Travels on horseback

What’s included in your holiday

Our rates are shown on the right. Included in these rates is:
• Planning a bespoke holiday for you
• All the equipment for your holiday
• All our back-up support
• Accommodation for each night of your holiday
• Afternoon tea each day
• Full English Breakfast each morning

Individual expenses

You have freedom to choose if you would like a lunchtime pub stop or picnic in addition to breakfast and afternoon tea. We let you tell us what you’d prefer as some people are still full from breakfast by the afternoon! So if you would like to stop for lunch, we’ll be more than happy to plan a pub into your route for you, or arrange picnics. These stops, and dinners each evening, are settled by each guest personally and are not included in the holiday rate.

How to book

You can call us on 01278 438 794, book online or drop us an and we’ll happily call you back to discuss what you’d like out of a Travels on Horseback holiday. Remember – your trip is made just for you! 

If you’d like to enquire about holiday dates now, please visit the reservations page, where our calendar shows availability.

What to expect on a holiday

So, we imagine you might be wondering what to expect on a riding holiday with Travels on Horseback? Well, that’s a fair question. How does it all work with the saddlebags, the horses, the pubs, the hotels and everything, you may ask? Well, it goes a bit like this:

In the beginning…

If you’re coming by plane or train, we’ll be very happy to collect you from the terminal - just let us know. If you’re driving, we’ll give you directions you can trust! If you’re bringing your own horse, rest assured your horsebox will be parked very securely, and all our routes are circular, so you won’t get stuck miles from your transport.

My horse/your horse?

If you’re riding one of our fit, happy horses you should also be pretty fit (and happy), and comfortable at walk, trot and canter. The first day of your holiday we’ll take you on a little hack just to make sure you and your horse are comfortable together. If you’d like to holiday on your own horse, all you have to do is box yourself over to Somerset and we’ll do the rest.

Equipment

You can find out what we provide (lots), and what you’ll need to bring (not much) on our Equipment page. Once you’re here, we help you transfer your luggage to our pretty roomy saddlebags. Believe us, you can get enough for six days into these things, and on long trails, your hosts will graciously help you out with laundry if you run out of smalls.

Hotels and horses

There’s some information on our lovely hotels here at Rest and Comfort. But from a practical point of view, many people ask us ‘what do we do with the horses?’ Well, at each country hotel we have arranged either stabling or pasture for your horses. So, when you arrive in the afternoon, your host will be there to greet you and show you where everything is. You first untack and leave your equipment in a nice dry room provided for us. Then you feed the horses (food ready and waiting), and finally turn them out into their field or stable. In the morning, after breakfast you catch, feed and tack up horses at your leisure and make your way back onto the trail.

Pubs

We’ll work pub stops into your trail if you’d like. Each of them has been thoroughly checked out as horse-friendly by Travels on Horseback, and tie-ups are ready and waiting for you in courtyards or carparks. The landlords will be only too happy to tell you where to park!

Riding

We believe we’ve got some of the best riding in the country, nay, the world, here. Fast or slow, up, down and around, we’ve got it. Many people haven’t heard of the Quantocks, but we hope our trails page has given you a taster of the riding we can offer. And it’s so beautiful up there. Take a look at our photos.

Click here to reserve your holiday now

Solo Riders

We know there are lots of you out there that love riding, but maybe your nearest and dearest don’t quite match your passion for horses! And maybe you’d love to experience a trail riding adventure, but don’t really fancy it much on your own. Well, help is at hand.

Every month we run a three-day Full Moon Expedition for solo riders. It gives you the chance to experience all the great riding we have here, and meet new friends at the same time. And, of course we can guarantee that the other single riders will love horses almost as much as you. These riding holidays go out around the full moon each month, from a Friday to Monday. Why not give it a go!

Of course, if you and your friends would like to come on a Full Moon Expedition together, that’s fine too.

What it’s like on holiday with Travels on Horseback

Click here to reserve your holiday now

Privacy Policy

Information Collection and Use
Travels on Horseback Ltd is the owner of the information collected on this site. We will not sell or rent this information to others.

Personal Information
We request personal information from you on our forms on this website and possibly via email. This information is used to fulfil your enquiries, make reservations and for billing purposes only.

