Dartmoor, England - Horse Riding Holidays and Safaris

Dartmoor, England

3-7 NightsIntermediate to AdvancedFrom £2,040 GBP?Tour costs £2,040 GBP which is approximately $4,048 AUD

Choose between genuine Western-style cattle work and fabulous point-to-point rides across the spectacular wilderness of Dartmoor National Park.

Dartmoor is one of the last true wildernesses in the UK, with distinctive, dramatic, rugged hills and moors that defy all attempts to tame them. Enter the mighty horse: the ultimate all-terrain vehicle that allows skillful farmers to tend their livestock and YOU, lucky globetrotters, to tag along!

Your hosts, the Heard family, have been raising cattle in Dartmoor for generations. Their handsome, easygoing, superbly trained Quarter Horses are ridden in traditional cowpony gear: Western saddles and split-rein snaffle bridles – by far the most practical and comfortable kit for the job at hand, and a BIG plus for globetrotters who aren’t accustomed to the English riding style. As for the itineraries, you can choose between genuine cattle work and fabulous point-to-point rides.

On the cattle drives, there is real work to be done and you get to join the team! This is an excellent way for a mixed ability group to enjoy globetrotting together, as there are both slow and steady roles and plenty of challenges for more advanced riders.

The week-long Dartmoor Crossing sees you travel across Dartmoor National Park along ancient bridle paths and livestock tracks, discovering a new side of this stunning region each day. Without the cattle, you can really get some speed up, and BOY can these horses move!

With your days marked by passing clouds, not ticking clocks, and soundtracked by local tales as old as the hills, the most well-rounded and in-depth view of Dartmoor is undoubtedly found between two pricked ears.

Fast Facts

  • Horse Breed:Quarter Horses - and an honorary Welsh Cob.
  • Pace:Cattle Drive: the fastest way to herd cattle is slowly! The majority of the ride will be at a walk, with occasional chances to trot, canter, and chase cows, depending on the livestock and the terrain.
    Dartmoor Crossing: the pace varies depending on the terrain, with frequent trots and canters.
  • Type of tack:Western saddles and split-rein snaffle bridles.
  • Time in Saddle:Around 4 to 5 hours per day.
  • Ride Length:Cattle Drive: 7 days, 6 nights (5 riding days). *A 4-day, 3-night option is also available.
    Dartmoor Crossing: 8 days, 7 nights (May & June: 6 riding days; August & September: 5 riding days. See itinerary for details).
  • Seasons:May to September.
  • Group size:A maximum of 8 guests.
  • Riding Ability:Intermediate to advanced. You must be able to control your horse at a walk, trot and canter over varying terrain, and be fit enough to handle long hours in the saddle. Not sure what your riding ability is? Watch THIS video to find out.
  • Weight Limit:These itineraries can accommodate 2 riders up to 95kg / 210lbs; all other riders must not weigh more than 85kg / 187lbs. It is VERY important that you provide your current weight accurately when booking. If your weight is not accurate, we cannot guarantee that your hosts will have a horse for you to ride.
  • Accommodation:Cattle Drive: you will stay at the delightful Castle Inn in Lydford, about 10 minutes’ drive from your hosts’ farm. Dating back to the 16th century, this award-winning establishment oozes quaint English charm. There’s a bar, restaurant, expansive gardens and clean, cosy ensuite bedrooms.
    Dartmoor Crossing: you will be accommodated at a series of 5 delightful inns and B&Bs in cute-as-a-button villages, including Chagford, the ‘Jewel of Dartmoor’. Please note, on 2 nights of the Dartmoor Crossing, private rooms for single riders cannot be guaranteed.
  • Inclusions:

    The price includes accommodation, breakfast and lunch, guided riding, and transfers outlined in the itinerary.

  • Exclusions:

    The price does not include international and domestic flights, travel insurance (compulsory), evening meals, alcohol, or transfers to and from the ride.

 

DEPARTURE DATES & RATES

Please note: a 4-day, 3-night option is available for the Dartmoor Cattle Drive, from day 1 to day 4 of each departure date. Please contact us to book.

