Equestrian Venues in Highlands & North East Scotland

This is big country, and the riding reflects it. The region runs from the Cairngorm foothills across Aberdeenshire and Moray to the coast, and the centres here trade less on manicured arenas than on what's beyond the gate: hill tracks, forestry, beach and moor. Saddl lists 25 venues across the Highlands and the North East, 9 of them BHS-approved. Trekking and trail riding are the mainstay, often on hardy native types and Highland ponies that handle the ground and the weather without fuss. Several centres run half-day and full-day rides for visitors, which makes this one of the better parts of Britain to ride if you're on holiday rather than training for a discipline. You'll also find proper instruction, cross-country schooling and the occasional competition yard, particularly nearer Aberdeen and Inverness. Distances are real here, so check how far a yard actually is before you book. What looks close on a map can be an hour on single-track roads. Go prepared for changeable weather in any season. The riding is at its best when the light is, and on a clear day there's little in Britain to match it.