The Cotswolds Ride

Day 1: Arrival and introductory ride

Welcome to the Cotswolds, globetrotters! Today you’ll be picked up from either Bristol Airport or Bristol Parkway Train Station and transferred to the grandiose Tortworth Court where you’ll meet your host for the week, the fabulous Katy Willings.

After a warm welcome, you’ll enjoy some casual lunchtime refreshments while your guide briefs you on the week ahead. Make sure you’re dressed to ride, because straight afterwards you’re headed to the pretty village of Frampton in Gloucestershire to meet the horses! Your new equine partner will be saddled and waiting to take you out across bridleways and farmland, nudging into the glorious Frampton Court Estate. You’ll all feel well acquainted with your mounts and their tack by the end of the ride.

After a swift half pint on the village green (the largest in England!), you’ll return to Tortworth Court, check into your room and freshen up before a welcome dinner in the incredibly atmospheric 1853 Restaurant.

Day 2: Minchinhampton Common ride

Waking up for a hearty breakfast at Tortworth Court, you’ll then buckle up for a drive through picturesque Gloucestershire countryside, pulling up at Minchinhampton Common, high above the glorious Five Valleys that make up the heart of the Cotswolds. Today’s ride is about 8 miles long (approx. 13km) which sees you ascend and descend multiple times and take in some fabulous views, as well as enjoying some wind-in-the-hair canters across the commons and a gourmet ice-cream from the local dairy, Winstons.

Returning to Tortworth Court, you’ll find a delightful afternoon tea set up on the promenade. High Tea is one of England’s most iconic dining experiences. You’ll find platters stacked with the makings of a children’s dolls party: intricate little cakes and finger sandwiches, feather-light souffles, scones, and confections in spun sugar, all washed down with tea – and since it’s for adults, there’s champagne, too. It shouldn’t be legal…and yet…!

Tonight you’ll head out to see the iconic Giffords Circus (if they are within range during your ride), a feast for the senses with fabulous acrobatic and equestrian displays and bohemian splendour worthy of Shakespeare (did we mention he lived in the Cotswolds?). Prepare for a captivating late night out, complete with a magical banquet peppered with colourful characters and delectable local produce. It’s your own Midsummer Night’s Dream…

Day 3: Tresham Valley

After another wonderful breakfast spread at Tortworth Court, today’s ride sees you exploring some stunning private farmland, courtesy of our chum Tom Hatherell. You’ll be within range of the Cotswold Way, the Monarch’s Way, the glorious Tresham Valley, the Badminton Estate, and even the National Arboretum at Westonbirt, with its glorious avenues of mighty trees and acres. A great mix of Cotswold villages, little lanes, shaded woodland tracks and open fields made for a canter. Washed down by a pub lunch at one of the most picture-perfect we know, the Cat and Custard Pot. It serves possibly the best steak in all of England, reared locally at Luckington Farms on the Badminton estate, and enjoyed by many a muddy Beaufort hunt follower after a day riding to hounds.

We expect the timings to be relaxed and the courses to be multiple and you’ll be back to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Day 4: Non-riding day

Today the horses (and riders!) get a rest as you take in the best of the British summer. Transport is provided today so that you can sit back and relax. Depending on your ride dates, you could be visiting a county show, a game fair, a local festival, a horsey event like a point-to-point or a polo match… but wherever you end up, you can expect tweed, pony club ties, the smell of fried onions and sunscreen, misbehaving native ponies, hound displays, and 2-tonne bulls being led by the nostrils by young children in flat caps. The arena displays are often jaw-dropping – think jousting, parachuting, daredevil stunt-riding, or re-training of racehorses. You’ll be grinning ear to ear.

Your driver will meet you out the front of Tortworth Court at 9.30am, and he’ll collect you at the show around 4.30pm, so you can expect to be out all day, and need to plan accordingly.

This evening’s dinner will be at your own expense and can be enjoyed wherever you so please. There are some fabulous cocktail bars around!

Day 5: Cirencester Park

Back in the saddle today, and hopefully inspired! By now we hope you will be well versed in turning down whatever sounds like too much of an effort, but the ride today will be the most glamorous of all, at the glorious hunting estate of the Bathurst dynasty, Cirencester Park. It’s proper ‘period drama’ vibes!

You’ll park up at Edgworth Polo Club with our chum Olivia, and enjoy a lively hack for the morning, before returning to the Club for some chukkas – oh yes, you can have a polo lesson! Once enough divots have been dug and balls dodged, you’ll retire to the Bell at Sapperton, the oft-crowned ‘prettiest pub in England’, for a cracking Sunday roast. It doesn’t get any more English than that. Wear something forgiving or just submit and undo your belt a notch or two, it will be a good feed.

Day 6: Malvern Hill ride

Today’s final ride is a beauty; this is the biggest ride and reasonably strenuous. Some wonderful climbs and views, some dense forests (cover your arms, some serious brambles and gorse to get over/under or through) and another glamorous castle, this time, Eastnor. You will start at the Woodshed Cafe, at the foot of the deer park at Eastnor Castle, and combine stunning managed parkland and even a civilised loo pre-ride with the wildest country you’ll meet all week, the dramatic Malvern Hills.

This is your last chance to see your fabulous equine partner, and Tom and Claire who have worked so hard all week to prep and travel them. Cash to the ready today if you want to leave them a tip. You’ll enjoy a great ploughman’s picnic lunch before you say goodbye.

From there you have relaxed timings this afternoon, to return to Tortworth Court for a spa or a swim, or see some other Cotswold treasures en route – Upton on Severn and Tewksbury are both gorgeous and well worth a stop.

Day 7: Departure

Waking up to the realisation that you’ve just experienced quite possibly the ULTIMATE English riding holiday, you’ll meet everyone downstairs for breakfast, then check out of your room and head off on your merry way. The transfer will drop you off at Bristol Parkway Train Station by 11am, followed by Bristol Airport at 12 noon.

Badminton Horse Trials

The May departure of The Cotswolds Ride is designed around one of Britain’s most famous Eventing competitions: Badminton Horse Trials. On this departure, the itinerary will be redesigned to maximise your time spectating at the Trials, and include an extra night, making the entire holiday 7 days and 7 nights long. VIP tickets are also included, so you’ll have special access.

Badminton needs no introduction, being one of the world’s biggest and toughest 5-star Eventing competitions. Horse nuts and general sports fans will all have an equally wonderful time. Spectators flock to Badminton not just for the competition, but for the shopping, hospitality, people spotting, and partying. Our exclusive Globetrotting package includes a course walk with a Badminton veteran.

Non-Rider information

The Cotswolds are quite rightly regarded as one of the jewels in the crown of English tourism. Non-riders are spoilt for choice in how to spend their week if they are joining a riding friend or partner. Tortworth Court have produced their own fabulous local guide which can be downloaded HERE, and in addition, there’s ample fishing, cycling, hiking, incredible heritage cities like Bath, Bristol and Cheltenham, historic homes, estates and grounds like Dyrham Park or Lacock Abbey…outdoor fun, high culture, village life and city life all right on the doorstep.  The tendency will be to over-do it because there is just so much great stuff to do, so we’d recommend blocking off a couple of days for indolence and recharging the batteries – the village of Tortworth and the grounds of the hotel are themselves worthy of some leisurely exploring…chess on the lawn, anyone?!’

NB: The non-rider price includes shared accommodation, all the same meals plus all the same off-the-horse activities as the riders. Date coinciding with Badminton Horse Trials includes event admission & celebrity course walk.