NEW! Secure your saddle seat NOW with a 10% deposit - as part of our 10x 10% interest-free payment plan!
Departing FinishingAvailabilityTotal

Dartmoor Cattle Drive
May 4, 2025

May 10, 2025SOLD OUT!
From: £2,040 GBP ?Tour costs £2,040 GBP which is approximately $4,048 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
From: £2,230 GBP ?Tour costs £2,230 GBP which is approximately $4,425 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room

Dartmoor Crossing
May 17, 2025

May 24, 2025SOLD OUT!
From: £2,270 GBP ?Tour costs £2,270 GBP which is approximately $4,505 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
From: £2,550 GBP ?Tour costs £2,550 GBP which is approximately $5,060 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room

Dartmoor Cattle Drive
June 15, 2025

June 21, 2025Limited
From: £2,040 GBP ?Tour costs £2,040 GBP which is approximately $4,048 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
Booking Request

2.5% credit card surcharge

From: £2,230 GBP ?Tour costs £2,230 GBP which is approximately $4,425 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room
Booking Request

2.5% credit card surcharge

Dartmoor Crossing
June 28, 2025

July 5, 2025SOLD OUT!
From: £2,270 GBP ?Tour costs £2,270 GBP which is approximately $4,505 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
From: £2,550 GBP ?Tour costs £2,550 GBP which is approximately $5,060 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room

Dartmoor Cattle Drive
July 13, 2025

July 19, 2025SOLD OUT!
From: £2,040 GBP ?Tour costs £2,040 GBP which is approximately $4,048 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
From: £2,230 GBP ?Tour costs £2,230 GBP which is approximately $4,425 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room

Dartmoor Cattle Drive
August 3, 2025

August 9, 2025Limited
From: £2,040 GBP ?Tour costs £2,040 GBP which is approximately $4,048 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
Booking Request

2.5% credit card surcharge

From: £2,230 GBP ?Tour costs £2,230 GBP which is approximately $4,425 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room
Booking Request

2.5% credit card surcharge

Dartmoor Crossing
August 16, 2025

August 23, 2025Limited
From: £2,270 GBP ?Tour costs £2,270 GBP which is approximately $4,505 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
Booking Request

2.5% credit card surcharge

From: £2,550 GBP ?Tour costs £2,550 GBP which is approximately $5,060 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room
Booking Request

2.5% credit card surcharge

Dartmoor Crossing
September 5, 2025

September 12, 2025SOLD OUT!
From: £2,270 GBP ?Tour costs £2,270 GBP which is approximately $4,505 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
From: £2,550 GBP ?Tour costs £2,550 GBP which is approximately $5,060 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room

Dartmoor Cattle Drive
September 14, 2025

September 20, 2025Available
From: £2,040 GBP ?Tour costs £2,040 GBP which is approximately $4,048 AUD - Twin Share?Happy to share with another solo traveller of the same gender
Booking Request

2.5% credit card surcharge

From: £2,230 GBP ?Tour costs £2,230 GBP which is approximately $4,425 AUD - Single Rider?Happy to pay a booking supplement for own room
Booking Request

2.5% credit card surcharge

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
The price includes accommodation, breakfast and lunch, guided riding, and transfers outlined in the itinerary.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
The price does not include international and domestic flights, travel insurance (compulsory), evening meals, alcohol, or transfers to and from the ride.

Please note: on the Dartmoor Crossing itinerary, guests spend 2 nights at a farm B&B, where some or all guests booked with the single supplement may have to share a twin room with another guest of the same gender. In this case, affected guests will be refunded the value of the single supplement for these nights.

Accepted payment is by credit or debit card only. Depending on the ride you choose to book and your country of residence, there will be a 1.2% to 2.9% surcharge.

Click HERE to read more about our fees and charges.
Click HERE to read our recommendations on which cards are best to use to avoid international transaction fees.
WHY IS THE PRICE QUOTED IN GBP?
With our riding destinations, the currency is dictated by our ride partner in that country. Therefore due to fluctuating exchange rates we have to quote in the same currency.

Itinerary

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Please note, these are sample itineraries only, and subject to change at your guides’ discretion due to weather conditions and other influencing factors.

Dartmoor Cattle Drive & Crossing, England - Globetrotting horse riding holidays
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  • Dartmoor Cattle Drive

    Did you think cowboys only came from the Wild West? Think again! These cattle drives offer a rare chance to experience a time-honoured tradition in one of England’s most breathtaking destinations: Dartmoor National Park. For either three or six nights, you’re invited to don your hat, chaps and boots and saddle up for some bona-fide cattle work!

    For generations, the Heard family have been raising handsome Welsh Black cattle at Meldon Farm, nestled in the foothills of the moorland. Using Western tack and Quarter Horses, both perfectly suited for the job at hand, you’ll become part of the team and discover the immense satisfaction of working livestock using methods that have barely changed for centuries.