Cookies
A cookie is a piece of data stored on the user’s hard drive containing information about the user. Usage of a cookie in no way links you to any personally identifiable information while on our site.

Links
This web site may contain links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy policies of other sites. Should you leave our site through an external link, we encourage you to be aware, and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies only to information collected by this web site.

Emailing and promotional emails
If you make an enquiry or a booking via the ‘Reserve’ section of our website, you will automatically be opted in to the database. By opting in to the database you are agreeing to receive information such as news and special offer alerts.
Alternatively you can opt in to our database via the ‘Travel With Us’ function on the ‘Make Contact’ section of our web site, where we ask for contact information such as your name and email address so that we can contact you with news and special offer alerts.

Opt out
If you do not wish to continue to receive newsletters keeping you updated on special events and offers, you can either:
• use the “Unsubscribe” facility on any promotional email
• email us to let us know you would like to unsubscribe or opt out

Notification of Changes
If we decide to change our privacy policy, we will post those changes on our web site so you are aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it. If at any point we decide to use personally identifiable information in a manner different from that stated at the time it was collected, we will notify you by email. You will have a choice as to whether or not we can use your information in this manner.

Complaints
In you think that Travels on Horseback Ltd has not complied with the terms of this privacy policy, or are otherwise concerned with our treatment of personal information, please contact us at Travels on Horseback, 47 Farringdon, North Petherton, Bridgwater, TA6 6PF, Somerset. Complaints or requests for information shall be the object of an investigation or response within 30 business days. If the complaint is justified, Travels on Horseback Ltd will take the appropriate measures to address the complaint, including access to the requested information, by proceeding with rectification or, as the case may be, by amending our policy and practices.

Terms and Conditions

Anyone booking a holiday with Travels on Horseback agrees to the following terms and conditions. Together with all information contained in our website, these Terms and Conditions form the basis of your contract with Travels on Horseback Ltd. Please read them carefully as they set out our respective rights and obligations.

1. Your party
1.1.The person making the booking must be over 18 years old.
1.2. Unless you are joining the Full Moon Ride for single riders, your party must number at least two people.
1.3.All children must be accompanied by a person over the age of 18.
1.4. It is your responsibility to ensure that all riders are adequately fit and experienced (i.e. safe and competent on horseback at all paces), and riding horses they can comfortably control.
1.5. All members of your party must be suitably equipped (e,g. wearing appropriate boots and riding hats), and be aware of the risks involved in a riding holiday.
1.6. Although Travels on Horseback will endeavour to make your holiday as safe as possible you must accept that the sole responsibility for your personal safety remains with you. In the interests of safety you must undertake to follow the advice in the route notes provided, as well as that provided by anybody on our behalf and heed any warnings or notices encountered on your ride.
1.7.All riders must acquaint themselves with the Countryside Code and The British Horse Society Code for Riding & Driving Responsibly and undertake to follow them throughout their time in Somerset. Click here to read the BHS Code.
1.8.A damage deposit is required for the equipment supplied by Travels on Horseback to you, including saddle bags and maps. The deposit is £100 per person and will take the form of cheque or cash. The deposit will be restored to you upon return of the equipment in a satisfactory condition. We reserve the right to make a deduction from the deposit to cover the cost of replacing or repairing any damaged or lost items or equipment.
1.9.You will be responsible for controlling any dogs in your party, and you will be responsible for any damage your dog(s) might cause to persons or property.
1.10.You must take out a suitable travel insurance policy that will protect yourself, your equipment and luggage. Travel Insurance can cover unexpected costs due to illness, accident, trip interruption or cancellation. Overseas residents must obtain insurance cover in their home country.
1.11.In the unlikely event that you have any reason to complain or experience any problems with your holiday, you must contact us immediately and we will do our best to resolve the problem straight away. Should it not be possible to resolve your complaint immediately, you should write to us, giving full details, within 14 days of the holiday’s conclusion. Complaints received after this date can be difficult to investigate.

