the pub as Pablo gave Dave a brief bronco ride through one of the many canters. This freshness diminshed as the Trail progressed.

The route goes on through the Winster Valley over to Ings to Simon Buckley's yard who kindly allows our horses to have a well earned rest in their fields at the farm. The B+B is next the yard 'The Hill' where their hospitality was excellent. It is not always easy to find B+B places that are so rider friendly. The route proceeds via Kentmere Hall with its historical 'Peel Tower'. We felt we were travelling in the manner of those who had gone before.

Up and forward over the right side of Kentmere valley. Towards Nan Beald Pass. The howling gales increase the challenge and excitment of this pass as we climbed to its summit before continuing on to the summit of High Street. High Street is part of the original Roman Road from Ambleside. Its old name was 'Race Course Hill' where the old shepherds met and raced their Cumbrian Fell Ponies. This makes you think of a Flat race course (you'd be wrong) .Below are the pictures of our ascent to the top and stunning, spectactular, temendous, unforgettable views. The horses were unbelievable they climbed steadily and coped amazingly well with adverse terrain. A credit to Mike on how well he keeps these horse so fit.

A long slow descent down from High Street via the Knott to Hayswater crossing the beck which with the rain last week was in flood. None of the horses flinched and ploughed on through. Ever downwards to the village of Hartsop onwards to Patterdale, to our overnight stay to Holme Farm.

Inspired by the superb riding and amazing scenery we tacked up and headed for Glenridding past Greenside (Slate Mine) where we gave our back up team a pull up the hill as he ran out of steam (pulled up by horse tail) on a zig zag track like all good pack horse routes should be on our way to the big climb to the summit of Helvelyn. (see picture at top of blog and below)


This was taken after a strong canter up to the trig point surprising many walkers on the way. We were very please that the horses stopped at the trig point as the drop was several hundred feet on the other side.

Down and down we went via Willy Wife Moor to Grizedale Tarn and down via Tounge to Grasmere to our next B+B. Mr & Mrs Hodgeson at Town Head Farm whose hospitality could not be surpassed.

We had an excellent evening meal at the Travellers Rest Inn where the days excitement was relived again and again as the beer flowed.

We rode through Grasmere making tourist heads turn. Over Red Bank via Ellterwater to the 'The Three Shires Inn' at Little Langdale where we rested the horses.

We went through the slate quarries calling in at the Catherdral Caves onward through Tilbathwaite (where Mike was born many many years ago)!!!!! onward through Coniston where the weather become wet.

We stayed at Wilsons Arms in Torver where the accomodation and food was good.

The day after the bones began to truly ache as we canter over Torver Common heading for home and the well deserved rest. The sun shone on our return the horses picked up as they sensed their stables ahead.

We must thank Mike and all the staff at Bigland Hall for the most superb holiday. Tom has ridden in the Pyrennes several times and stated,

This must be the most extreme, challenging, exciting ride in England'

Tel - 015395 30333 or email info@biglandhall.com for details