    These rides are ideal for groups of friends or family with mixed riding abilities. Whether you’re chasing after runaways or taking a slower pace to tail the herd, every role is essential. Before heading out, you’ll learn how to move and pen cattle and work with your horse in the arena, setting everyone up for a successful and fun experience out on the trail.

    The cattle respond well to being moved by horses, a partnership that ensures calm, efficient work. As the saying goes, ‘the fastest way to move cattle is slowly!’ Everyone works together to get the job done, with most riders flanking the sides of the herd, a couple bringing up the rear, and one or two leading the way alongside the lead cow (usually a wise old matriarch!).

    Due to the seasonal demands of farming, every month’s cattle drive has a unique purpose:

    May: Cattle Turn-out
    Each spring, the Heard family drives the autumn-born calves and their mothers 8 kilometres up onto the moor, where the calves will learn how to navigate their summer grazing area, or ‘lear’.

    June: Bulling Cow Muster
    On this cattle drive, you’ll bring the spring-calving cows back from the moor to Meldon Farm to run with the bull for the summer.

    July: Calf Weaning Muster
    Around midsummer, the autumn-born calves and their mothers are brought back to the farm for weaning.

    August: Calving Cow Gathering
    The August muster sees you gather up expectant cows and guide them closer to the farm as they prepare to calve in the autumn.

    September: Cow & Calf Muster
    The freshly-calved cows and their babies are brought to better grazing as winter approaches.

    The Dartmoor Cattle Drive is innately rewarding: you’re riding from place to place, you’ve got a real job to do (and the sense of achievement that comes with it!), you’re supported by a brilliant team, and you’re surrounded by abundant natural beauty. From wooded valleys and rolling hilltops to steep inclines, rivers and rocky clitters, Dartmoor’s landscapes offer breathtaking views and challenges aplenty. While the riding is generally quite slow, as you’re keeping pace with the cattle, navigating the rugged terrain of the moors requires confidence and independence in the saddle. That said, Phil, Mandi and their friendly team are always there to lend a hand. The culture trip continues with evenings at the Castle Inn, which champions local food and beer and welcomes plenty of local characters, too.

    This adventure is an unforgettable opportunity to step into the rhythms of Dartmoor and the ancient customs of its people.

  • Dartmoor Crossing - Day 1

    Welcome to Dartmoor, globetrotters! This afternoon, you’ll make your way to the Castle Inn in Lydford, enjoying a teaser of the stunning scenery in Dartmoor National Park along the way. The welcoming staff at the Inn will show you to your rooms, where you can freshen up before getting to know your guides, Phil and Mandi, and your fellow riders over a pint at the on-site pub. Then Phil and Mandy will head back to the farm to make their final preparations for the week’s adventures while you sit down for a hearty dinner (remember, evening meals on this itinerary are at your own expense). Finally, feeling full and jolly, you’ll tumble into bed.

  • Dartmoor Crossing - Day 2

    This morning, you’ll fill up with a full English breakfast at the Castle Inn before heading to Meldon Farm, where Phil and Mandi will have their magnificent team of horses ready and waiting. After a briefing on the horses, the trails and the Western riding style, you will mount your equine partner for the week and get to know one another over a relaxed four-hour ride. The scenery today is quintessential moorland and your guides will give you an introduction to Dartmoor’s plants, animals, traditions and history as you ride.

    At around the halfway point, you’ll dismount at a gorgeous spot by the river for lunch. Come afternoon, everyone will be well acquainted with their horses and tack, and there will be chances to enjoy a few steady canters across the rolling hills. Then it’s back to the Castle Inn for a relaxing evening with the locals.

  • Dartmoor Crossing - Day 3

    Today you’ll up the ante with a wonderful four to five hour ride deeper into Dartmoor National Park. The morning brings some brisk, ground-covering canters, then in the afternoon, the terrain gets more technical, with climbs, descents, and some challenging stream crossings where your Quarter Horse can show off his agility. Your lunch spot offers a fantastic vista of Dartmoor, from the moorland itself to the vales and villages.

    This evening you’re staying at the charming Two Bridges Hotel on the banks of the West Dart River. There’s history galore, comfy accommodation, and a modern menu celebrating local produce.