2. Your horse(s)
2.1. All horses and riders must have public liability insurance (click here to see sample providers).
2.2. It is your responsibility to make sure all horses in your party must be wormed and vaccinated against equine 'flu and tetanus for the duration of the holiday.
2.3. It is your responsibility to make sure all horses must be known to be free from major vices and happy and controllable when encountering new horses and new situations.

3. Our horse(s)
3.1. Our horses have public liability insurance.
3.2. Our horses are wormed and vaccinated against ‘flu and tetanus.
3.4. If you choose to ride one of our horses on your holiday, although we will endeavour to make a suitable mount selection for you, you must accept that horse riding is a risk sport and that the sole responsibility for your personal safety remains with you.
3.5. If you have a guide on your holiday, it is your responsibility to inform them of any injury, damage or illness to the Travels on Horseback horses(s) being ridden by your party as soon as you are aware of it.
3.6. If you do not have a guide, as soon as you are aware of any injury, damage or illness to any Travels on Horseback horse, or its death, it is your responsibility to inform Travels on Horseback immediately using the phone numbers provided.
3.7. You will be held solely responsible in the event of injury, damage, illness or death of the Travels on Horseback horses(s) being ridden by your party whilst you are on your holiday, and for any injury, damage, illness or death which is discovered upon the horses’ return to Travels on Horseback.
3.8. Travels on Horseback may take out a claim against you in result of the injury, damage, illness or death of one of its horses.
3.9. If the Travels on Horseback horse(s) you are riding suffers injury, damage, illness or death, Travels on Horseback may provide you with an alternative horse for the remainder of your holiday, if more than 24 hours remains before the end of your holiday. The provision of an alternative horse is entirely at Travels on Horseback’s discretion, and if no horse is provided, we regret that there can be no refund to you.

4. Your booking
4.1. When you book a holiday we will confirm your reservation using your preferred method of communication and send you an invoice.
4.2. When you have received this confirmation, you undertake to pay the deposit (20% of the total) within one week, and the balance of the holiday price (80% of the total) no later than six weeks before the start of the holiday.
4.3 All prices are quoted in Pounds Sterling and are payable in that currency.
4.4. Whilst we make every endeavour to ensure that the information in this website is carefully checked and accurate, the published prices shown may alter. Enquries should be made at the time of booking to confirm prices.
4.5.The balance must reach us at least six weeks before the start of your holiday. The date on which the final balance of your holiday is due is shown on the invoice. No further reminder is sent. If the balance is not paid in time we reserve the right to cancel your booking, retain your deposit and apply cancellation charges as set out below.

5. Changes and cancellations by you
5.1. If one of your party is unable to come on your holiday due to serious illness, jury service or other emergency reason, their booking can be transferred to another person, providing the replacement person pays a £50 transfer fee and duly accepts the Terms and Conditions.
5.2. If you would like to make any other changes to your booking prior to the due date for payment of the balance of your holiday (six weeks before the start of the holiday), we will make all reasonable efforts to help, subject to an administrative charge of £50 per person. Alterations after this date will be treated as a cancellation of the original holiday and a new booking for a different holiday, and the charges set out below will apply.
5.3. Should you, any member of your party or the entire party be forced to cancel your booking, you must do so in writing (an email will be accepted). The cancellation will take effect from the date that such written cancellation is received by us. For a cancellation received more than six weeks before the start date of the holiday the deposit will be forfeit, but any other payment towards the cost of the holiday will be refunded. For later cancellations the deposit will be forfeit but any payment towards the holiday will be refunded less the following charges:
41 – 29 days before the start: 50% of the total cost of the holiday
28 – 15 days before the start: 75% of the total cost of the holiday
5.4. No refund can be given for a cancellation 14 or less days before the start of a holiday or whilst the holiday is in progress.

