We are incredibly lucky to have a variety of countryside across the South West. From coastal beach rides in Cornwall and Devon to the famous Three Moors (Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor) plus 49 forests that are free to access on horseback, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to hacking.
Below we have pulled out some ‘top spots’ for hacking including information about which offer parking for trailers and horseboxes.
Beaches
For beach riding, Perranporth Beach in Cornwall and Berrow Beach in Somerset are both good options.
Perranporth offers around 3 miles of sand and is a popular location for horse riding. Horses are permitted on the beach but you should check the timings and access depending on the time of year you plan to visit. There are several nearby carparks and laybys with the potential for parking a horsebox or trailer, subject to availability, most of which require short road hacks to get to the beach itself.
Berrow Beach forms part of the long stretch of sand running from Burnham-on-Sea towards Brean Down and horse riding is allowed on Berrow and Brean beaches, but not on Burnham-on-Sea beach. Horse owners are advised to use the Berrow or Brean beach car parks, check tide times before travelling, keep out of the dunes and follow any instructions from beach wardens.
Woodlands
For woodland riding, Haldon Forest Park and Harcombe, both in Devon, are good options.
Haldon Forest Park has a dedicated bridlepath made up of forest roads and unsurfaced tracks, which can be linked with public roads and bridleways to create varied rides.
For off-road riding with dedicated horsebox parking, Forestry England suggests that riders head to Harcombe which is easily accessed from the A38 and offers a 10-mile bridlepath using the forest road network. Parking at Harcombe is available with prior permission.
Moorland
For moorland riding, Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor all offer access to open country, bridleways and varied terrain, but riders should plan routes carefully.
On Dartmoor, horse riding is permitted on common land, woodland trails, bridleways and historic byways, with Dartmoor National Park advising that the south-east quarter is one of the easiest areas for those newer to Dartmoor, while the south-west and northern areas include higher or more challenging moorland. For easy access points, Paines Bridge near South Zeal is useful for northern moor access, while Burrator Reservoir has parking at various locations including the Quarry car park and offers access to footpaths and bridleways leading onto Dartmoor.
On Exmoor, the National Park has over 300 miles of bridleways, with wide open moorland, woodland tracks, farmland fields and country lanes. Some of the best spots for parking include Horner, which is listed as a National Trust car park, and Haddon Hill, an Exmoor National Park Authority pay and display car park with toilets and open access all year.
On Bodmin Moor, Rough Tor car park near Camelford is the main access point with Forestry England advising visitors to leave the A39 near Camelford, head towards Bodmin airfield and park near Rough Tor Farm. Access on Bodmin Moor can be more complex than Dartmoor, so riders should check the current position on ridden access, bridleways and any local restrictions before setting off.
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