  • Dartmoor Crossing - Day 4

    After a relaxed breakfast at the Two Bridges, you’ll head back to the horses and ride on towards Widecombe (pronounced ‘Widdycumb’), with three to four hours in the saddle. The route is slow-paced, but extremely scenic. Think whisper-quiet forestry trails that suddenly open up to reveal far-reaching views and hidden valleys.

    Your picnic lunch will be laid out by the river at Postbridge, named after its medieval ‘clapper bridge’ consisting of two piers of stacked granite supporting three enormous granite slabs that span the river. Afterwards, you’ll take bridleways that weave between farmland and open moorland, with one lovely canter to round out the day.

    Tonight you’ll be accommodated at a farm B&B in Widecombe, with dinner at a charming local inn.

  • Dartmoor Crossing - Day 5

    MAY & JULY: From your farm base, you will mount up to explore the bracken-covered hills, craggy granite tors (outcrops), stonewalled fields and open moorland around Widecombe. This is a very relaxed, four to five hour ride primarily at a walk, rewarded with extremely picturesque hilltop scenery. You’ll have lunch by the river at Newbridge, then follow the river through more beautiful woodland inthe afternoon.

    Time permitting, you’ll pull up at the Rugglestone Inn for a pint on the way back to last night’s B&B.

    AUGUST: The journey continues as you take the well-known Two Moors Way from Widecombe to Chagford. Though there are just three to four hours in the saddle, the route packs a lot in: a long climb up Hameldown Hill, a historical stop at the Bronze Age village of Grimspound, the Golden Dagger tin mine, free-roaming cattle and ponies, and plenty of beauty spots, besides.

    Arriving in the town of Chagford, you will leave the horses in a nearby field and head to the Globe Inn for a delightful meal and a cosy bed.

    SEPTEMBER: Today the horses get a rest as you take in the quaintest and most utterly English event you will ever see: Widecombe Fair. Once a livestock market for local farmers, it’s now a hot-pot of semi-serious agricultural competition (think ‘best potato’, native pony classes, livestock judging and bale-tossing) plus woodchopping, Morris dancers, medieval archery, tug-o’-war, terrier racing and the infamous Tom Cobley Race (you’ll be glad you’re travelling on horseback!). It’s quite the introduction to village life!

    Come evening, you’ll return to last night’s B&B for dinner and some shut-eye.

  • Dartmoor Crossing - Day 6

    MAY, JULY & SEPTEMBER: Ride to Chagford (see description under ‘Day 5: AUGUST’). Overnight at the Globe Inn in Chagford.

    AUGUST: Today the horses get a rest as you attend the Chagford Show. For Devon folk, this is a highlight of the social calendar. There’s a full schedule of livestock, dog and horse events, rural crafts, baking and produce competitions, lumberjack demonstrations, over 300 stalls spruiking gorgeous local products, a vintage tractor parade, live music, and the ‘Lamb Grand National’!

    This evening you’ll head back to the Globe Inn for dinner (if you’re not already fit to burst!) and a good night’s sleep.

  • Dartmoor Crossing - Day 7

    Your journey through Dartmoor comes full circle today, leading you back to Meldon Farm. For most of the route, you’ll be riding quite high, exposed to the weather but with cracking views as your reward. There will be plenty of windswept canters across the open moorland, and you’ll even get to ride through (yes, through!!) a couple of neolithic stone circles! Lunch is often enjoyed at the same beautiful location you visited on the first riding day, offering a lovely chance to reflect on all the places you’ve been, and things you’ve seen, in just six days.

    After about four hours in the saddle, you’ll reach Meldon Farm and say goodbye to your wonderful equine partner. Then it’s back to the Castle Inn in Lydford (or another well-esteemed local inn) for one last night of merriment with your fellow globetrotters.

  • Dartmoor Crossing - Day 8

    After breakfast this morning, you will bid farewell to your new-found friends and either self-drive or be transferred to Okehampton Railway Station for your onward travels.

  • Transfer Information

    Transfers to and from the ride are not included in the price. We recommend self-driving (approx. 3.5hrs from Heathrow Airport), but it is also possible to organise transfers to and from Okehampton Railway Station for £20 (to be paid in cash on arrival).

    On day 1, you’ll need to arrive at the Castle Inn in Lydford at around 4 to 5pm.

    On the final day, you can depart anytime after breakfast. If flying out this day, it’s important to ensure you reach the airport 3 hours before departure. Please bear this in mind when choosing your flights.

    Globetrotting is happy to help arrange car-shares for guests booked on this ride, and our team of travel agents can assist with booking a hire car.

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