6. Changes and cancellations by Travels on Horseback
6.1. Whilst we always endeavour to avoid changes and cancellations we reserve the right to do so.
6.2. If we have to make a change to the particulars of your holiday before your booking is complete, we will communicate this to you at the earliest opportunity before your booking is concluded.
6.3. If we have to cancel your holiday or make a significant change before your departure (such as a significant change of route, a change to the date of departure or cancelling a Full Moon Expedition) we will tell you as soon as possible and you will have the choice of:
(a) accepting the changed arrangements or
(b) booking an alternative holiday or
(c) cancelling or accepting the cancellation and receiving a full refund of all monies paid.
Acceptance of one of these options constitutes full settlement.
6.4. Please note that the above options are not available where any change is a minor one (i.e. any change not mentioned above).
6.5. We regret we cannot pay any expenses, costs or losses incurred by you as a result of any change or cancellation. No refund will be payable if we cancel as a result of your failure to comply with any requirement of these terms and conditions entitling us to cancel, such as paying on time.
6.6. We do not accept any liability where the performance of Travels on Horseback’s contractual obligations is prevented or affected by, or you otherwise suffer any damage or loss as a result of, force majeure. Force majeure means any event which we, or the supplier of the service(s) in question, could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events include war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, terrorist activities, industrial disputes, fire, plague or widespread infectious diseases, natural or nuclear disasters, adverse weather conditions and all similar events outside our control.
6.7. Where we have to cancel as a result of unusual and unforeseeable circumstances or force majeure you will have the choice of:
(a) booking an alternative holiday or
(b) cancelling or accepting the cancellation and receiving a full refund of all monies paid less monies expended on your behalf which are not recoverable.

7. Exclusions
7.1. We will not be responsible for any injury, illness, death, loss, damage, expense, cost or other sum or claim of any description whatsoever if you should deviate from the route which we provide for you or any instructions which we give to you, or which results from any fault on your part.
7.2. We cannot accept responsibility for any services which do not form part of our contract. This includes, for example, any additional services or facilities which your hotel or any other supplier such as a farrier agrees to provide to you.
7.3. If you engage the services of a third party (such as a vet or farrier) you will be responsible for payment of any such services.
7.4. Except in respect of death or personal injury caused by our negligence or as expressly provided in these Terms and Conditions, we will not be liable to you by reason of any representation (unless fraudulent), or any implied warranty condition or other term, or any duty at common law, or under the express terms of any contract with you, for any loss of profit or other indirect special or consequential loss, damage, costs, expenses or other claims (whether caused by our negligence or otherwise) which arise out of, or in connection with, the provision of our service to you or any equipment supplied by us, and our liability to you in any such case shall not exceed the price agreed to be paid for the holiday.
7.5. Any claim or claims which you may have against us other than claims in respect of death or personal injury shall be limited to any actual economic loss.

8. Jurisdiction
8.1. All matters arising from your contract with us are governed by English Law and are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Equipment for you and your horse

We want you to have as much fun as possible on your riding holiday, so we provide:

• A horse and its tack (only if you are riding a Travels on Horseback horse)
• Colour map in a waterproof case, with overlaid trail and notes
• Easy-fit saddle bags for each rider, which hold about 7.5kg
• An equine and human first aid kit
• Baler twine for horse tie-ups
• Horse feed, water source, buckets and grooming kit at each hotel
• A secure paddock or stable and area to store tack each night
• Full back-up support for you including:
 – on-call farrier
 – 24-hour emergency advice
 – personal call-out
 – collection by horsebox if necessary

You will need to bring...

• Your horse and its tack (only if you are riding your own horse)
• Riding gear including riding hat, boots and gloves (possibly jockey boots and chaps which are very comfortable for long rides)
•T-shirts, shirts and light jumpers
• Waterproof jacket
• Clothes and footwear for the evening when you are not riding
• Spending money for watering stops and dinners
• Mobile phone
• Water bottle with easy-drinking spout
• A sense of adventure!

And you may want to think about...

• Sun-tan lotion (you’d be surprised, it can get sunny up there!)
• Camera

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“Each day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.”
Matsuo Basho

We arrange it so that at the end of each day you arrive at a lovely welcoming hotel, where you and your horse can relax. We guarantee top-class accommodation, with a bath for that much-needed soak after the day’s riding. Some of our selected hotels are below.

Staying near the sea

After a day’s exhilarating riding on the Quantock Hills come down to a secluded gem of a country house set into miles of farmland. The ancient buildings and modern comforts will help you soak away the rigours of the saddle, and the next day you can set off from the front door for a beach ride to beat all others..

