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Horse riding and carriage driving

Where can I ride a horse or drive a carriage in Wales?

From beginner to expert, the network of bridleways in Wales offers some great opportunities to get outdoors on horseback.

Horse riding is permitted on bridleways and all byways. These are open to other users such as walkers and horse riders, too.

Horse drawn carriages are permitted on restricted byways and byways open to all traffic

You can also go horse riding or carriage driving in some of the woodlands managed by Natural Resources Wales.

Horse riding near the Wales Coast Path

From the outskirts of Chester in the north to Chepstow in the south, the Wales Coast Path provides a continuous walking route around the whole of Wales.

Close to the path, there are bridleways, forests and beaches where you can ride as well as riding and pony trekking centres which cater for riders of all ages and abilities.

See the Wales Coast Path website to find out more.

Horse riding in woodlands managed by Natural Resources Wales

horse riders at coed llangwyfan denbighshire

Natural Resources Wales manages purpose-built soft trails for horse riders in Crychan Forest near Llandovery and Dyfnant Forest near Welshpool.

There is also access for horse riding and some waymarked horse riding trails in many of the other woodlands managed by Natural Resources Wales.

Horse riding in Crychan Forest

The waymarked trails in Crychan Forest were created in partnership with the Crychan Forest Association.

They follow old tracks and link Halfway car park with the other car parks in Crychan Forest at Brynffo, Esgair Fwyog and Cefn Farm.

There are also shortcuts onto the Epynt Way, a 50 mile long bridleway around the boundary of the Sennybridge military training area.

These four car parks all have facilities for horse riders.

Find out more about horse riding in Crychan Forest (Halfway) or Crychan Forest (other places).

Horse riding in Dyfnant Forest

The Rainbow Trails are a set of waymarked routes for horse riding in Dyfnant Forest.

They were developed in partnership with the Dyfnant and Vyrnwy Horse Riders and Carriage Drivers Association.

The car park at Penyffordd in Dyfnant Forest was purpose built and has a one way system to allow drivers of horse boxes to roll in and roll out, ample parking for horse trailers and cars and a corral for horses.

Find out more about horse riding in Dyfnant Forest.

Horse riding in other woodlands managed by Natural Resources Wales

You can go horse riding in many other woodlands managed by Natural Resources Wales.

Bwlch Nant yr Arian, near Aberystwyth has a waymarked horse trail which follows a circular route on a mixture of forest tracks, paths and quiet tarmacked roads
Hafren Forest near Llanidloes has open access for horse riders
You can horse ride in Newborough Forest from the Pen Cob car park but you need to apply for a horse riding permit first

Carriage driving in woodlands managed by Natural Resources Wales

You can drive a carriage without a permit in Crychan Forest near Llandovery and in Dyfnant Forest near Welshpool.

Please note that permits are required for carriage driving in all other woodlands managed by Natural Resources Wales. Go to Woodlands and You to find out how to apply for a permit.

Carriage driving in Dyfnant Forest

Hendre is the starting point for the carriage driving routes in Dyfnant Forest.

The car park has hitching rails, a quiet area to harness up and put to and ample space for horse boxes.

Find out more about carriage driving in Dyfnant Forest.

Carriage driving in Crychan Forest

There is open access for carriage driving on forest roads in Crychan Forest.

The Cefn Farm Carriage Route can be started from the purpose-built car parks at Cefn Farm or at Brynffo. Brynffo is the recommended access point for carriage driving as there is more room for parking and de-boxing there.

Find out more about carriage driving in Crychan Forest (Brynffo, Esgair Fwyog and Cefn Farm).

How do I find out about route closures and diversions?

Sometimes a public right of way has to be closed or diverted.

Signage on-site should tell you whether a public right of way is open or closed.

How do I get permission for an event in a woodland managed by Natural Resources Wales?

Go to Woodlands and You to find out how to get permission to organise a horse riding or carriage driving event in one of the woodlands managed by Natural Resources Wales.