Brandy House, April 08, Fran Griffith
Well our escorted Brandy House weekend has been and gone. It really was a great success due to the hard work and hospitality of Medina and Richard Brock, our unbelievable luck with the weather and a bunch of great clients!
I had arrived at Brandy House 4 days earlier than the rest of the group, so I could do a final recce of all the rides with Medina to ensure that we didn't encounter any unforeseen glitches such as locked gates or fallen trees.
For 3 days the weather was atrocious and Medina and I found an alternative 'poor weather' route that didn't require you (and your horse) to be blown off a moorland ridge on our way back from Lloyney and a low level ride that avoided 'ninja' riding (due to heavy low cloud) across treacherous, boggy ground and fallen trees on our return from the Kerry Ridgeway. On the Thursday however, the weather brightened and our spirits improved and on the Friday (when our guests were due to arrive) the day dawned dry and sunny, if a little chilly.
Our group was small and comprised of Suzanne with her cob, Rosie; Lynne and Vanessa with their Arabs, Swift Encounter and Tetris (and Suzanne's non-riding partner, Kevin) plus Medina and me. Our first afternoon ride took us on a short orientation ride of the common, to allow the horses to get a feel for the terrain and each other and for us to check everyone's riding ability was of a similar standard.
The scenery is truly spectacular, as wild and remote as is possible in the UK and our group quickly appreciated the advantage of having a guide, as signposts and bridleway markings are virtually non-existent. Apart from a little face pulling the horses got on well and quickly adapted to the miles and miles of open moorland!
Saturday was to be our longest ride, a 20 mile round roundtrip to the pub at Lloyney. After a substantial breakfast we were issued emergency rations (water, Alpen bar and an apple) and were all tacked up and mounted by 09:30. The ride across to Lloyney kept us to the lee of the hills. The day was bright and sunny but an icy north-westerly wind kept the temperatures down. We rode along magnificent grassy tracks, up and down hills, through farmyards and woodlands and along quiet country lanes. In the afternoon we cantered along a 3-mile ridge before climbing to the summit of Beacon Hill for panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. That night, over a fabulous 3-course candlelit dinner we chatted about our various riding experiences, both at home and abroad, watched the forecasted snow fall and decided that whilst the riding couldn't be bettered anywhere in the world the weather probably could.
On Sunday we woke to a wonderful winter wonderland. The sun sparkled off the snow covered hills and the air felt crisp and fresh. Because of the heavy snow we decided that we wouldn't cross over Cilfeasty Hill but would follow a lower route that kept us to bridleways and lanes. Horses groomed and hooves Vaselined we set off along quiet country lanes, across fields and down bridleways towards the Kerry Ridgeway and our designated lunch spot at Black Wood. Although the sun was warm the wind was icy and as our altitude increased it became colder still. However Richard had brought rugs for the horses in the vehicle, so the horses kept warm and the riders soon warmed up with an excellent lunch of hot butternut and ginger soup, superb walnut and cream cheese sandwiches, quails egg scotch eggs, flapjacks, fruit and coffee served with a tot of brandy!
After lunch we trotted along the Kerry Ridgeway. Although icy cold the day was crystal clear and the views as far as Cadir Idris in the north and the Brecon Beacons to the south, spectacular. We could see snow falling all around us, blotting out a view in a maelstrom of white, but the sun continued to shine on our group. From the Ridgeway we turned south and joined the Glyndwr's Way for a canter before turning east along a grassy track to head back to Brandy House and another magnificent dinner.
Our final day was if anything even colder, with further heavy snow forecasted. But the morning was bright and dry and stayed that way for our last ride. On our return we were given hot soup in the farmhouse kitchen before we loaded our horses and said goodbye to each other and our hosts.
Equine Adventures will be offering a choice of guided or non-guided breaks at Brandy House throughout the rest of the year with an option for local horse hire if you don't want or can't bring your own horse. Non-riding partners can walk, mountain bike (take your own bike), play golf or just relax and read one of Brandy House's millions of books. The riding is seriously good and the accommodation, food and hospitality truly outstanding.
Click here for further details.