Staying in the Quantock Hills

Just seconds from the wooded valleys and waterfalls of Holford Combe, lead your horse up the drive to the prettiest country hotel in Somerset. Your horse will settle in for the night whilst you settle into a cream tea, perhaps some croquet and maybe a little trip to the hotel bar…

Relax, refresh, revive

All of these adventures in the saddle – you might just think you’ve deserved a break. And we’d agree. Building a day of rest into your holiday just makes sense: you can explore the local area on foot, look for that perfect photo, sample the local produce at a cider brewery, maybe take in a game of tennis, a stroll on the beach, or perhaps, just relax!

Rest and recuperation is all part of a Travels on Horseback holiday, so on all holidays over four nights we recommend you take a day off so that you and the horses are fresh for the home straight. When we’re planning your holiday we’ll talk to you to discuss when you’d like a break, what you’d like to do, and then we’ll fit it into the plan. Because your holiday is made just for you.

What it’s like on holiday with Travels on Horseback

Our trails through Somerset

Somerset is a wonderful county for riding

All of our routes explore wide areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and we can make your trip as long or short as you like. And knowing that this is the land that inspired Coleridge and Wordsworth, we are constrained by nothing, not even our imaginations! Here are some of our ideas:

Quantock Trail – two and ½ days riding, two nights

Day one will take you from the archetypal Quantock hamlet of Adscombe, through forests, farms and parkland to the stunning village of West Bagborough, where a most welcoming farmhouse awaits you and your trusty mount.
Day two sees you ride up one valley and down into another to lunch at a celebrated pub in Triscombe. The afternoon will be spent riding across to Nether Stowey, a picturesque village with a great food and accommodation
Day three completes the circle to Adscombe via the plateaus of the Quantocks, lunch in a lovely pub, and a glimpse of the wild horses if you are lucky!

Poets Trail – four and ½ days riding, one rest day, five nights

Day one starting out at Adscombe, ride across the hills to Nether Stowey, part-time home of Coleridge, who wrote the Ryme of the Ancient Mariner in the very house in which you’ll stay!
Day two following the routes Coleridge loved to walk, you and your horse will head into up to the hills to explore fantastic hunting territory across moorland and copse woodland, and down into Holford to stay at a unique hotel set at the very start of Holford Combe.
Day three from Holford, traverse the Quantocks and the deer park, experiencing the vistas so admired by Wordsworth and Coleridge. In the afternoon you will arrive at a private guesthouse with its own access to famous Perry Beach. The afternoon is spent galloping on the beach.
Day four take a day of rest from riding for you and horse – explore the beach for fossils and wildlife, investigate nearby West Qauntoxhead village and enjoy a surfeit of poetry as you relax in beautiful farmhouse surroundings
Day five you will hit the trail again, cantering up beautiful valleys to reach the highest peak of the Quantocks, Bicknoller Point. From here you will follow the ridge, and possibly some wild horse herds, all the way down to charming West Bagborough in the south west.
Day six your final day’s trail will take you through parkland and past the famous Quantock Lodge, via a nice pub for lunch. You will arrive back at Adscombe, with both human and horse happy and perhaps pleasantly tired!

Click here for a Google map of the Quantock Hills

Click here to find out what it’s like on holiday with Travels on Horseback

We want you to have an inspiring holiday; a holiday of top-class comfort and independence, way off the beaten-track. Our mission is to give you the best holiday you’ve ever had.

Ride with us

Are you looking for something completely different? Come and ride with Travels on Horseback!

We offer unique riding holidays through the stunning Somerset countryside.
Experience trail riding as it should be: miles of open countryside, views over three counties and terrific riding.

• Follow our carefully-prepared maps, or hire a guide to do the navigating for you!
• Your horse will carry your belongings in saddlebags, so you have everything you need right there
• Stop off for lunch in a rural watering hole and take a well-earned break
• Ride across beaches, open moorland, forest and hills.
• Each night you’ll be welcomed at a different country hotel, and sample the best of local, organic produce.
• In the morning enjoy a delicious English breakfast, gather up your horse and saddlebags and set off again for the next leg of your journey

Explore our trails

Click here to reserve your holiday now